Linkwall Retaining WallsVICTORIA Landscaping made easy

LinkwallR e t a i n i n g W a l l s

Kensington blocks & cappers in Bluestone

Linkwall Retaining Walls

NOTE: All dimensions are nominal. (Actual dimensions and weight may vary from these nominaldimensions due to variations resulting from the manufacturing process. Specifications may changewithout notice.)

COLOUR VARIATION: Please note that colours and textures may vary slightly from one manufacturing run to another.

Completed project photography in this brochure will vary from the Victorian colour range.Please use the swatches above as samples for available colours.

For further information, contact your Austral Bricks representative, or visit one of our display centres.

The Linkwall System is a gravity retaining wall

system that’s ideal for domestic or commercial

projects. The blocks are laid dry, and the unique

rear lip design interlocks each block to a

permanent attractive wall. Linkwall is an easy to

install product for the ‘do-it-yourself’ gardener,

or if you need help, visit our website to find a list

of contractors who install our products.

Bluestone

Desert Fawn Goldenstone

Red Ash Desert Red

Sandstorm

Kensington blocks & cappersin Bluestone

Terraced Vertica blocks & cappers in Sandstone

Borderstone

• Ideal for garden edging, tree rings, smallplanters, low terraces

• For walls up to 300mm high above ground

• Wall steps back at 5:1 gradient

• Approximately 4.65 units per lineal metre

• Colours available: Bluestone, Desert Fawn and Desert Red

100

215

140

Balmoral/Kensington

• Ideal for low garden seating, retaining elevated garden beds, front fences onsloping sites, low to medium size retaining walls and terraces

• For walls up to 900mm high for Balmoraland 600mm high for Kensington

• Wall steps back at 4:1 gradient

• Approximately 26 per m2

• Colours available: Bluestone, Desert Fawn, Red Ash, Sandstorm and Goldenstone

130

295

203

130

295

203

Balmoral

Kensington

5065

260

200

130

295

203

Capper

Finish your Linkwall project with CapperBlocks. Their rounded edge is the answerfor stairs, terracing, water features andcasual seating. Cappers are reversiblewith a smooth or split-face edge.

External Corner Block

This purpose built Corner Block is idealfor 90° corners in retaining walls andsuits the Kensington or Balmoral blocks

Landscaping with LinkwallMost landscaping requires the use of retaining walls to

contain garden areas or to separate one level of land

from the next.

One of the easiest ways to build a beautiful retaining

wall is with one of our Linkwall systems. As the wall is

built, the textured rock face blocks interlock to form a

strong, durable and very attractive retaining wall. The

interlocking block is ideal for low garden beds, retaining

walls or larger terracing projects.

As Linkwall blocks are purpose designed to interlock

and remain in place without pins or mortar they are

especially easy for money saving ‘do-it-yourself’

installation. The result is a beautiful, strongly

constructed wall that goes up quickly and easily while

allowing considerable design freedom with straight,

curved or serpentine walls.

Choosing the SMALL WALLS (borders & garden edging)

MEDIUM WALLS (medium garden walls)

MEDIUM WALL ACCESSORIES

Borderstone - Desert Fawn Kensington - Sandstorm Kensington Bluestone

Noper m

2

BORDERSTONE140 d x 100 h x 215 wWeight per unit: 6.3kg*

BALMORAL/KENSINGTON203 d x 130 h x 295 wWeight per unit: 14.4kg*

CUT DIAMOND305 d x 150 h x 445 wWeight per unit: 35.5kg*

VERTICA280 d x 200 h x 450 wWeight per unit: 39.8kg*

VERTICA CAPPER280 d x 100 h x 450 wWeight per unit: 27.1kg*

VERTICA CORNER BLOCK225 d x 200 h x 450 wWeight per unit: 45.7kg*

RedA

sh

SandstormDesert Faw

nG

oldenStone

Bluestone

46.5

26

11

15

Available *Average weight per unit

Desert Red

CORNER BLOCK203 d x 130 h x 295 wWeight per unit: 22kg*

CAPPER260 d x 50 h x 200 wWeight per unit: 11.8kg*

Large Wal ls (structural retaining wal ls )

