Guides
The questions we're asked on site every week, answered properly, with the rules and sources behind them.
In NSW a retaining wall needs no approval only if it meets every exempt standard in the Codes SEPP: generally no more than 600 mm of cut or fill, at least 1 m from any boundary, 2 m from other retaining walls, 40 m from natural water, not on a heritage item and not redirecting water. Anything else needs a CDC or a DA with Northern Beaches Council.
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A sandstone retaining wall in Sydney is usually priced on the square metres of wall face, then adjusted for the block type, site access, rock in the footings, drainage, and any engineering and approval costs. Two quotes for the same wall can differ a lot because they include different things, so compare what each one covers before you compare the totals.
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Seal sandstone with a breathable penetrating (impregnating) sealer, not a film-forming coating, so moisture and salts can still escape. Clean the stone with a pH-neutral cleaner, let it dry fully, test a patch, then apply as the manufacturer directs. Do not seal walls with rising damp, salt problems or old lime-mortar heritage work.
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Yes, sandstone can work around a saltwater pool, but only with a dense, good-grade stone, a breathable penetrating sealer suited to pools, regular fresh-water rinsing and joints softer than the stone. Salt crystallising in the pores is what causes flaking. If you want lower maintenance, travertine or bluestone may suit better.
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