Crawfords Fencing’s Specialist Boundary Retaining Wall System
One of Crawfords Fencing’s specialties is the design and construction of bolt-on retaining walls with fully integrated fencing.
Rather than building a retaining wall and then installing a completely separate fence behind it, we construct a single integrated system where the fence is securely fixed directly to the structural steel retaining wall posts using heavy-duty brackets fabricated in-house.
It’s a cleaner, stronger and more efficient way to build a boundary retaining wall.
Why We Prefer Bolt-On Integrated Retaining Walls
After years of building retaining walls throughout Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, we’ve found that integrated retaining wall fencing is often the best solution for boundary applications.
By fixing the fence directly to the structural steel posts, there is no need for a second row of fence posts behind the retaining wall.
This provides several important advantages:
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Maximises usable backyard space.
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Allows the retaining wall to commonly be constructed directly on the boundary.
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Eliminates the wasted strip of land between a retaining wall and a separate fence.
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Creates a cleaner, more professional finish.
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Requires fewer excavations.
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Reduces duplicated construction.
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Provides a more efficient installation.
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Allows easier fence replacement in the future while retaining the structural wall.
For many homeowners, every square metre counts. An integrated retaining wall and fence system allows you to maximise the usable area of your property without compromising strength or appearance.
Our Custom Fabricated Bracket System
Unlike many contractors, we don’t simply purchase generic brackets off the shelf.
We’ve spent years refining our own fabrication methods because we weren’t satisfied with many of the products available on the market.
For most integrated timber retaining wall systems we commonly use:
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100 Series Universal Column (UC) galvanised steel posts.
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12 mm galvanised steel plate welded internally within the steel section.
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Heavy-duty bolt-on brackets fabricated in-house.
For Colorbond retaining wall systems we have also developed our own custom heavy-duty bracket manufactured from:
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700 mm long.
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50 mm wide.
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5 mm galvanised steel plate.
This provides a significantly larger and stronger connection between the retaining wall and fence than many standard brackets.
Why We Designed Our Own System
It is extremely rare to find retaining wall contractors who have designed and manufacture their own integrated fencing brackets.
We did exactly that because we simply weren’t satisfied with many of the systems available.
Over the years we’ve inspected numerous retaining walls where lightweight brackets have loosened, distorted or deteriorated.
We’ve also seen contractors install lightweight “Christmas tree” brackets to support Colorbond fencing.
In our opinion, those brackets are not a solution we’d be prepared to install on our own projects.
Rather than compromise on quality, we developed our own heavy-duty bracket system that we confidently install on every integrated retaining wall fence we build.
If we wouldn’t trust it on our own property, we won’t install it on yours.
Built Around Engineering Principles
A bracket is only one part of the system.
Every retaining wall is individually assessed based on:
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Retaining height.
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Soil conditions.
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Groundwater.
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Drainage requirements.
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Wind exposure.
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Surcharge loads.
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Fence type.
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Engineering requirements.
The strength of any retaining wall comes from the complete system working together.
Every Retaining Wall Starts Below Ground
The most important part of any retaining wall is the part you’ll never see.
There is no standard footing depth.
Some smaller retaining walls require relatively shallow foundations.
However, larger structural retaining walls commonly require post depths extending to 2 metres or more, depending on the retained height, soil conditions, engineering design and structural loads.
There is no shortcut when it comes to foundations.
Saving money below ground is one of the quickest ways to create expensive structural problems above ground.
Surcharge Loads Matter
One of the first questions we ask isn’t:
“How high is the wall?”
It’s:
“What is the wall supporting?”
Retaining walls often support far more than soil.
They may also retain:
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Houses.
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Garages.
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Carports.
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Swimming pools.
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Driveways.
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Concrete slabs.
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Boundary fences.
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Large trees.
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Parked vehicles.
Every additional load dramatically increases the pressure acting on the wall and influences the engineering, footing depth and steel selection.
When Is Engineering Required?
Not every retaining wall requires engineering.
However, retaining walls over 1 metre in height, or walls supporting structures or significant surcharge loads, commonly require engineering and building approval.
This process may include:
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Structural engineering.
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Soil classification.
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Geotechnical soil testing where required.
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Engineering calculations.
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Building permits.
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Construction in accordance with the engineer’s specifications.
Engineering ensures the retaining wall has been designed for the loads it will carry—not just today, but decades into the future.
Drainage Is Everything
The biggest cause of retaining wall failure usually isn’t the sleepers.
It isn’t the steel.
It’s water.
As Director Tyrone Crawford often explains to clients:
“If you don’t have drainage behind your retaining wall, you’ve got the beginnings of a swimming pool. The water has nowhere to go, and once it builds up behind the wall, the force becomes enormous.”
Water is incredibly heavy.
As rainwater builds behind a retaining wall it creates hydrostatic pressure, placing massive force against the structure in addition to the weight of the retained soil.
That’s why every retaining wall should include:
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Agricultural drainage pipe (Agi pipe).
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Free-draining scoria.
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Geotextile drainage fabric.
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Suitable drainage outlets.
A retaining wall is designed to retain soil—not water.
Why Crawfords Fencing?
Bolt-on retaining walls with integrated fencing are one of our specialist services.
We’ve invested years refining our fabrication methods because we believe there is a better way to build boundary retaining walls.
Our systems maximise usable land, create a cleaner finish and eliminate unnecessary duplicated construction while maintaining the structural integrity required for long-term performance.
As Director Tyrone Crawford often says:
“Anyone can bolt a fence onto a retaining wall. We built our own system because we wanted one we’d be proud to stand behind for decades.”
At Crawfords Fencing, quality isn’t an upgrade.
It’s our standard.
Need an Integrated Retaining Wall?
Whether you’re building a Colorbond retaining wall fence, timber bolt-on retaining wall, timber sleeper retaining wallor concrete sleeper retaining wall, Crawfords Fencing has the experience to design and build an integrated system tailored to your property.
We proudly service Ringwood, Ringwood East, Ringwood North, Croydon, Heathmont, Blackburn, Mitcham, Vermont, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Templestowe, Warrandyte, Bayswater, Wantirna, Ferntree Gully, Boronia, Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Chirnside Park, Montrose, Coldstream, Yarra Glen and surrounding suburbs throughout Maroondah, Whitehorse, Manningham, Knox and the Yarra Ranges.
Contact Crawfords Fencing today for a free, no-obligation quote and experience one of Melbourne’s specialists in bolt-on retaining walls with integrated fencing.