Case Studies

Location Currumbin, Gold Coast Qld.

Client – Residential.

Type of wall constructed – Hand placed & dry stacked sandstone rocks.

Brief description of work completed.

Australian Retaining walls were called in to this Currumbin, Gold Coast Qld property to

improve the look at the rear of the house. Recent renovations to the house exterior had left the

rear timber retaining wall looking tired and out of date. After consulting with one of

Australian Retaining walls experienced experts our client decided that the Hand placed & dry

stacked sandstone rock wall was the look they desired.

It was decided that the large concrete slab that stretches from the house out to the old wall

would be best left undisturbed, therefore the bottom Hand placed & dry stacked sandstone

rocks would be mortared directly on top of the slab just in front of the location of the old

wall.

See picture below.

Once the old wall was removed a bobcat was used to move the Hand placed & dry stacked

sandstone rocks around from the front of the property where they were delivered on the grass,

ensuring no unnecessary damage was done to the concrete slab.

It is true that creativity plays a large part in a Hand placed & dry stacked sandstone rock wall

but there are certain procedures to follow to help build a great looking wall.

The builders at Australian Retaining walls will begin by separating the rock into 4 categories.

Base stones-usually the largest, Cornerstones-two useable faces, caps-flat top and nice shape

and everything else is for general construction.

See picture below – Note the careful placement of corner stones.

After the base stones are mortared down a 65mm drainage pipe is placed behind the wall and

topped with 20mm gravel. Gravel will continue up to the top of the Hand placed & dry

stacked sandstone rock wall as it is built. Finally the caps are cemented down for extra

stability.

A vast improvement on the old timber walls!