Retaining Wall and Fencing Project: Clinton, Gladstone
Engineered concrete sleeper walls, COLORBOND® fencing, turf and poolside concrete: the total package
Ageing rock and timber walls on two boundaries
Rebuilt as engineered concrete sleeper walls up to 2m high
Finished with COLORBOND® fencing, turf and poolside concrete
Project at a glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Clinton, Gladstone QLD |
| Services | Retaining walls, COLORBOND® fencing, turf, concreting |
| Retaining walls | Engineered concrete sleeper walls, approx. 40m total |
| Retained height | Up to 2.0m |
| Steel posts | 150UC and 100UC galvanised, engineer specified |
| Drainage | Agricultural pipe, gravel backfill, geofabric |
| Fencing | 1.8m COLORBOND® mounted on top of the wall |
| Licence | QBCC Builder Restricted to Structural Landscaping #15605601 |
The Brief
Two tired boundaries and a yard that wasn't finished
The right side and rear boundaries of this Clinton property were held up by an old rock and timber retaining wall system, topped with fencing that had seen better days. With up to two metres of soil being retained, this was never going to be a quick patch-up.
The owners wanted both boundaries rebuilt properly and the yard finished around the pool. Walls, fencing, turf and concrete: ELC handled all of it, so there was no juggling separate tradies.
Our Job
Rebuild both boundaries to last, then finish the yard
ELC managed the whole job as one project: removing the old walls, building the new engineered walls and fencing, then finishing the yard with turf and concrete. One team and one point of contact, from demolition to the final pour.
Site Prep
Out with the old before anything new goes in
The existing rock and timber retaining wall came out along both boundaries, along with the shrubs and vegetation in the way of construction. All old wall materials, fencing and construction waste were removed from site, with recycling where practical.
With the site cleared, the crew got stuck into the heavy site prep and excavation needed for walls of this height. The new walls follow the existing fence lines as the boundary reference.
The Retaining Walls
Engineered concrete sleeper walls, built from the ground up
ELC built two engineered concrete sleeper walls:
- Right boundary: around 31 metres long, retaining up to 2.0m, on 150UC galvanised steel posts
- Rear boundary: around 8 to 10 metres long, about 2.0m high and tapering down to suit the ground levels, on 100UC galvanised steel posts
Behind every section sits agricultural drainage pipe, gravel backfill and geofabric. Drainage stops water pressure building up behind the wall. It is the part you never see once the job is done, and the part that decides how long the wall lasts.
The sleepers are premium coloured and textured concrete with a dark wood-grain finish: the look of timber, without the rot.
ELC holds a QBCC Builder Restricted to Structural Landscaping Licence #15605601
The Fence
COLORBOND® fencing mounted on top of the wall
A 1.8m COLORBOND® fence runs along both new walls, around 40 metres in total. Instead of separate fence posts in the ground, the fence is fixed to the top of the retaining wall with steel C-channel brackets, known as shark fins. The result is one clean, continuous boundary, with the fence colour matched to the dark sleepers.
Quality Control
A colour difference the client hadn't even noticed
Partway through the build, Brad noticed a slight colour difference between sections of the wall. Same wall, same product, but not quite the same shade. It was minor, and the client hadn't picked it up.
That is where quality control comes in. ELC went back to the supplier, worked through the options with the client and chose a darker tint. The whole wall was then repainted, so it now carries one even colour from end to end.
Turf and Concrete
Finishing the yard: fresh turf and poolside concrete
With the boundaries done, the team finished the rest of the yard. Fresh turf (wintergreen couch) went down out the front, and the area around the pool was prepped, boxed up and poured with new concrete.
Retaining Walls and Fencing
Can a COLORBOND fence be installed on top of a retaining wall?
Yes. On a concrete sleeper wall, the fence can be fixed to the top of the wall using steel C-channel brackets, often called shark fins, instead of separate fence posts in the ground. The wall's steel posts need to be designed for the extra load, including wind on the fence panels, so the wall and fence should be planned together. On this Clinton project, ELC built the engineered wall and mounted a 1.8m COLORBOND fence on top as one job.
Do I need a boundary survey before replacing a boundary retaining wall?
Not always. When a wall or fence is being replaced along an existing line, ELC uses the current fence line as the boundary reference, and the quote says so. If you are unsure where the true boundary is, or plan to move the line, arrange a survey before work starts. It costs far less than moving a finished wall.
The Result
Two engineered walls, a clean boundary and a finished yard
This Clinton property went from ageing rock and timber walls to around 40 metres of engineered concrete sleeper walls, topped with matching COLORBOND® fencing. With fresh turf out the front and new concrete around the pool with pool fencing, the whole yard is finished, built to last, and looks like it was designed as one cohesive project. Because it was.
One team for walls, fences, turf and concrete
If your project needs more than one trade, talk to ELC Property Maintenance & Landscaping. We manage the whole job, from the first site visit to the final clean-up. We carry a QBCC Licence #15605601 (Builder Restricted to Structural Landscaping).