Where sandstone works best
Sandstone is a strong choice for larger, rural-style properties around The Oaks, Thirlmere and Douglas Park, where a wall needs to look like part of the landscape rather than a fence line. It’s used for terraced gardens, driveway cuttings and entry walls.
Sawn blocks or rock-faced?
Sawn sandstone (ashlar) gives clean, square courses for a formal look. Rock-faced or split blocks have a rougher, natural face. Both are heavy blocks placed with an excavator, so site access for machinery is an important part of the quote.
What to ask your builder
- ✓What grade of sandstone they’re supplying, and from where
- ✓How the base is prepared and compacted
- ✓How drainage is handled behind the blocks (ag-pipe and gravel)
- ✓Whether your wall height needs engineering or council approval
- ✓How they’ll get the excavator onto your site
Drainage and approvals
Every retaining wall needs a way for water to escape: slotted 100 mm ag-pipe in a geofabric sock, bedded in washed 20 mm aggregate, relieves water pressure behind the wall. Walls over the NSW exempt height (generally 600 mm, and at least 1 m from a boundary), or walls supporting a structure, need structural engineering and CDC/DA approval. More on retaining walls in Wollondilly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sandstone more expensive than concrete sleepers?+
It depends on the size of the blocks, access for the excavator and how much earth has to be moved. Ask for both options on the same site measure if you’re undecided.
Do sandstone walls need drainage?+
Yes. Like any retaining wall, water needs to get away from behind the blocks. Ag-pipe and gravel backfill relieve the pressure that pushes walls over.
How Wollondilly Wall Co works
Wollondilly Wall Co is a local lead-matching service connecting Wollondilly property owners with independent, licensed structural landscapers and retaining wall contractors. When you call or send a request, we pass your details to a local builder who contacts you to arrange a site measure and quote. The builder you’re matched with is responsible for the work, its pricing and any warranties.