Retaining Walls in Como

Como's streets step down toward the Canning River and Swan River, and cut-and-fill retaining on older blocks is a common repair-vs-replace enquiry as post-war limestone walls reach the end of their working life.

Retaining Wall Perth - Como Guide

Como's streets step down toward both the Canning and Swan Rivers, and like neighbouring South Perth, a good share of the suburb's retaining wall enquiries are repair-vs-replace jobs on post-war limestone walls that are now reaching the end of their working life. Where replacement is the right call, post and panel or a rebuilt limestone wall with proper drainage behind it are the common upgrades from the original, often under-drained construction.

Why Como homeowners use our help

Post-war limestone specialists

Como's original limestone retaining stock is a familiar repair-vs-replace job, assessed on its actual condition rather than assumed.

River-grade drainage focus

The step down toward both rivers means drainage design gets particular attention on Como sites.

Honest assessment before any quote

An ageing wall gets properly inspected before a repair or rebuild scope is priced.

About Como

Como sits between the Canning River foreshore and Swan River, with Como Beach and the Collier Park Golf Course among its well-known local landmarks. The suburb was largely built out in the post-war decades, giving it a consistent housing character of that era, much of which is now reaching the age where original retaining walls need genuine reassessment.

Local conditions in Como

Properties near the Canning River foreshore and along Preston Street often sit on blocks with real grade change down toward the water, and the limestone retaining built during Como's main development period commonly lacks the ag-drain and geofabric detail considered standard today - a leading cause of the leaning or weeping walls seen on inspection. Coode Street's commercial strip sits on flatter ground. The suburb's shared boundary with South Perth and Manning means similar ageing-limestone patterns extend across both.

Retaining Walls services available in Como

Every service below is available in Como. Pick one for the detail, or submit the form for a free review.

Limestone Block Retaining Walls Natural and reconstituted limestone block walls - the material of choice on Perth's sandy Swan Coastal Plain blocks and a fit with the local streetscape. Post & Panel (Twin-Side) Retaining Walls Galvanised or concrete posts with precast concrete panels slotted between them - a fast, consistent-finish system widely used across Perth for boundary and driveway retaining. Besser Block (Core-Filled) Retaining Walls Core-filled, steel-reinforced concrete block walls for taller retaining and rendered finishes, an alternative to limestone on engineered walls. Timber Sleeper Retaining Walls H4-treated hardwood and pine sleeper walls for gardens, terraces and low boundary retaining. Rock & Boulder Retaining Walls Natural stone and boulder walls battered back for a rugged, free-draining finish that suits Perth hills blocks and granite-outcropped sites. Retaining Wall Drainage & Subsoil Systems Ag-drain, gravel and geofabric drainage behind every wall - the structural detail that stops failures in Perth's winter-saturated sandy ground. Engineered & Permit-Approved Retaining Walls Walls over 0.5m, on a boundary or carrying a surcharge, designed to AS 4678 by a WA-registered building engineering practitioner and permitted through your local government. Retaining Wall Repairs & Replacement Assessment, repair and full replacement of failing, bulging or cracked retaining walls across the Perth metro area.

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Adjacent suburbs we also cover

South Perth · Manning · Salter Point

Como - Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a registered building contractor for a retaining wall in WA?

It depends on the value and nature of the work. WA generally requires building-contractor registration for builder work valued at $20,000 or more. A retaining wall is classed as an incidental structure under WA building law, but that classification does not by itself remove the registration requirement once the value threshold is met. Confirm your specific project with Building and Energy WA or a registered contractor before signing a contract.

At what height does a retaining wall need engineering in WA?

AS 4678, the earth-retaining structures standard used for WA wall design, generally applies from around 800mm up to 15m. Below the 0.5 metre building-permit exemption threshold, engineering is less often required, but a wall on a boundary, carrying a surcharge load, or on a hills block can need a design regardless of height. Check with a WA-registered engineer for your specific site.

What drainage is required behind a retaining wall in Perth?

Agricultural (ag) drain pipe in free-draining gravel at the base of the wall, a geofabric layer separating soil from the drainage aggregate, and a positive connection to stormwater are standard. Water must not be directed onto a neighbouring property.

Can I replace an old retaining wall with the same style without approval?

Not automatically - replacing a wall is generally assessed the same way as building a new one under current rules, even if the original wall predates today's requirements. Check with your council rather than assuming a like-for-like exemption.