Terracing sloping gardens in Sheffield
In Walkley, Crookes, Gleadless, Hillsborough, Stocksbridge and plenty of other parts of the city, it is normal for a back garden to rise or fall a full storey. Left as a slope, it is hard to mow, hard to sit on and hard to get up with a barrow. Terraced, it becomes separate level areas joined by steps.
Retaining walls
A retaining wall holds back a great deal of weight, more when the soil is wet. We build on concrete foundations with drainage behind, so water can escape instead of building up pressure.
- Sleepers: warm, quick and ideal for lower walls and raised beds.
- Block and brick: for taller walls, rendered or faced to match the house.
- Natural stone: to suit Sheffield's stone houses and boundary walls.
Taller walls, or walls supporting a neighbour's land or a driveway, may need an engineer's design, and we will tell you if yours does.
Steps
Comfortable steps have the same rise every time and treads deep enough for a whole foot. We build them on solid foundations in stone, porcelain, block or sleepers, matched to the terrace or path they join, and can add lights in the risers.
Paths and side passages
Paths follow the routes people actually walk. Side passages, often steep and narrow in Sheffield, get a fall away from the house, steps where needed and drainage where water collects.
No side access? Many hillside terraces have none. We plan for carrying materials and waste through, and price it honestly.
Retaining walls, steps and terracing across Sheffield
We work right across Sheffield, including Hillsborough, Dore, Totley, Fulwood, Broomhill, Stocksbridge, Chapeltown, Beighton and more. Give us a ring on 0114 463 0309 with your postcode if you are unsure whether we reach you.
Questions about retaining walls, steps and terracing
Can you make a very steep garden usable?
Yes. Retaining walls or sleepers and steps create level terraces for patio, lawn and planting.
Do retaining walls need planning permission?
Most garden walls do not, but walls over two metres, or over one metre next to a road, normally do.
Do I need an engineer?
For tall walls or walls holding up a neighbour's ground or a drive, often yes. We will advise.
How long do sleeper walls last?
Many years with treated timber and good drainage; hardwood lasts longer.
