Retaining Walls Silver Sands

Walls by the beach

Silver Sands is a coastal suburb close to the Mandurah town centre, on the ocean side of the Peel. Its ground is the pale, loose dune sand found all along this stretch of coast, and many lots slope up or down from the street.

The housing mixes older homes, some of them originally holiday houses, with newer builds that have replaced them. That turnover shapes the retaining work: some jobs are fixing walls that have been there for decades, and others are new walls going in as part of a rebuild.

Typical jobs in Silver Sands

Limestone terraces and steps on sloping front yards, to make the frontage usable and stop sand moving.
Walls for knock-down rebuilds, setting the levels for a new house, driveway and garden.
Sand-leak repairs on older walls built without fabric.
Replacing old timber walls that have rotted or are leaning.
Low walls along paths and side setbacks, where sand drifts across paving.

Working with loose dune sand

Loose coastal sand is the main challenge here. It is easy to dig but collapses easily too, and it moves with wind and water. A few points matter on every Silver Sands wall:

Fabric behind the wall to stop sand running through joints.
A compacted footing rather than blocks laid straight onto loose sand.
Compacted backfill in thin layers, so the ground behind does not settle.
Drainage so water from reticulation and rain does not build up behind the wall.

Wind-blown sand is also a feature close to the beach. A wall will not stop sand blowing over the top, but a capping course, planting along the top edge and paving that is set slightly lower can make a difference.

Salt exposure

Being close to the beach, steel corrodes faster. If you are choosing concrete sleepers, ask about the galvanising on the posts, and keep the post bases out of standing water. Limestone and block are more tolerant of salt air.

Rebuild projects

If you are knocking down and rebuilding, retaining walls are part of the bigger picture. Points to plan with your builder:

Which walls must stay to support the neighbours' ground while the old house is removed.
Whether new walls go in before or after the slab.
Who is responsible for the walls in the building contract and who is doing them separately.
How machinery will get on and off the lot without damaging new walls.

Permits

Silver Sands is in the City of Mandurah. Retaining walls commonly need a building permit once they retain more than about 500 mm of ground, and walls near boundaries can be affected by the Residential Design Codes. Check with the City before work starts.

Getting a quote in Silver Sands

Call (08) 9515 3332 or use the form below. Send a photo of the wall or slope, its rough length and height, and mention if a rebuild is planned. Read the guide to sandy and canal-side blocks and the cost guide for more detail.

Wall types quoted in Silver Sands

Limestone Retaining Walls Reconstituted and natural limestone block walls, the classic Peel-region choice for sandy front and back yards, planter beds and boundary steps.

Concrete Sleeper Walls Steel posts set in concrete footings with concrete sleepers dropped between them, for straight runs along fences, pools and level changes.

Timber Retaining Walls Treated pine or hardwood sleeper walls for low garden terraces and edging, where budget and a softer look matter more than a long life.

Block & Masonry Walls Core-filled concrete block, segmental interlocking block and rendered masonry walls for taller cuts, driveways and engineered jobs.

Wall Repairs & Rebuilds Leaning, bulging or sand-leaking walls assessed, re-set or rebuilt, with the drainage problem that caused the failure fixed at the same time.

Site Prep & Earthworks Levelling, cut and fill, compaction and footing prep with small machines before a wall goes in, so the wall sits on ground that will not move.

Questions people ask before they commit

Why does sand keep spilling over my wall onto the path?

On loose dune sand, wind and water both move sand. If it is coming through the wall rather than over it, the wall probably has no fabric behind it. If it is blowing over the top, a slightly higher capping or planting along the top edge can help.

We are knocking down and rebuilding. When should the walls go in?

Talk to your builder early. Some walls are best built before the slab, to set levels, and some after, so they are not damaged by machinery. Boundary walls that hold up a neighbour's ground may need to stay in place or be supported while the old house comes down.

Are limestone walls a good choice so close to the beach?

Yes. Limestone suits coastal sand and salt air, and many Silver Sands gardens already use it. Include fabric and drainage behind the wall, and expect the face to weather slowly over time.

Who approves retaining walls in Silver Sands?

The City of Mandurah. A building permit is commonly needed for walls retaining more than about 500 mm of ground, and boundary walls may need to meet the Residential Design Codes. Check with the City before work starts.

Retaining Walls in Silver Sands