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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Wigram, Canterbury
Retaining Walls in Wigram
Top Retaining Walls Christchurch builds retaining walls across Wigram and Aidanfield, on land that was an air force base for most of the twentieth century. Wigram Aerodrome closed to the air force and the site became one of the city's larger residential developments, which is why so much of the ground here is engineered rather than natural.
- 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.
Built ground behaves differently to natural ground
On a subdivision like Wigram Skies the ground under your lawn was placed and compacted to make level building platforms. Engineered fill is usually good material, well compacted and well documented, and it founds a wall perfectly well.
What it does mean is that the ground above your wall may also be fill. Fill that slopes up behind a wall counts as a surcharge, which takes the job outside the consent exemption whatever the height. We check the levels before quoting.
| Council for consents | Christchurch City Council |
|---|---|
| Typical ground | Flat, much of it engineered subdivision fill |
| Walls we build most here | Keystone block and concrete sleeper |
| 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 |
New build landscaping and where walls fit
A lot of Wigram walls go in during landscaping, after the house is finished. That is fine, but it means working around a new lawn, new driveway and new fences, so access and protection matter.
Keystone block and concrete sleeper walls suit these sites. They look finished immediately, they handle curves and steps, and they need no maintenance, which fits how people buy a new home.
The Air Force Museum keeps the history visible
The Air Force Museum of New Zealand still sits on the old base, and the street layout and open spaces around it come from the aerodrome era. It is worth knowing when you look at your own section, because the levels around here were largely set by people rather than by rivers.
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 Wigram: common questions
Is engineered fill good ground for a retaining wall?
Generally yes. It is placed and compacted to a specification. The thing to check is whether the fill above your wall slopes up, because that is a surcharge.
Can you work around new landscaping?
Yes. We protect driveways and lawns, plan machine routes and clean up as we go. Tell us what has just been finished when you enquire.
Wall types
Retaining walls we build in Wigram
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 Wigram?
Answer three quick questions or call [PHONE] and we will book a free site visit.