"stone quarried stonemasons restoration"

Stone: LUNDHS Antique ® - polished surface.With its calm and earthy brown colour sprinkled with blue, turquoise and green crystals, Lundhs Antique is a perfect backdrop when you want to create your own personal spa retreat.

Our Thermopine® cladding, painted black, is the ideal companion to a traditional stone and slate cottage in the Scottish Highlands. The new elements of the home focused on clean, sharp lines, and painting the cladding black allowed for a strong contrast to the neighbouring traditional cottage.

Washroom Washroom has created a unique changing area at a luxury central London health club using materials including copper, Ted Todd end grain feature wood panels and Zodiaq stone to deliver the boutique hotel style requested.

This five-plot new build project in rural Lincolnshire required cream sash windows in order to match the local architecture, including the stone lintels and cills that had been selected. As a high-end development, the windows needed to be high spec and fully accredited.

Stoneworld provide an extensive range of beautiful natural stone flooring, perfect for any home or setting. This client chose our popular La Roche acid-etched limestone interior flooring for their home, including their kitchen, conservatory, utility room and dining room.

Resin Bound porous Terrabound was selected for the new surfacing at Abbotsford House as part of the lottery funded restoration of the property completed in May 2013. Addagrip approved contractor The Fraser Bruce Group carried out the 850sqm installation of 6mm Rhine Gold Terrabound Resin Surfacing at a depth of 18mm to the courtyard and garden pathways. It was essential throughout the works that the aesthetics of the system were not compromised and the joints were kept to a minimum. The result is a durable, porous, low maintenance, decorative finish in a natural aggregate to complement this historic building.

Products donated by F. Ball and Co. Ltd. have been used as part of ‘The Secret Garden’, a charitable restoration project at Glenfield Hospital. Work commenced with the removal of carpet tiles and a small area of vinyl tiles, in addition to flattening of a high point. After ensuring that the subfloor was sufficiently sound, dry and free of contamination, Stopgap 1200 Pro was applied to the floor at a thickness of 3mm to create a base for new floorcoverings. Finally, vinyl sheet was installed, with joints welded and a silicone sealant used to affix the floorcovering to skirting boards.

Bona Craft Oil 2K was specified for the restoration of the Beech floor in the world’s largest purpose-built recording studio. In constant use by orchestras and choruses, it was essential to choose a highly durable, quick drying finish to minimise downtime. Bona said “It was unusual for us to have to consider the acoustic properties of one of our finishes before creating this specification, but understandably this was of paramount importance for the studio team. Another beneficial property of a ‘traditional’ oil finish, is the ease with which local repairs can be made, usually without sanding.

Bona Craft Oil 2K was specified for the restoration of the Beech floor in the world’s largest purpose-built recording studio. In constant use by orchestras and choruses, it was essential to choose a highly durable, quick drying finish to minimise downtime. Bona said “It was unusual for us to have to consider the acoustic properties of one of our finishes before creating this specification, but understandably this was of paramount importance for the studio team. Another beneficial property of a ‘traditional’ oil finish, is the ease with which local repairs can be made, usually without sanding.

The Ecclesiastical cast iron floor grille isn't used exclusively in churches, cathedrals or abbeys. We've supplied these beautiful Scottish made gratings to a number of religious buildings across the country that's for sure but their main use is in "ordinary" period properties and listed buildings. Buildings with large heating pipes sunk into the floor with suspended walkways. Places like Stansted and Rotherfield Hall or National Trust, Mount Stewart Property in County Down and Halls in Melton Mowbray and Stoke on Trent. To make a real feature or for a sympathetic restoration why not take a look ...

Framlingham College was founded in 1864.The land on which the college was built was originally part of the Castle estate, left by Sir Thomas Hitcham in 1636 to Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. Included in the Governors’ recent £4million development initiative was the restoration of the original metal windows within the schools boarding accommodation. Clement were chosen to sensitively replace the windows in both the Stradbrook and Rendlesham buildings. To replicate the unusual, shaped head existing windows, the Clement W20 range of steel windows was specified with vertical pivots and genuine T glazing bars.

The 73ft long, 85 tonne swing bridge which has been restored to its former glory and in 2022 won the Railway Heritage Trust Conservation Award, sits next to Rewley Bridge, and is open to visitors. To ensure the bridge is protected against vandalism and the public and visitors are kept safe while walking around the attraction, demarcation fencing and gates were required. To secure the site, Jacksons installed 57 metres of 1.25m high Barbican Imperial fencing and a 3.6m wide double leaf gate with a padlockable slide latch. 

