Retaining Walls

A retaining wall is only as good as what you can’t see: the footing, the drainage behind it and the backfill. Most walls that lean, crack or bow in Melbourne’s east have failed for one of those three reasons. At InEx Lifestyle Design we build retaining walls the right way from the ground up, so they hold for decades and look good while they do it.

Retaining walls we build

• Segmental block walls – interlocking concrete block systems, including engineered walls on steep and commercial sites.
• Core-filled besser block walls – reinforced block walls that can be rendered or clad to match your home.
• Rendered and painted walls – clean, modern raised garden beds and terraces.
• Timber and concrete sleeper walls – treated pine, hardwood or concrete sleepers on galvanised steel posts.
• Rock and boulder walls – natural rock walls and garden edging that suit bush blocks in the hills.

Why our walls last

• Footings sized to the job – compacted crushed-rock or concrete footings set below the soil line, not sitting on top of it.
• Drainage behind every wall – ag pipe wrapped in sock, clean drainage gravel and an outlet to the stormwater, so water pressure never builds up behind the wall.
• Correct backfill and setback – walls stepped back into the bank as the manufacturer and engineer specify.
• Engineering when it matters – walls over 1 metre, or walls carrying a driveway, building or slope, generally need engineering and a building permit. We’ll tell you up front if yours does and organise it.

Above: core-filled block wall going in at a Croydon backyard. The reo, drainage and footings all go in before a single block is laid.

Recent retaining wall projects

Retaining wall FAQs

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Victoria?

Often, yes. A wall over 1 metre high, or one that supports a building, driveway or neighbouring land, usually needs a building permit and engineering. Smaller garden walls generally don’t. Check with your council for your property. We can advise at the quote and arrange engineering where it’s needed.

Which is better: sleepers or blocks?

Sleepers are quicker and cheaper and suit lower garden walls. Concrete block walls cost more but last far longer, handle more height and won’t rot. We’ll recommend what suits your height, soil and budget, not whatever is easiest to build.

How long does a retaining wall take?

A typical backyard sleeper wall takes a few days. Larger block walls with excavation, drainage and engineering can take one to three weeks. We give you a realistic timeline with the quote.

My existing wall is leaning. Can you fix it?

Usually the cause is poor drainage or an undersized footing. Sometimes a wall can be repaired, but often it is safer and cheaper long-term to rebuild it properly. We’ll take a look and give you an honest answer.

Where we work: InEx Lifestyle Design is based in Montrose and works right across Melbourne’s east and the Yarra Valley, including Montrose, Mooroolbark, Lilydale, Kilsyth, Croydon, Mount Evelyn, Ringwood, Wantirna, Mitcham, Donvale, Park Orchards, Warrandyte, Eltham, Wheelers Hill and Glen Iris, with larger projects further afield across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.