Retaining walls
Engineered to hold back soil on sloping gardens, with foundations, reinforcement and drainage sized for the height retained.
Read more about retaining wallsPN Landscapes builds brick, natural stone and sleeper garden walls, retaining walls and raised beds in Uckfield and East Sussex, on concrete foundations with drainage behind retaining structures.
Walls do the structural work in a garden. They hold back soil, create level terraces on a slope, raise planting to a comfortable height and give a patio an edge to sit on. We have been building them across East Sussex since 1997.
We work in brick, natural stone and timber sleepers, and choose the construction to suit what the wall has to do. A knee-high planter and a wall retaining a metre of wet clay are very different jobs.
Types of garden wall we build
Raised beds & seating walls
Low walls that lift planting, edge a terrace and double as seating, often with stone copings.
Get a quote about raised beds & seating walls
Sleeper walls
Treated softwood or oak sleepers fixed to posts set in concrete, for a natural look and a quicker build.
Read more about sleeper wallsChoosing a walling material
| Material | Look | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Brick | Crisp and traditional; matches most houses | Use frost-resistant bricks with a coping. The widest choice of colours and textures. |
| Natural stone | Premium, in keeping with Wealden sandstone | Coursed, random or dry-stone effect. Pairs well with stone paving. |
| Timber sleepers | Rustic and informal | Economical for low retaining walls and beds. Needs ground-contact treated timber and drainage. |
| Gabions & concrete block | Contemporary or purely structural | Fast to build and strong. Block walls can be rendered or faced in stone. |
Construction
What makes a wall last
- Foundations: a concrete footing taken down to firm ground, wider and deeper for taller walls and on clay.
- Drainage: retaining walls get a free-draining backfill and weep holes or a perforated pipe, so water pressure does not build up behind them.
- Movement and frost: the right mortar, movement joints on long runs, and a coping to shed water.
- Engineering where needed: walls retaining more than about a metre, or close to a drive or building, are built to a structural engineer's design.
Large patio & walling
“Excellent workmanship and extremely helpful and polite staff. Paul Noel was great at keeping us informed and his ideas and vision for the project was excellent. Well done also to Dan for his fantastic walling and eye for detail.”
Why choose PN Landscapes for walling
- Built for the load: We assess what the wall is retaining and build the footing and drainage to match.
- Stone to match your paving: Walling stone, copings and bricks sourced through PN Paving Supplies.
- Experienced wallers: Customers regularly single out our walling for its finish and attention to detail.
- Established 1997: A family firm based in Uckfield, working within about 20 miles.
Questions we are asked
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission for a garden wall?
Generally not if the wall is no higher than 1 metre next to a road or footpath, or 2 metres elsewhere. Listed buildings and some estates have extra restrictions.
How high can a retaining wall be without an engineer?
There is no single legal height, but as a rule walls retaining more than about a metre of soil, or supporting a driveway, building or slope above, should be designed by a structural engineer.
Brick, stone or sleepers: which is cheapest?
Sleeper walls are usually the most economical for low heights. Brick sits in the middle and natural stone is the premium option. Foundations and drainage often matter more to the price than the facing material.
PN Landscapes
Talk to us about a garden wall
Send a photo or book a visit. We will advise on materials and construction and give you a written quote.
Phone: 01825 733317
Email: info@pnlandscapes.co.uk
Address: Flitteridge Farm, Daleham Lane, Splaynes Green, Uckfield TN22 3TQ
Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8am–1pm
Paving and stone: visit PN Paving Supplies, our sister company on the same site.