A host of products from Johnstone’s have been used to help restore Portsmouth F.C.’s Fratton Park stadium to its former glory. The decorators have been aided significantly by the performance qualities of products from Johnstone’s range. These included Covaplus Vinyl Matt, for its washable finish with excellent opacity and coverage, Stormshield Smooth Masonry in team colour Pompey Blue on brickwork, Flortred for flooring areas and Smooth Metal Paint to protect metal barriers in the lower North and West Stands.

Civic Court is an imposing Grade II-listed structure in the heart of Leeds. Many of the building’s period features had been covered up and forgotten about during renovation work in the 1990s, so it was the job of Greens Decorating Contractors, together with lead contractor Estilo Interiors, to carefully and skilfully restore these historic features. Working under the supervision of English Heritage, over a period of three months a team of six used a range of Johnstone’s Trade and PPG coatings to give the building a new lease of life.

Built in 1855 as an Elizabethan School for local children, the historic and landmark Castle Club has also been a children’s hospital, youth club and private residence in its long history.Since being acquired by property developers Thackeray Group however, the Grade II Listed building is now to be converted and extended as a specialist care home.The work includes not only the restoration of the historic gothic structure, but also the building of a modern four-storey extension to the rear, including a 5,000-square-foot basement extension.

With fire doors under close scrutiny in the aftermath of Grenfell, the public’s trust in their ability to protect lives and assets urgently needs to be restored. Rebuilding confidence in fire rated doorsets needs a focus on every element of its construction, with one of the most critical elements being the intumescent seal. Intumescent seals have now been used in fire rated doorsets for four decades. They help to stop the spread of fire and smoke, with the most common types in the UK being manufactured from compounds of sodium silicate or intercalated graphite.

Working closely with Meldrum Construction and architects Purcell to support The Auckland Project’s conservation scheme in Bishop Auckland; Selectaglaze provided the Grade I Listed Auckland Castle with a bespoke secondary glazing solution to compliment the restoration for the purpose of security. Overall, the newly renovated rooms are far better equipped to house exhibitions and museum collections. Selectaglaze is proud to have been involved in this project that will generate a legacy for Bishop Auckland; supporting an attraction that will breathe new life and opportunities into the local economy and overall visitor experience.

Witley Court is a ruined Italianate mansion built in the seventeenth century and expanded in the early nineteenth century by the Architect John Nash. In 1937 a major accidental fire broke out and whilst the building is in ruins, it is Grade I listed and in the care of English Heritage who restored the formal gardens and fountains. Bolton Gate were engaged to design and manufacture gates replacement gates to provide night-time security with special folding bottom tracks to leave the floor surface intact and installed with great care to maintain the building’s status.

A small farm cottage in a Cornish Village has been transformed with a stunning large modern extension and balcony.The team of Camel Glass installers have been heavily involved in this home with the installation of windows, doors and the glass balustrade. This home is situated on the grounds of an old quarry, with views over the valley towards an engine house. The customers wanted to be able to enjoy their view to the maximum and using glass balustrade provides a safe and solid railing. This home is highlighted throughout with copper oxide furnishings, the front door and elements of the kitchen follow this theme while the sink splash back is made from glass petals in a beautiful glass meadow scene. The balcony glass was the last outside job to be done, having to wait for the kitchen counter to be installed through the French doors it was safer to install the glass after this had been carried over the balcony. Now that winter is coming the indoor jobs can be finished off and the home owners can enjoy their newly renovated home! This installer has used POSIglaze base-fix in black. Balcony Seal® has also been used to ensure water can run off the balcony under the channel without causing water ingress. Most balconies and flat roofs are built with a slight pitch to encourage rainwater to drain towards the edge of the roof. In these cases, the balustrade installer needs to allow for drainage points under the channel, to avoid water pooling around the edge of it. The Balcony Seal® system works by subtly raising the channel a few millimeters above the substrate on drain blocks. Notches on the top side of the drain blocks locate into the rebates of the POSIglaze channel, locking it into position before the system is bolt-fixed to the substrate through each block. 

A small farm cottage in a Cornish Village has been transformed with a stunning large modern extension and balcony.The team of Camel Glass installers have been heavily involved in this home with the installation of windows, doors and the glass balustrade. This home is situated on the grounds of an old quarry, with views over the valley towards an engine house. The customers wanted to be able to enjoy their view to the maximum and using glass balustrade provides a safe and solid railing. This home is highlighted throughout with copper oxide furnishings, the front door and elements of the kitchen follow this theme while the sink splash back is made from glass petals in a beautiful glass meadow scene. The balcony glass was the last outside job to be done, having to wait for the kitchen counter to be installed through the French doors it was safer to install the glass after this had been carried over the balcony. Now that winter is coming the indoor jobs can be finished off and the home owners can enjoy their newly renovated home! This installer has used POSIglaze base-fix in black. Balcony Seal® has also been used to ensure water can run off the balcony under the channel without causing water ingress. Most balconies and flat roofs are built with a slight pitch to encourage rainwater to drain towards the edge of the roof. In these cases, the balustrade installer needs to allow for drainage points under the channel, to avoid water pooling around the edge of it. The Balcony Seal® system works by subtly raising the channel a few millimeters above the substrate on drain blocks. Notches on the top side of the drain blocks locate into the rebates of the POSIglaze channel, locking it into position before the system is bolt-fixed to the substrate through each block. 

