Terraces & Walling

Beautifully constructed terraces and garden walls that bring structure, balance and purpose to outdoor spaces, combining careful engineering with timeless craftsmanship.

Terraces and walls are often the elements that define how a garden works. They create usable levels, connect different spaces and introduce structure to the landscape, whether through a generous entertaining terrace, a carefully detailed retaining wall or a simple raised planting bed.

At Tom Child, we design and construct terraces and garden walls that feel naturally connected to the property and surrounding landscape. Every project combines thoughtful design with a strong understanding of groundworks, drainage, structural requirements and materials, ensuring the finished result looks beautiful and performs properly for years to come.

What lies beneath matters most

A garden wall or terrace may appear straightforward, but the quality of its construction depends heavily on what happens below ground.

Foundations, ground conditions, drainage and retaining requirements all play an essential role in preventing movement, cracking and long-term structural problems.

Before construction begins, we consider:

• Ground conditions and soil stability

• Changes in level and retained ground

• Foundation depth and construction requirements

• Drainage and water pressure behind walls

• The weight and loading of surrounding structures

• Movement between adjoining materials

• Access, steps and pedestrian circulation

• The relationship between walls, planting and paving

Particularly on sloping sites, careful planning is essential. Retaining walls must be designed to accommodate the forces acting upon them, with specialist structural input where required.

Much of this preparation will never be visible in the finished garden, but it determines how successfully the landscape performs over time.

Creating spaces with purpose

Terraces and walls are about more than managing levels. Used thoughtfully, they can completely reshape how a garden is experienced.

Depending on the project, we may create:

• Raised terraces — providing defined spaces for dining, relaxing and entertaining

• Retaining walls — transforming sloping ground into practical, usable areas

• Natural stone walling — bringing texture and character to established landscapes

• Traditional brickwork — complementing period homes and existing architecture

• Raised planting beds — adding depth and definition to planting schemes

• Integrated seating — incorporating practical features into the surrounding walling

• Garden steps — creating comfortable transitions between different levels

Every element is considered as part of the wider garden, ensuring changes in level feel natural rather than forced.

Choosing the right materials

Materials have a significant influence on the appearance and character of a landscape.

Natural stone, traditional brickwork and contemporary finishes each bring different qualities, and their suitability depends on the property, setting and intended use.

We work with materials selected for their appearance, durability and relationship with the surrounding garden.

Consideration is given to:

• Colour, texture and natural variation

• Compatibility with existing buildings

• Weathering and long-term appearance

• Mortar, pointing and joint detailing

• Coping stones and finished edges

• Maintenance requirements

• The relationship with paving and planting

Careful material selection helps create a finished landscape that feels established and appropriate to its surroundings.

Drainage and structural integrity

Water management is particularly important where walls retain soil or where terraces sit above surrounding ground.

Without adequate drainage, water pressure can build behind retaining walls, while poorly planned surface levels can lead to standing water or unwanted runoff.

Our approach considers appropriate drainage behind structures, suitable foundations and carefully planned surface falls.

We also pay close attention to the relationship between new construction and existing buildings, boundaries or neighbouring land, identifying where additional design consideration or permissions may be required.

These technical details help ensure the finished landscape remains stable, safe and dependable.

Making challenging gardens work

Changes in level are often seen as a limitation, particularly in larger or more complex gardens.

With the right design, however, they can become one of the landscape’s most attractive features.

A sloping garden can be transformed into a series of connected spaces, with terraces for entertaining, generous lawns, raised planting and carefully positioned steps.

The challenge is to create a layout that feels balanced and easy to move through, rather than simply dividing the garden into separate levels.

We use walling, planting and material transitions to soften these changes and bring the overall design together.

Built to last and improve with age

Well-constructed terraces and garden walls should feel permanent, as though they have always belonged to the property.

At Tom Child, our background in building and construction allows us to combine technical understanding with the finer details of landscape design, creating outdoor spaces that are as reliable as they are beautiful.

From modest raised beds to extensive terraced garden transformations, every project receives the same attention to preparation, construction and finish.

Based in Purley, Tom Child designs and builds terraces, retaining walls and garden walling across Wallington, Cheam, Chipstead, Banstead, Kingswood, Woldingham and the surrounding Surrey and South London areas.

Explore the changes in level in our Chipstead family garden.