Terracing with scaffold planks.

[bario1]

Hi,

I want to put a couple of low retaining walls on my plot to flatten out a couple of areas and create a bit of interest too. I'm going to use old scaffold planks for the walls (probably only one or two boards high)... but I'm not sure what to use to secure the boards in place? Some kind of wooden/metal posts driven into the ground on the load bearing side i guess, but what's the best (cheapest ) option for posts? Anyone had any experience with terracing this way?

Cheers in advance!

[veggiechicken]

Here's mine in my steep garden. Just posts driven in to hold the boards back - think they were decking boards.



Don't think your plot will be this steep

[Greenleaves]

Site pins are a good option Bario, around £1 each

[bario1]

Site pins? Not sure what you mean GL... a quick google didn't turn up much... fencing pins for temporary fencing? I'm not sure they'd be strong enough to hold back much earth? A heavier duty version would be great but i can't see them for sale anywhere.

VC, have considered your method but the posts will rot in no time, as I've discovered with my raised beds! Maybe tanalised wooden stakes would work, but they're expensive....

[Potstubsdustbins]

Visit a local scaffolding company and ask if they have any condemned boards and putlogs, you never know could be free.

[bario1]

Putlogs? What's them then, Potty?

[veggiechicken]

VC, have considered your method but the posts will rot in no time, as I've discovered with my raised beds! Maybe tanalised wooden stakes would work, but they're expensive....

Mine have been there for 8 years to date!

[Cadalot]

A Putlog is a 1.5m long scaffold tube with the end crushed flat to go in the bed joints of a masonry wall to build a scaffold with no internal legs or standards.

[no_akira]

2" foot lengths of angle iron cut with a grinder at 45 degree angle to create the point.

Then driven into the ground with a big club hammer.

The < | open angle part wedges against the wood.

[bario1]

Mine have been there for 8 years to date!

Yes but you live in sunshiny South Wales! My plot is about 6" above the water table!

[bario1]

A Putlog is a 1.5m long scaffold tube with the end crushed flat to go in the bed joints of a masonry wall to build a scaffold with no internal legs or standards.

Thanks Cadders, that's the first thing I've learnt in 2018!

[veggiechicken]

Yes but you live in sunshiny South Wales! My plot is about 6" above the water table!

Aaahh but, when it rains here, it rains and it runs down the slope from the field at the top.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Just as Cadders pointed out and at nearly 2" round and made off thick steel ideal for hammering into the ground.