Advice on retaining wall - please help!

[trainingdaydenz]

After a succession of quotes and I am totally confused with the different ways that landscapers are proposing how they will deal with the drainage and rain water.

Many have said different ways and the landscaper I like said they do it this way. Photo to follow.

My garden is a different level so a couple of steps need building and a retaining wall in my small garden. Then a patio will be laid at the front of the retaining wall/steps.

I'm either having sleepers or concrete blocks with cladding.

I've been told that holes are drilled through so water can escape and then a drain is put on the side. Is this the right way of doing it?

Any wood (sleepers included) sitting directly onto soil will eventually rot out. If you watch a million fencing post videos the number of ways people sheath, paint etc treated timber shows that even treated wood will eventually succumb to weather. The damp proof membrane behind the sleepers is a good idea but again what is underneath? I will put this video here, YouTube is an incredible place to find information. This chap I have followed for years and years so he really does know what he is doing. This is how he did sleepers in his previous house garden. Full of information.

I’ve always sloped any paths/ patio slightly away from the house and the drainage to suit. In those photos whatever i pave it with the fall will go toward the aco drain and away it to the main drain.

Thank you all so much for all your videos and advice.

Unfortunately they came back with an extortionate quite and wanted deposit etc. I'm loathe to use people that make you pay up front.

I'd rather use the Bali registered company with a physical address who charged a bit more and give you a contract etc.

Retaining walls should have holes at the bottom every say 2 to 6 feet. They allow underground water to seep through, preventing pressure build-up. Without them, the pressure might cause the wall to move or crack. The amount of water coming out will be negligible or not noticeable, so I doubt you will need the gutter to collect it. It's not so much for drainage (like water pouring off a roof into a gutter) - it's for structural integrity.

@HoppyFish yes I was worried about people messing around with my gutters! It's so confusing as I've had quite a few people to look and most say different things.

Alot are refusing to do sleepers as they rot.

This has put me off doing anything but absolute necessary works. There are too many cowboys to sift through!