Life Expectancy In our experience Concrete sleeper retaining walls typically last 15 to 25 years.
Designed to construct retaining walls up to 4 meters high, our sleepers come in STD, HD, and EHD variants, meeting the Australian Standards (AS3600/2018) requirement for a 50-year lifespan design.
These sleepers are usually assumed to last perhaps 50 years, but changing operational and environmental factors can mean the actual life of the sleepers may be much shorter or longer.
Life Expectancy
Hardwood H4 Sleeper retaining walls can last 20 to 30 years.
Concrete Retaining Walls
The typical lifespan of these walls is between 40 and 100 years, although they can persist for several decades. They may considerably increase their lifespan with proper installation and routine maintenance, making them a dependable long-term alternative.
Disadvantages of Retaining Walls
One significant disadvantage is that they can be expensive to build. Retaining walls require careful planning and engineering to ensure they are strong enough to hold back the soil. Another disadvantage of retaining walls is that they can be difficult to maintain.
How Long Does Concrete Last on Average? Concrete lasts around 50 to 100 years, according to the Portland Cement Association, which focuses on cement-related policy, education, and research. Of course, this is quite the range, but concrete life span depends on numerous factors.
Soil saturation is the most common external factor that causes retaining wall failure, but there are many ways to prevent it.
Softwood sleepers may last less than 5 years if they are not treated. Softwood sleepers come from pine and it is known that they are less resistant to decay. They need to be treated and maintained and then you can expect them to last for up to 20 years. Hardwood sleepers have been known to last up to 100 years.
(ii) Concrete sleeper has been widely used all over the world since 1950. Advantages of Concrete Sleepers: It is more durable having greater life (up to 50 years) It is economical as compared to wood and steel.
It is brittle and cracks without warning. It cannot be repaired, and required replacement. Fittings required are greater in number.
Height of Concrete Sleepers
The sleepers' size falls in the range of 1.2 meters or 1190 mm to 3 meters with different widths including 80mm, 100mm, 120mm and for some special cases even 150mm. With a 5 kPa pressure, the height will range from 800 mm to 7500 mm. Under 10 kPa, the height ranges from 500 mm to 7000 mm.
A prestressed concrete railway sleeper or tie is designed for a maintenance free service life (usually 50 years). The environmental factors affecting the service life are reviewed. Recommended procedures for design to a nominated service life, and the relevant specification considerations are discussed.
Concrete and Boulder Walls
Standing at the pinnacle of durability, poured concrete walls and boulder walls boast the longest lifespan. Their robustness ensures they can endure the test of time, often lasting 50 years and beyond.
Applying a high-quality sealant to your concrete sleeper wall significantly enhances its protection against weathering and environmental elements.
The first sign that your old wood retaining walls need to be replaced is if they are starting to lean or bow. This can be caused by soil erosion, water damage, or old age. If the wall is leaning more than 2 inches, it's time to replace it.
Average Cost of Concrete Sleeper Retaining Walls
Starting at $480 to $680 per square metre, including standard design, basic excavation, and installation.
The maximum height of a sleeper retaining wall is 2.8 metres. And the higher the wall, the more engineering support is required. This could mean installing additional steel posts for your wall's reinforcement.
Softwood that is left untreated will still last around two to five years, which is why all of our softwood sleepers have been treated for longevity. We also supply hardwood sleepers, with oak sleepers ranging from 15 to 20 years and European oak sleepers lasting for 20 years.
Discover how the right retaining wall can reduce soil erosion, improve water drainage, and transform your property. Depending on the material, soil, and groundwater, a permanent retaining wall can last anywhere from 25 to 100 years.
Poured concrete is the strongest and most durable choice for retaining walls. It may also be carved and formed to look like mortared stone depending on your taste.
One of the best retaining wall solutions is to add vegetation on and around the structure. Native dune grass, shrubbery, and other plants can reinforce and stabilize retaining walls. This is because the root systems of plants trap soil to keep it in place and absorb moisture naturally.
Modern concrete usually lasts around 100 years before it starts to crumble and fall apart.
The life span of concrete masonry units can vary depending on several factors, but in many cases, CMUs can last up to 100 years. Unlike materials like wood and some metals, concrete doesn't deteriorate over time.
If the conditions are right, concrete building blocks have a lifespan of 100 years or more. This makes them a very durable building material. Indeed, concrete created during the Roman Empire can still be found today, which demonstrates how long-lasting it can be.