Adelaide’s Trusted Retaining Wall Contractors
When it comes to retaining walls, Adelaide property owners need a wall that’s built properly the first time - structurally sound, compliant, and made to last. Lee Benson Fencing specialises in concrete sleeper retaining wall installation for residential and commercial properties across Adelaide, using materials sourced exclusively from Adelaide-owned sleeper companies.
We build concrete sleeper retaining walls up to 1m high, in a wide range of styles and colours - you name it, we can do it. And because we’re fencing specialists too, we can integrate your new wall seamlessly with your fencing for a complete boundary solution.
Our Retaining Wall Solutions
Concrete Sleeper Retaining Walls
Our core offering - durable concrete sleepers in a wide range of styles and colours, secured with high-grade steel beams. Ideal for levelling sloped blocks, creating terraced gardens, and retaining soil on boundaries.
Boundary Retaining Walls
Retaining walls along property boundaries need to get liability, compliance, and construction right. We build boundary walls to legal specifications, including the additional footing and beam depth required under SA’s cut-below law.
Retaining Walls with Integrated Fencing
Save space and money by combining your wall and fence in one structure. We can weld a good neighbour fence or a post and rail type fence right on top of your retaining wall - a clean, secure result from a single contractor.
Residential Retaining Walls
From garden terracing to driveway retention, we build walls that add usable space and value to Adelaide homes - engineered properly and finished to complement your property.
Commercial Retaining Walls
For builders, developers, and commercial property owners, we deliver compliant retaining walls built to spec and on schedule, with the machinery and experience to handle larger projects.
Why Choose Concrete Sleeper Retaining Walls?
Concrete retaining walls are built to last. They’re resistant to white ants and wood rot - problems that eventually claim every timber wall - and they’re made to withstand the harsh Aussie climate. Add in minimal maintenance, a long structural lifespan, and a wide choice of colours and profiles to suit your property, and concrete sleepers are the smart long-term choice for Adelaide conditions.
Our Installation Standards
We don’t believe in cutting corners. Every Lee Benson retaining wall is built with:
- High-grade steel beams - quality steel posts that won’t fail under load
- Proper footings - the right machinery for the job makes it easy for us to exceed the standards with the depth and width of our footings
- Professional equipment - purpose-built machinery for clean, efficient, accurate installation
- Compliance with Australian requirements - including boundary wall design under SA’s cut-below law
- Long-term structural performance - once we’ve done a wall for you, you won’t need to worry about it again
Retaining Wall Design Considerations
Every site is different, and a properly designed wall accounts for:
- Wall height requirements - we build walls up to 1m high; combined wall and fence heights affect council approval requirements
- Site access - earth moving equipment is required, so access and construction timing matter (ideally after bench-level earthworks, before studwork)
- Soil conditions - soil type affects footing design and drainage needs
- Drainage and backfill - essential for long-term performance (detailed below)
- Fence integration - deciding upfront whether fencing will sit on top of the wall affects the engineering
- Boundary and neighbour considerations - liability for retaining costs is proportionate to who alters the land, and joint walls can save both parties money
Our team walks you through all of this at quote stage - so there are no surprises later.
Drainage & Structural Performance
Drainage is what separates a wall that lasts decades from one that fails early. Water pressure building up behind a retaining wall is the most common cause of leaning and collapse. For concrete sleeper walls, we install a 90mm ag pipe laid in a gully created by a plastic membrane behind the wall, covered with 300mm of 20mm gravel, then covered with on-site landfill - allowing water to drain away freely instead of pushing against your wall.
Retaining Wall Facts Every Adelaide Property Owner Should Know
We Build concrete sleeper retaining walls up to 1m high.
Lee Benson Fencing retaining walls come in a wide range of style and colours, You Name it we can do it. All of the materials come from Adelaide owned sleeper companies.
Our retaining wall beams are made with high grade steel, we don’t believe in cutting corners, and believe us, once we have done a wall for you, you won’t need to worry about it again. Why? Because we have the right machinery for the job and it makes it easy for us to exceed the standards with the depth and width of our footings.
Concrete retaining walls are built to last, they are resistant to white ants and wood rot. Our retaining walls are made to withstand the harsh Aussie climate.
If your interested in saving space we can weld a good neighbour fence or a post and rail type fence right onto of your retaining wall.
If you have any questions about your retaining wall installation in Adelaide, give Lee Benson Fencing a call today.
FACTS # 1 Who’s liable for retaining wall costs?
Q. How do I define who’s liable?
A. If you alter the level of the land by either excavation (cut) or building up of levels (fill), it is your responsibility to retain and pay for that retention.
