Groundwork · Brighton, Hove and nearby
Sleepers and retaining walls
We build timber sleeper retaining walls and terraces to deal with changes in level, split a garden into usable spaces, or hold a raised lawn in place. Sleeper work is quoted after a free, no-obligation survey.
Making a slope usable
A lot of gardens around Brighton are on chalk hillsides: Saltdean, Rottingdean, Woodingdean, Ovingdean and the upper parts of the city. Sleeper walls let us cut a slope into level terraces for a lawn, a patio or planting, and hold the ground in place.
Retaining walls are often part of the groundwork for an artificial lawn, so the grass can sit level instead of following an awkward fall.
They are also useful on smaller changes of level: a single riser to separate a patio from a lawn, an edge that stops bark or gravel migrating, or a low wall that gives a raised bed a firm back. Not every slope needs a tall wall. On the survey we look at the fall, what you want to use each level for, and the simplest way to get there.
How the walls are built
Timber sleepers are set to the line and height agreed on the survey, with the ground behind them compacted in layers as the wall goes up. The exact method — how the sleepers are stacked, pinned and founded — depends on the height, the ground and what the wall is holding. We will not guess that from a photograph, because a low decorative edge and a wall holding a terrace of soil are not the same job.
On chalk, the cut behind the wall and the way the ends meet existing banks or fences need care, so the new work does not undercut a neighbour’s ground or leave a raw edge that unravels. We also look at access: sleepers are heavy, and getting them into a tight Saltdean or Rottingdean hillside garden, or down a Kemptown basement, is part of the plan and the price.
Drainage behind the wall
Water has to go somewhere when a slope is terraced. We plan for run-off behind and below the wall as part of the job, so a new terrace does not push water onto steps, the house or a neighbour.
That may be as simple as a drainage layer and a clear outlet, or it may tie into a wider drainage plan for a new patio or lawn. On lower or heavier ground, and on plots where a neighbour already sheds water towards you, this is as important as the wall itself. We would rather build that into the quote than add it later.
Sleepers with lawns, beds and steps
Sleeper walls often sit alongside the rest of the garden: a retained lawn on the upper terrace, raised planting beds on a lower one, and steps or a short run of decking between them. Doing those together means the risers, the lawn edge and the planting level can be set as one piece of work.
Low sleeper edging is also a clean way to finish an artificial lawn, especially in a small yard, so the grass has a firm border without a heavy wall. We will suggest that where it is all the garden actually needs.
Price, limits and guarantee
Height, length, ground and access all change the price, so sleeper walls are quoted after a free, no-obligation survey. There is no minimum charge, and all works are guaranteed. If a wall would need to be higher or more engineered than is sensible as a garden terrace, we will say so on the visit rather than force a solution. We do not give structural or planning advice; where those questions arise, they need to be checked before work starts.
Price
Sleepers and retaining walls work is quoted after a free, no-obligation survey, because size, ground, access and materials all change the figure. There is no minimum charge and all works are guaranteed. If you are also thinking about a new lawn, artificial grass is typically £55–£65 per m² installed, as a guide.
Where we do this
We are based in Brighton and cover the city and the surrounding towns and villages. Sleepers and retaining walls comes up often in Saltdean, Rottingdean, Woodingdean, Ovingdean, Telscombe. Each area page has notes on local gardens, ground and access.
- Brighton
- Hove
- Saltdean
- Rottingdean
- Peacehaven
- Telscombe
- Woodingdean
- Ovingdean
- Kemptown
- Portslade
- Shoreham-by-Sea
- Lewes
Often done alongside
Common questions
Can you level a sloping garden?
Often, yes, with sleeper retaining walls and terraces. How many levels and how high depends on the slope and is decided at the free survey.
Can sleepers be combined with artificial grass?
Yes. Sleeper edging and retaining walls are a common part of our artificial grass groundwork. If you are also thinking about a new lawn, artificial grass is typically £55–£65 per m² installed, as a guide.
How much do sleeper walls cost?
They are quoted after a free survey, because the height, length, ground and access all affect the price. There is no minimum charge, and all works are guaranteed.
Do sleeper walls need drainage?
Yes. Water has to go somewhere when a slope is terraced, so we plan for run-off behind and below the wall as part of the job.
How high can a sleeper retaining wall be?
That depends on the ground, the height of the retained soil and what the wall is doing. It is decided at the survey. If a wall would need to be higher or more engineered than is sensible as a garden terrace, we will say so.
How do I book a survey?
Call or WhatsApp 07826 525732, email ruffellsgrass@gmail.com, or use the free survey form. We work Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm. Surveys are free and there is no obligation.
Free, no-obligation
Book a free survey
Adam will come and look at the garden, talk it through and confirm a price. As a guide, artificial grass typically costs £55–£65 per m² installed; other work is quoted at the survey. There is no minimum charge, and all works are guaranteed.
Had work done by Ruffells?
A short Google review helps other people in Brighton and nearby find us. Thank you.