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How to fix sloping gap between fence and driveway?

Hello,

I'm looking for suggestions on how to tackle the sloped area between my fence and driveway, especially since there aren't enough retaining walls to stabilize the soil. Should I build another retaining wall next to the current ones?

WhatsApp Image 2024-04-15 at 9.33.18 AM.jpeg

Thank you 🙂

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Comments

EricL

Hello @Case

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's marvellous to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your driveway slope.

I agree with your idea of building a retaining wall next to your driveway. This will prevent that side from eroding away if there is an intense downpour. I recommend using standard sleepers such as the 200 x 50mm Sleeper H4 Sienna MicroPro 2.4m.

I've drawn up a sample sketch to give you an idea of what it could look like.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let me know.

Eric

Dave-1

Afternoon @Case

That spot looks like a perfect place for a small gabion wall to be put in place 🙂

All that you need to do is to dig out and level the ground where you want the retaining wall / gabion wall to go.

You can buy precut gabion baskets from Bunnings Jack 80 x 40 x 40cm Rectangle Landscaper's Plant Support Garden Gabion and they do come in smaller sizes.

Maybe two and a half baskets worth lengthwise (they come in 800mm and 400mm lengths), you could fill them with whatever smallish rubble and just face the bit you will see from the front with nicer stones. Once you have them in place then some geocloth to stop the soil flowing intothe basket can be laid against the side and the area backfilled.

Gabion wall windbreak is four of the baskets I am refering to.

Front corner gabion wall is what I am proposing but only one basket high along your fence line but not touch it (leave a 5cm gap or 10cm gap would be better)

Troll through my bookmarks and you will see how you can build your own if you want. They are incredibly easy and so far I have had none fail or shift on me. One thing to note is the ground under them is best to be undisturbed or packed. I mostly went for dig and scrape off the top 5cm with the shovel.

Dave

Case

Thank you @EricL and @Dave-1 , I appreciate the creativity in both of your ideas! 🙂

Looking forward to hearing from @Nailbag 's recommendation

Hi @EricL , are we able to build a new retaining wall directly adjacent to the existing ones, or should there be some space left between them?

Hi @Dave-1 , could the gabion wall match the height of the driveway, or would you suggest it be taller?

Thanks all 🙂

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/36954#Comment_36954

Afternoon @Case

Its pretty much up to you, tho I would keep teh area between it and the driveway as garden not grass, No point in temptation to rest a car wheel on it 🙂

You could go a little high and face the rocks above the ground to be a feature, you could also go for a low bench effect (Check out my bookmarks) as that comes up really nice as well.

Dave

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/36954#Comment_36954

Hi @Case

I suggest placing a 100mm gap between the retaining walls. It's important to be able to access the bottom of your retaining wall. I propose just having the retaining wall just as high as your driveway.

If yo need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Nailbag

Hi @Case I'm in agreeance with the retaining wall (50mm x 200mm) solution as well with an aggi pipe between the wall and fence. I always recommend angling the retaining wall slightly forward (just off plumb) using Gal post as this will assist in retaining the weight of the garden to go in front. Staple black plastic on the garden side of the wall to prevent any water seepage.

regards, Nailbag

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Salam123

Hello Case

how did you go with implementing the solution ?

Do you have a picture post implementation of solutions ?

Any challenge you faced?

thanks

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/40639#Comment_40639

Hello @Salam123

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us.

Let me tag @Case to make them aware of your questions. It would be interesting to know which of the recommendations we suggested was used to solve the slopping gap. Are you planning a similar project? If you are, please don't forget to post an update. I'm sure our members will be keen to see what you've built.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Salam123

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/82471#Comment_82471

Hello Eric

Thanks for your welcome message.

i have almost a similar situation. I am planning to finalise the width of driveway but not sure if shall I go to the retaining wall or stay back for around 500-600mm

any suggestion will be appreciated

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/106004#Comment_106004

Hello @Salam123

I totally suggest doing a small retaining wall, this will give you full control of the slope and you can have a nice flat area on your side of the property. Plus, there is no need to worry about the soil overflowing to the neighbour's garden.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Salam123

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/120162#Comment_120162

Thanks Eric

so one thing is sure now that I have to put in a retaining wall.

i hope I can do it later as builder wants to put driveway soon.

My question is shall I extend driveway to the retaining wall or keep a 500-600mm gap between retaining wall and driveway?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128847#Comment_128847

Hi @Salam123,

If you were to have the retaining wall built first, you'd have the option to bring the drive closer to it. Without the retaining wall, you'd need to speak with the builder as to how close they're willing to bring the drive. If the soil is unsupported right next to the drive and it shifts, damage to the drive could be caused.

It sounds like it would be entirely best to install the retaining wall before constructing the drive, no matter where you place it.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Nailbag

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128847#Comment_128847

Hi @Salam123 I agree with @MitchellMc to build the wall first as this will define the edge to which the driveway will finish to. Just ensure you use Jack Gal uprights to have an uninterrupted straight line finish.

Nailbag

Salam123

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134357#Comment_134357

Thanks for the advice Nailbag and Mitchell and Eric. You guys are extremely helpful.

Just to let you know , The retaining wall is already there . Please have a look at the pics.
The issue is if the existing height of retaining wall is good enough or not.

Builder can’t wait and won’t allow any other person to go and increase the height of existing retaining wall.

what is the way to check of the height of existing retaining wall is good enough or not?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137895#Comment_137895

The height of the retaining wall would need to be level with the surrounding soil @Salam123. Is the current height of the soil above the top of the retaining wall?

Provided the retaining wall is in place and it has been engineered to withstand the additional weight of the concrete drive and cars, you should be good to go with bringing the drive up close to it.

Mitchell

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140294#Comment_140294

Morning @Salam123

I am not sure if the timber retaining wall would be strong enough to hold the driveway and weight of a car if you extend it to the edge. Having a retaining wall with a footing, rio through the bricks type deal is more what I would think of as being strong enough to hold a parked car/ute's weight,

If you raised the wall to just stop the soil there should be no issue, if you want to extend the driveway itself then I think you will get splaying of the wall down the track.

Dave

Salam123

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142025#Comment_142025

Thanks

it looks like to me that the best solution would be to keep around 500-600 mm gap between edge of driveway and existing retaining wall. Once driveway is made then increase the height of retaining wall if required then backfilled so that it looks something like attached file .

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143279#Comment_143279

Hello @Salam123

That's exactly what I would recommend, the added flat surface can serve as a parking spot for your bins.

Eric

Salam123

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143279#Comment_143279

the final solution implemented is here

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144322#Comment_144322

Hi @Salam123,

Have you got some closer photos?

Did you end up having another retaining wall installed?

Or was the driveway just widened?

Either way, it looks like your driveway will look fantastic once everything is tidied up.

Thank you for sharing.

Jacob

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