Q. What if I cut and my neighbour fills his land on a boundary?
A. The liability is still proportionate to each party. By combining and constructing a joint wall, BOTH parties will save.
Q. What if the cut and fill are disproportionate?
A. The costs are allocated relative to each party’s requirement for walling, this can be determined by site plans.
Q. Isn’t it 50/50 like a fence?
A. No, see above.
FACTS# 2 Do I need to know the Law 75S2(a-c) the cut below law?
Q. What is the cut below Law?
A. The law was introduced in attempt to avoid Scenarios where walls were built on a boundary and neighbours developed their land, and in doing so excavated near the boundary and below the retaining wall. In many cases this caused existing walls to fall and lean, and expensive arguments as to liability and ability to maximise your use of land.
Q. So how does this affect me and my neighbour?
A. The law requires that all people retaining land fill on a boundary require extra footing/beam depth and wall design to accept a maximum 600mm excavation below the wall. Effectively that means if you have a 1.0 metre wall, you require the wall designed for 1.6 metres. This means more steel, deeper footings, more concrete in those footings, and at times heavier steel. This can add at least 30% to the cost of the fill side walls relative to the cost of cut side walls.
Q. What if either my retaining wall contractor or I do not adhere to the Law?
A. If your wall fails due to excavation sometime in the future, you will be liable for the re-installation. You will have no claim for a third party as you will have built an illegal walling specification.
FACTS #3 When do I need Council approval?
Q. When do I need Council approval?
A. When a wall and fencing have a combined height of 2.4 metres. i.e. a Fence height of 1.8 metres or a wall height of 600mm.
Q. I always thought it was 1.0 metre and over.
A. Most councils are only interested in walls over 1.0 metre. Check with your council to be sure.
FACTS #4 When is the best time to build a retaining wall?
Q. When is the best time to build my walling requirements?
A. Having access is always your enemy. Earth moving equipment is required to build retaining walls. The best time is: After earthworks to create your bench level and before the footing is excavated and poured. After footings have been laid and BEFORE studwork. Note: Some walls need to be built before earthworks.
Q. What if I need to have a wall built before earthworks can be completed?
A. This can and does happen. Work closely with your builder and Lee benson fencing.
Q. Won’t my retaining wall be damaged during house construction?
A. Possibly. This can and does happen sometimes. We can wrap your wall in black plastic.
FACTS#5 Drainage and Backfill
Q. Do I need drainage and backfill behind my retaining wall?
A. Concrete Sleeper walls: Usually yes. A 90mm ag pipe laid in a gully created by a plastic membrane laid behind the wall. It is covered with 300mm of 20mm gravel, and then covered with on-site land fill.
Why Choose Lee Benson Fencing
- Adelaide-Owned Suppliers - all materials come from Adelaide-owned sleeper companies
- Experienced Retaining Wall Contractors - we know SA’s laws, soils, and standards inside out
- Quality Materials and Workmanship - high-grade steel, proper footings, no shortcuts
- Custom Solutions for Every Property - wide range of styles, colours, and fence integration options
- Competitive Pricing and Reliable Service - meeting the needs of budget-conscious homeowners while exceeding all expectations on quality
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee Benson Fencing builds concrete sleeper retaining walls up to 1m high. Keep in mind that walls retaining fill on a boundary require additional footing and beam depth under SA’s cut-below law, and combined wall-and-fence heights affect council approval requirements.
Yes - this is one of our specialties. We can weld a good neighbour fence or post and rail fence directly onto your retaining wall, saving space and giving you a complete boundary solution from one contractor.
For concrete sleeper walls, usually yes. Proper drainage - an ag pipe, plastic membrane, and gravel backfill - prevents water pressure from building up behind the wall, which is essential for its long-term structural performance.
Council approval is required when a wall and fencing have a combined height of 2.4 metres - for example, a 1.8m fence on a 600mm wall. Most councils are only interested in walls over 1.0 metre, but always check with your council to be sure.
Decades. Concrete sleepers are resistant to termites and rot, unaffected by the harsh Australian climate, and require virtually no maintenance. Combined with our high-grade steel beams and properly engineered footings, a Lee Benson wall is built so you won’t need to worry about it again.
Get In Touch to Discuss Your Retaining Walls Adelaide Project!
Whether you’re a homeowner levelling a backyard, a builder needing compliant boundary walls, or a developer planning a larger project, Lee Benson Fencing has the experience and equipment to deliver. Contact us today or request a quote for expert retaining wall design, installation, and advice.