What is the cheapest retaining wall material?

Answer 1

A retaining wall can help serve many purposes since it can be installed in various places as per the need be. It is possible to build an inexpensive retaining wall; however; the cheapest is not always the most cost-effective. Treated pine is one of the most affordable retaining wall materials and is often used for DIY retaining walls. However, this is not very long-lasting. It is possible to extend life by several treatments. However, it is not very durable.

Hardwood is a good alternative, although this will work out more expensive than treated pine. The advantage is that it will have more resistance to dirt and water. It is important to establish the main aim of building a retaining wall first. For example, suppose the main reason you require a retaining wall is for residential purposes. In that case, there is usually no need for it to be a heavy-duty one, and building it using low-cost material would be excellent. Homeowners need to be aware of while opting for low-cost material that such walls are cheap for a reason and will not stand the test of time.

Here are the shortlisted materials used to build retaining walls in Perth as a reference for those planning to make one:

• Limestone: Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is quite strong contrary to popular belief that it is fragile. A retaining wall made from limestone is long-lasting. (Eg. Taj Mahal, Great Pyramids of Giza). It is durable but comes at a high cost as well. Walls from this will last for generations to come.
• Sandstone: Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand-size grains of mineral, rock and organic material. A wall made from this will be highly durable but will cost more than treated timber.
• Concrete Blocks: This is a modern and sophisticated material since it is artificially produced. It offers good flexibility and is also long-lasting. This will usually last a century, and the cost is also higher than timber.
• Poured Concrete: This is also referred to cast in place concrete and is one of the most popular architectural materials. This is vital, consistent, flexible but at the same time susceptible to cracking, moisture and chemical damage. The cost would be lower than natural stone however not as low as timber.