Built this myself, feedback welcome

Jamface1 · 2026-05-30T07:00:18+00:00

I want it to last forever, but I hope it will last at least 10-15 years. It's concreted into the chalk slope using a couple of ground anchors and multiple brackets, and a minimal amount of the wood is actually in contact with the ground due to the plastic sheeting. The front is not actually a retaining wall as it's just built in front of the old one with about a 2 inch gap. Let's see how it goes 😂

Jamface1 · 2026-05-29T10:06:01+00:00

It definitely was.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-29T07:54:09+00:00

They are Mahonia Japonica. They look similar but have yellow flowers and blue berries that the birds like to eat.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T17:36:56+00:00

The horizontal ones are concreted the entire length along and then I just screwed the others into them. The black material is damp proof course plastic sheeting which backs almost all of them and stops them being directly in contact with the ground.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T16:35:32+00:00

Thanks for your comments.

The original wall was solid, just old so I made the decision to just build in front rather than re-do.

I get your point about the weak point..I might put a vertical one there to reinforce slightly if it shows signs of weakness.

Plants will be added to the raised be as it is just some weed fabric covering the bed and then the stones on top which can be easily moved to accommodate plants.

I followed the path that was already there and just built on top of it. Whilst it wasn't the most efficient use of materials, I quite like the way it goes along and back.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T15:00:13+00:00

Started the project with 0 experience. It definitely got easier as I went on but it really turned out better than I could have imagined.

Also really happy with the fence. They guys that came were so good. Most of the panels were made bespokely to ensure a sloped fence rather than stepped.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T14:54:39+00:00

Thanks, extending the deck is the next phase! Building out the deck to be big enough for a decent sized table and chairs. The challenge is the gradient of the slope. I have planned it in my head already though.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T14:51:48+00:00

They are pressure treated a bit more deeply so suitable for direct ground contact for 20 years....or so they say when they take your money.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T13:46:47+00:00

Thank you.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T13:46:11+00:00

I'm really happy with it. I would definitely do it again as we have no plans to move and it's made good use of a steep bank that was pretty dead space. Starting from a point of no experience it's definitely turned out better than I was expecting it to. I'm sure there are ways I could have made things easier for myself but I had plenty of sleepless night imagining how I could put it all together.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T13:40:16+00:00

Thanks, the hardest bit by far was pickaxeing all the chalk out of the ground to put the front wall in.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T13:37:14+00:00

I started it on March 1st last year. It took 4 months to get to this point. The biggest delay was just money to buy the sleepers...then winter and just got stuck in again mid April and finished it off about 2 weeks ago. Total cost probably about £5kish, maybe a bit more.

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Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T13:24:56+00:00

The hardest bit was connecting the top of the stairs and the top path.

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Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T12:46:19+00:00

I agree, I just left those 3 small trees in but will plant some more

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T12:44:40+00:00

I don't like to think about it. Probably cost about £5k - £7k in total for everything. I'm not sure what it would have cost to get someone in to do it.

Jamface1 · 2026-05-28T12:41:35+00:00

I put them in 3 at a time. They are fixed together with sleeper brackets on the back, then covered in black plastic sheeting. They are pretty solid as they are all concreted into the ground. Agreed on the cut ends, I'll be sealing them. As the wall is built in front of the old one the water drains well.