Concrete sleepers are the workhorse of the post and panel retaining wall. Sleepers stack horizontally between galvanised steel posts, the posts carry the load into the ground, and the sleepers hold the soil back...
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About Concrete Sleepers
Concrete sleepers are the workhorse of the post and panel retaining wall. Sleepers stack horizontally between galvanised steel posts, the posts carry the load into the ground, and the sleepers hold the soil back across the span. Ours are 40 MPa at 28 days, reinforced with two N12 bars, and certified by Registered Professional Engineers of Queensland.
Finishes and sizes
Five finishes, each available in all three lengths, all 200mm high and 75mm thick:
- Smooth grey, the standard and the most economical
- Smooth charcoal, a darker modern face that suits rendered homes and Colorbond
- Timber look, woodgrain texture without the rot or the termites
- Slate stone, a stone textured face
- Block face, a moulded block pattern in charcoal
| Length | Weight each | Post centres |
|---|---|---|
| 1480mm | about 54kg | 1500mm, or 1510mm with a fence on top |
| 1980mm | about 72kg | 2000mm, or 2010mm with a fence on top |
| 2380mm | about 87kg | 2400mm, or 2410mm with a fence on top |
Picking the length
Sleeper length is the first decision, because it sets the post centres and therefore the post count. Longer sleepers mean fewer posts and fewer pier holes, which is usually cheaper and faster. Shorter sleepers are easier to handle and give you more flexibility where the wall line is awkward or the last bay is short.
Courses are the wall height divided by 200mm, rounded up. A 1 metre wall is 5 courses.
Handling them
At 54kg to 87kg a sleeper, this is a two person lift by hand and a long wall is a lot of lifts. That is why we deliver on crane trucks and why the sleeper grab exists. If you are laying more than one wall, buying a grab pays for itself in about nine days of hire.
Cutting concrete sleepers releases silica dust. Use a wet saw or dust extraction and a P2 or P3 respirator, and seal any cut face with galvanising spray or bitumastic paint.
What else goes on the list
Sleepers alone do not make a wall. You need galvanised steel posts, wedges to pack each course flush, post caps to finish the tops, and drainage and base behind it. Run the whole thing through the wall calculator, or send us your wall dimensions and we will do the take-off.
Still working out what your wall needs? Start with the wall height guide. Cosmetic seconds are worth a look for courses that end up buried.