Whether you are just starting to explore your options or ready to request a quote, this page is here to help. We have answered some of the most common questions we receive about retaining wall materials, design considerations, council approvals, drainage, construction timing and general project expectations. It is a practical starting point to help you feel more informed before moving ahead.
Bluestone rock retaining walls can be a cost-effective, durable, and natural-looking solution for retaining soil on your property.
At Adelaide Retaining Walls, we source only the finest quality bluestone available in South Australia. Our stone is carefully selected for its uniformity in colour and size, which plays a critical role in both the appearance and performance of the retaining wall.
Uniform stone sizing and clean edges allow the wall to be constructed with:
These factors not only enhance the aesthetic finish of the wall but also ensure it performs reliably over time, maintaining strength and stability under load.
A well-built bluestone retaining wall offers a timeless, natural look while delivering the structural performance required for long-lasting results.
In general, the party altering the natural ground level is responsible for the cost of the retaining wall.
For example, if you need to cut into or fill parts of your property to create a level area for house construction, you are typically responsible for the retaining wall required to support those changes.
In situations where both neighbours are altering the land at a boundary, the cost of the retaining wall is usually shared in proportion to the amount of cut and fill each property requires.
For example:
The cost would generally be shared at approximately 60% to you and 40% to your neighbour.
Every situation is different, and factors such as site conditions, council requirements, and neighbour agreements can influence cost responsibility. At Adelaide Retaining Walls, we can help assess your site and provide guidance on the most practical and fair approach.
This is a great question, and the answer is both — but in the right order.
Once your site has been designed by your builder or architect, it’s best to have a professional retaining wall company — like Adelaide Retaining Walls — review these plans before they are finalised and submitted for council approval. Early involvement allows us to help shape a design that not only supports the ground your home is built on, but also maximises flat, usable outdoor space across your property.
Our design team understands the long-term value of usable land. By working alongside you and your builder or architect early in the process, we can help ensure your retaining wall layout enhances your lifestyle, access, and overall site functionality.
Once the optimal design is confirmed, it is often most beneficial to construct retaining walls early in the building process. Doing so allows:
Early construction of retaining walls helps streamline the overall build and can result in a more cost-effective and practical outcome for your project.
In short — yes.
All retaining walls should be built based on an engineered design. This doesn’t mean you need to personally engage an engineer for every project. For most standard retaining walls, we use designs that have already been calculated and certified by a qualified engineer and are suitable for typical site conditions.
However, any retaining wall that exceeds 1.0 metre in overall height at any point requires a site-specific engineered design. This design must account for factors such as soil classification, site conditions, and loading requirements to ensure the wall is safe, compliant, and long-lasting.
At Adelaide Retaining Walls, we take care of this entire process for you — from engineering through to construction — so you can have peace of mind knowing your retaining wall meets all structural and regulatory requirements.
Yes — a retaining wall can be built on a property boundary provided that no part of the wall, including the footing system, crosses or protrudes over the boundary line.
In certain circumstances, footings or parts of the retaining wall structure may be permitted to extend across the boundary if the wall is constructed to retain soil for both properties and the wall’s location and design are formally agreed to by both property owners.
There are also situations where a retaining wall acts as the dividing structure or fence between two neighbouring properties. In these cases, an agreement may be reached for the wall to encroach onto both properties, again only with the consent of both owners.
At Adelaide Retaining Walls, we can help guide you through these considerations and ensure your retaining wall is designed and constructed in line with regulations and neighbour agreements.
Yes, retaining walls can be designed to work with fencing for a clean, integrated boundary solution.
Yes - council approval can be obtained either by the property owner or by a licensed builder acting on behalf of the property owner.
To obtain council approval, all required criteria must be met, including the submission of appropriate documentation. This typically includes engineering certification, detailed site plans, elevation drawings, and any additional information required by the relevant council assessing the application.
At Adelaide Retaining Walls, we have our own in-house design and drafting team who manage this entire process for you. From drawings and engineering coordination through to documentation and submission, we ensure the council approval process is as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Drainage is one of the most critical components of any retaining wall.
Whether the wall is a concrete sleeper wall, rock wall, stone wall, or in-situ concrete wall, proper drainage is just as important as the footing and structural design. A retaining wall drainage system must be designed to relieve hydrostatic pressure that can build up behind the wall due to groundwater and surface water.
Poor or inadequate drainage can lead to excessive loading on the wall, which may result in partial or complete failure - even if the wall itself is structurally well built. For this reason, drainage design must be carefully considered and correctly installed during the construction of any retaining wall.
A typical retaining wall drainage system may include:
These drainage components should also be protected with geotextile fabric or similar materials to prevent surrounding soils from entering the drainage zone, which could otherwise block or reduce the effectiveness of the system.
At Adelaide Retaining Walls, drainage is treated as a core structural element, not an afterthought, to ensure long-term performance and durability of every retaining wall we build.