Cut Diamond

• Ideal for medium to large retainingwalls and terraced retaining walls

• For walls up to 1.05m

• Higher walls are attainable with engineering computation

• Wall steps back at 3:1 gradient

• Approximately 15 per m2

• Colours available: Bluestone, Desert Fawn and Sandstorm

Vertica

• Ideal for fully engineered verticalwalls with either straight runs orrelatively tight curves

• For walls up to 800mm

• Higher walls are attainable with engineering computation

• Walls are at 4° angle

• Approximately 11 per m2

• Colours available: Bluestone, Desert Fawn, and Sandstorm

• For more technical details, visit our website

150

435

305

100

450

280

200

450

225

200

450

280

Vertica Corner Block

Vertica Capper

Capper

Vertica Cappers with their roundededge are designed to coordinate withVertica blocks and create the perfectfinish for large projects.

External Corner Block

This purpose built Vertica CornerBlock is ideal for 90° external corners.

right product

Kensington with Capper

LARGE WALLS (structural retaining walls)

VERTICA ACCESSORIES

Balmoral - Desert Fawn Vertica - Sandstorm

Linkwall - 9 easy stepsfor DIY and professional landscapers

Kensington Goldenstone with matching capper

9 easy steps for DIY and professional landscapers

Before you start installing

Things to remember when designing walls

SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

Appropriate footwearGlovesEar protection Respiratory protection Eye protection

TOOLS REQUIRED:

• Stringline and pegs • Hammer• Spirit Level • Spade• Tape measure • Hand compactor• Bolster • Wheelbarrow

Linkwall blocks Fine crushed rock

No. per square metre of walling Per metre of walling

Borderstone 46.5 0.025 m3

Kensington 26 0.09 m3

Balmoral 26 0.09 m3

Vertica 11 0.12 m3

Cut Diamond 15 0.12 m3

Example:

A Linkwall Balmoral retaining wall 10 metres long and four courses (520 mm) high will require:

• 136 Linkwall blocks

• 0.9 cubic metres fine crushed rock

• 10 metres agricultural pipe

Allow additional quantities for breakages, site wastage and cuts.

WALL HEIGHTS

Constructing Linkwall retaining walls or borders above these heights requires engineering design:

Borderstone 300 mm (3 courses) Minimum radius at base 500mm

Kensington 600 mm (4 courses) Minimum radius at base 880mm

Balmoral 900 mm (7 courses) Minimum radius at base 880mm

Vertica 800 mm (4 courses) Minimum radius at base 2100mm

Cut Diamond 1.05 m (7 courses) Minimum radius at base 2100mm

Retaining walls of any height may require council approval. Check with your council before commencement.

NB: Measurements are from ground level up and at least half of the first course is below ground level.

The Linkwall system is an ideal solution for retaining wall projects large or small,

as well as garden edging, raised garden beds and low garden seating. The following

installation procedures will provide you with general instructions to plan, build and

finish your landscaping project. For further information, see our Linkwall Technical

Specifications or speak to an Austral Bricks representative.

1

Estimating materials2

3 Mark outBegin project by identifying the location of your wall and staking

out and marking the wall or border with a stringline. A garden hose

can be used to lay out curved areas.

Installing retaining walls

Mark out

Identify location

4 ExcavateEnsure in the early stages that underground services will not be

affected. Dig a trench along the marked-out line to the width

and depth shown in the table below. Level bottom of trench

and compact.

Hei

ght

“Y”

1.2 x “Y”

Minimum offset from titleboundary and driveway

EXCAVATION AND FOOTING TABLE

Excavation Footing (fine crushed rock)

Borderstone 250mm wide x 100mm deep 75mm deep

Kensington/Balmoral 450mm wide x 200mm deep 150mm deep

Cut Diamond/Vertica 600mm wide x 200mm deep 150mm deep

Level bottom of trench

5 FootingFill the trench with fine crushed rock to the required depth as

indicated previously and compact. To determine how much fill is

required, measure the length, depth and width of footing.

Compact footing

6 First coursePosition the blocks side by side on the prepared base and level in both

directions using a spirit level. Ensure each block is bedded down firmly

into the crushed rock and is aligned with the stringline.

Note: If the retaining wall runs downhill, step the first course down

the height of one block and forward the width of the

rear lip or “set back” of one block.

