There are reasons why concrete is the most material used for building retaining walls. Two of these reasons are strength and durability. With ever-evolving concrete moulding methods today, concrete retaining walls Melbourne can now be built quickly and, if done properly, they can also be nice to look at.
Every project is accompanied by a cost, and retaining walls are no exception. When planning to build concrete retaining walls Melbourne, you should have an idea how much money you need to prepare to successfully build one.
Typical Cost of Retaining Walls in Australia
There are many factors and considerations affecting the cost of building concrete retaining walls Melbourne, as follows:
- What is the size of your wall?
- How many concrete blocks do you need?
- Need to hire a structural engineer?
- Need a wall contractor or build it yourself?
There are a few types of concrete, which also come in different prices. Including labour cost, concrete blocks are priced in the range of $450 to $700 per square metre for reinforced concrete blocks and $550 to $750 per square metre for concrete Besser blocks.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Concrete Retaining Walls Melbourne
The cost of building a concrete retaining wall is affected by the following aspects:
- The size and scale of the wall
- The height of the wall
- Materials used in building the wall
- Design of the wall, including excavation and drainage requirements
- Consultant fees, if any
For larger retaining walls, the cost goes up with the following requirements to comply with:
- Local council approval may be required.
- Hiring a structural engineer may be necessary.
- Buying a better reinforced system may be needed.
- Taking technical details such as drainage into account could turn costlier.
Cost of Concrete Blocks
Materials and labour are the main criteria in quoting prices for concrete retaining walls Melbourne. Retaining walls are usually measured in ‘per square meter’ basis.
As mentioned above, interlocking concrete blocks or a concrete sleeper retaining wall will cost you around $450 to $700 per square metre. While the core-filled Besser block retaining wall cost can vary from $550 to $750 per square metre, depending on their sizes and strength.
The Need for a Structural Engineer
In Australia, the law requires you to engage a structure engineer to design and supervise the construction of retaining walls that exceed one meter in height. With the possibility of retaining walls failing and collapsing into properties and homes – yours and potentially your neighbour’s, as well – the local council has mandated all retaining wall constructions over a meter in height to be designed and approved by licensed structural engineers. This requirement is established to ensure a safe wall, as a poorly designed retaining wall can pose serious threat to human lives.
Structural engineer’s professional fees in Australia can charge you about $350 for a basic soil test and $1,000 for a soil and counter survey.
Regulations on Concrete Retaining Wall
While regulations are not directly resulting into more costs, it pays to know what you should consider and comply with, to avoid any legal ramifications from your local state council. To ensure integrity of your retaining wall to keep you and your property safe, hire only builders or contractors that are licensed by your local council.
Throughout Australia, if your retaining walls Melbourne exceed one meter in height, you will need to employ a structural engineer to design and oversee the construction until it’s finished and turned over to the owner. Concrete retaining walls Melbourne that are under one meter high are generally considered non-structure and therefore do not require council approval. In some states, however, the requirement for structural engineer involvement is more stringent at 0.6 meter or higher.
Local council approval is also required if your retaining wall is within 1.5 meters from the boundary or another building. This requirement is in place regardless of the wall height.
There are other important requirements that need to be considered, aside from the ones already mentioned above. These are as follows:
As stated above, retaining walls within 1.5 meters of any adjoining property line will require approval. However, the retaining wall must be at least 0.6 meter away (0.9 meters in some areas) from the property line to get it approved.
The drainage of the retaining wall must not divert or drain water to an adjoining property.
Not all mandatory requirements are listed here. Depending on your state location and situation, the applicable requirements may be different. It’s always best to consult with your local council early, before you start your plan on building a retaining wall in your property.
Retaining Wall Builder
Unless you’re building the wall yourself, you will need the expertise of a wall builder or contractor for the job. Before hiring them, make sure to check their work and experience portfolio, as well as their realistic projections for the job.