Frequently Asked Questions

What are the inherent advantages of a rock retaining wall versus other options?

Why is the height I am building so important?

A retaining wall greater than 1 metre in height requires engineering and permits. This can significantly increase planning and costs. If you have the room to build on the natural angle of repose, we can avoid engineering and permits in most cases. This means the higher you build the more you save in cost, time and effort. Of course, we can also build vertically which will be bound by the same rules as other retaining walls.

What are the different types of rock available?

Basalt Rock (Bluestone)

In Victoria, what is known as bluestone is called basalt. Basalt is an igneous rock made up primarily of feldspar and is usually grey to black and fine-grained owing to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. Basalt is incredibly durable and hardwearing.

The holes that appear on the surface of basalt rock are as a result of gases escaping during the cooling process. It is part of the natural beauty of the stone.

It was one of the favoured building materials during the Victorian Gold Rush period of the 1850s. Basalt rock or Bluestone was also used extensively as cobblestone, and for kerbs and gutters, many examples which still exist in some of Melbourne’s smaller city lanes. That kind of historical significance makes it the perfect material to use for larger retaining projects. It can be supplied naturally (as-is) or split. The natural basalt look displays more brown hues whilst the split option brings out the blue.

Highland Slate

Highland slate is a special type of rock that can be easily split into individual layers, making it ideal for use in a wide variety of landscaping projects like walkways, patios and many others. Slate landscaping rocks are a natural raw material that is mined from the ground and does not require any additional processing or transformation. Highland slate rocks can range in colour depending on where they are mined. Colours range from a simple neutral gray to green shades or even blue. You can also get these rocks in brown or warm tan or rust.

Mudstone

Mudstone or mudrock is a fine grained sedimentary rock that comes in a large range of shapes and sizes. Its colour is varied in shades of earthy browns and has a wide range of practical uses from retaining walls, pool and garden landscaping to even more traditional housing construction. Mudstone can be split to form thin plates which adds to its versatility.

We’re lovers of all kinds of rocks here at Rock Walls Melbourne. Every project is different and requires the right system to achieve the perfect result. If you’re looking for a large scale rocks and love the natural look that a rock wall can provide, then we want to hear from you.