Timber Retaining Walls
Timber is what most Christchurch sections end up with, and for good reason. A pole and rail wall goes up in a few days, costs less than block, and holds a 1.2m.
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Lyttelton, Canterbury
Retaining Walls in Lyttelton
Top Retaining Walls Christchurch builds retaining walls in Lyttelton, Governors Bay and around the harbour basin, where the sections are the steepest we work on. Lyttelton sits inside the eroded crater of a volcano that was active roughly ten to twelve million years ago, and the basalt under the town is the same rock that built the older parts of Christchurch.
- Timber, block, gabion, stone and engineered walls
- Full drainage behind every wall we build
- Consents lodged through Christchurch City Council
- Drainage on every wall300mm of metal, a drain coil and geotextile. Never an optional extra.
- H5 poles as standardThe right treatment for timber that lives in wet ground.
- Consents handledChristchurch City, Selwyn and Waimakariri, start to finish.
- Itemised quotesYou see what the drainage and the spoil actually cost.
Heritage stonework sets the standard here
Lyttelton is full of old stone retaining walls, some of them holding up streets. New work that does not sit alongside that stonework looks wrong immediately, which is why we build more stone and gabion walls here than anywhere else.
Canterbury basalt is the obvious match, and suppliers can get close to what is already on the street. We take photos and get samples before ordering rather than guessing at colour.
| Council for consents | Christchurch City Council |
|---|---|
| Typical ground | Volcanic rock and loess, very steep |
| Walls we build most here | Stone, gabion and engineered block |
| Consent threshold | 1.5m of retained ground, or any surcharge above the wall |
| Drainage | 300mm metal, perforated coil, geotextile, on every wall |
| Site visit | Free, with a written quote to follow |
Steep ground means engineering and consent
On these slopes almost everything is a surcharge, because sloping ground above a wall counts as one. Combine that with typical wall heights and most Lyttelton jobs need a chartered engineer and a building consent through Christchurch City Council.
Slope stability matters as much as the wall. Water running uncontrolled down a Port Hills slope is a hazard in its own right, so drainage discharge gets planned carefully.
Access over the hill or through the tunnel
Everything comes in through the road tunnel or over Dyers Pass, then down narrow streets with tight corners and steep driveways. Machine size, truck size and where spoil can be loaded all get decided before we start, not on the day.
It adds to the cost and we say so up front. What you get in return is a wall that suits one of the best looking pieces of Canterbury there is.
Not sure whether your wall needs a consent? Send us a photo and a rough height. Under 1.5m of retained ground with nothing loading it from above is exempt. A driveway, a building, a pool or fill sloping up behind it is a surcharge, and that changes the answer.
Common questions
Retaining walls in Lyttelton: common questions
Can you match the old stone walls in Lyttelton?
Usually close. Canterbury basalt is still quarried and suppliers carry weathered volcanic stone. Send photos of the existing wall with your enquiry.
Why do Lyttelton walls cost more?
Access, slope and engineering. The wall itself is not much different. Getting machinery and materials to it, and getting spoil away, is where the cost sits.
Wall types
Retaining walls we build in Lyttelton
Concrete and Block Retaining Walls
Concrete lasts longer than timber and carries far more load, which is why it goes in wherever a driveway, a shed or a neighbour's lawn sits above the wall. We build.
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Engineered Retaining Walls
Once a wall passes 1.5m, or once a driveway or building sits above it, the job changes. You need a chartered engineer, a building consent and inspections. We manage.
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Stone and Gabion Retaining Walls
Stone is the choice when the wall has to look like it belongs. Canterbury gives us plenty to work with, including Halswell basalt, Port Hills volcanic stone, Timaru.
See moreNeed a retaining wall in Lyttelton?
Answer three quick questions or call [PHONE] and we will book a free site visit.