Base course for walls stepping downhill

7 DrainageFor walls above 300mm high lay an agricultural drain behind the wall

and back fill with open gravel. Place approximately 50mm depth

of open gravel (screenings) behind the base course and place a 65

to 100mm diameter agricultural drain (stiff PVC [white] with slots,

available in 6m lengths, or flexible PVC [black] with perforations,

available in 10 to 20m rolls), on top of the screenings. Make sure

the drain slopes in the direction of the connection point to your

main drain.

Back fill with screenings

CALCULATION-VOLUME

Length x Depth x Width = Volume

Example: Footing is 6 m long, 300mm wide, 75mm deep.

6 x 0.300 x 0.075 = 0.135 m3 (say 0.15 m3 of

crushed rock required).

Natural ground level

Footing (fine crushed rock)

Bottom of excavation

Set forward x 1

Set forward x 2

9 easy steps for DIY and professional landscapers

8 Lay the wallContinue installing additional courses one course at a time by

placing units offset by half a unit from the underlying course

(running bond). Pull each block forward gently to ensure the rear

lip is sitting tight.

Backfill each course with crushed rock, and compact as you go.

(Borderstone can be backfilled with soil. NB: Organic soil or clay is

NOT recommended for backfill material with other Linkwall units

as it provides inadequate compaction and drainage.)

Purpose-made External Corner Blocks are available to allow your

wall to turn a 90-degree corner cleanly and without cutting.

They are available in all colours and in most block systems.

Ensure each course remains level

9 Finishing and cappingLinkwall capping blocks are available if a more decorative finish is

required. Partial blocks can also be used to finish your wall. When

laying the final two courses it is good practice to use a masonry

adhesive to secure the wall. Screenings are not placed behind the

final course; use topsoil instead for planting purposes. A filter can

be placed over screenings to avoid topsoil washing down.

Splitting a block

TIP: To split a block, use a hammer and bolster to score theblock on all sides. Pound the bolster on the score line until theblock splits. If the block does not split easily, you may need touse a circular cut-off saw with a masonry blade. Read andunderstand the operating manual before using a saw. Alwaysuse eye protection when splitting blocks.

TIP: Prior to each course, ensure

top of previous layer is swept clean.

When placing subsequent courses,

make sure the joint is offset half a

block from the joint below. When

installing curved walls, the joint will

move slightly off centre. Use a split

block to regain a running bond.

Typical wall section

1⁄2 to 1 block buriedbelow ground

Screening (free draining medium) 200 - 300mm wide

50 - 100mm diameter“Ag” pipe

Soil or mulchLinkwall blocks

Fall

Footing (fine crushed rock)

Max

imum

hei

ght

“H”

Depth of footing (refer table)

9 easy steps for DIY and professional landscapers

Please note: This information is given for general guidance and does not replace the services of professional advisers on specific projects. Local orstate regulations may require variation from the practices and recommendations contained in this publication. All dimensions quoted are nominal. Copyright © 2007 Austral Bricks, may not be reproduced, copied or stored in any medium without prior, written authorisation.

Colour variation: Display panels and brochures are only an indication of colour and appearance. Linkwall is made from natural materials and mayvary from one run to the next. Please ensure you view more than one sample panel to get an indication of a product’s colour range.

Colour blending: When Linkwall blocks are delivered, the colours may vary within each pack and from one pack to the next. To achieve the best blend in the job, please ensure you follow the blending instructions on the packs.

Kensington Desert Fawn

Balmoral Goldenstone Borderstone Desert Fawn Borderstone Goldenstone Borderstone Goldenstone

Linkwall Retaining Walls

Vertica Sandstorm

13 BRICK (13 2742) www.australbricks.com.au

Display CentresLynbrookCnr Northey Rd & Western Port HwyLynbrook

Deer Park*972 Western HwyDeer Park(near corner ofRobinson Rd)

Geelong252-256 Thompson Rd North GeelongNew centre opening Oct 2008 - Torquay Rd,Grovedale(cnr Essington St)

Thomastown140 High Street RdThomastown

Clearance Centre:CraigieburnCraigieburn East Rd Craigieburn(just off Hume Fwy)

Partn

ers

in D

esig

n 07

/08

*Denotes Cash Sales Yard. Most Austral Bricks™ display centres are accessible all day, every day. Resellers and regional agents in all states.