‘The STEAMhouse building’, launched by Birmingham University is the winner of the Victorian Society’s Birmingham and West Midlands Conservation Award, in recognition of outstanding restoration.The STEAMhouse building dates back to 1899 and was seriously damaged by fire in 2007. Previously used as a manufacturer for the Eccles Rubber & Cycle Company this Grade A listed building undertook a £70m transformation to become the creative hub it is today. The space now supports businesses, academics, hosting companies and start-up businesses, supporting enterprise and industry. The Victorian Society was so impressed with the transformation of this historic building that it has been presented with the 'Birmingham and West Midlands Conservation Award 2023', in recognition of outstanding restoration.Mumford & Wood supported this transformation by designing and manufacturing 45 bespoke timber windows and door, tailored to fit the unique openings found on the façade of the building.Matthew Blaylock, Commercial Director, Mumford & Wood states:“We enjoy the challenges that listed buildings bring, and so with strict planning requirements in place, we understood the importance of replicating the detail of the original windows but offering the performance of a modern day product. Timber Casement windows were designed for the ground and first floor, and Timber Vertical Sliding Spring Sash windows to the second floor. These were chosen from our Conservation range and tailor-made to replicate the original frame margins and Ovolo profiles. It’s always an honour to work on a historic project like this, it’s what our products are designed for.”

Originally built in 1928, the Fullerton building was initially usedas an office, housing entities such as the Ministry of Trade andthe Chamber of Commerce.Following a brief spell as a makeshift hospital during thesecond World War, Britain’s surrender of Singapore to Japanled to the building becoming the headquarters for Japan’smilitary operation in the country.In 1997, the Building was sold for £300m and work beganon renovating it for use as a hotel. Architects 61 set outto restore the building’s existing facade. The neo-classicalcolumns and high-ceiling verandas were retained and the theShanghai plaster panel cladding was restored.However, the interior had to be completely transformedto accommodate the hotel’s 400 rooms. New additionsincluded the indoor garden and the new restaurant, where thebuilding’s historical lighthouse was kept and incorporated intothe decor.Allgood began work on the Fullerton in 1999, with a viewto supplying a high quality, bespoke package that wouldcomplement the building’s prestigious reputation.Allgood originally specified a combination of stainless steelHaft Elipse levers and matching pulls (top & bottom rightimages) in the public areas, along with bespoke FSB pullhandles for the ballroom doors (bottom left image). In the backof house area, Modric lever handles were fitted throughout,ensuring the hotel had a product that would last for at least 25years.More recently, Allgood were asked to provide new windowfittings in a polished stainless steel finish, to match the whitepainted windows in the bedroom

Stone: LUNDHS Emerald® - silk/leather surface.Norwegian farmer and florist, Helga Bonden, has renovated her family kitchen. Blending contemporary materials and a modern colour palette into the 100-year old farmhouse with care, the end result is absolutely beautiful.

Wienerberger's Porotherm Cellular Clay Blocks (PTH100, PTH140, PTH190) were used to construct a McCarthy and Stone development, in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, consisting of 32 one and two bedroom apartments, and was the third Porotherm development to be undertaken in the West Midlands region.

This outdoor home lift was installed at this stunning stone built house out in the Welsh countryside and is home to a couple that were looking for an accessibility solution after a double knee replacement. The adaptability of the A5000 makes it an ideal choice for an outdoor lift, saving the internal square footage of the home.

This outdoor home lift was installed at this stunning stone built house out in the Welsh countryside and is home to a couple that were looking for an accessibility solution after a double knee replacement. The adaptability of the A5000 makes it an ideal choice for an outdoor lift, saving the internal square footage of the home.

An openair swimming pool of a design described as the finest in England is being restored to its former elegance with Crittall windows playing a significant role.Saltdean Lido, some five miles east of Brighton, is a Grade II* listed Art Deco masterpiece built in 1938 utilising an innovative reinforced concrete structure designed by architect Richard Jones. It is one of only three Grade II* listed lidos in the country and has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register for many years.The structure epitomises the essence of the modernist movement with sweeping lines designed to elevate Saltdean’s status as a resort. In its heyday, immediately before the Second World War, holidaymakers and local residents would flock to it paying sixpence to swim and to sunbathe on the adjacent lawns.After the war, during which it was used for Fire Service training, it lay derelict until restored by Brighton Borough Council and stayed in use until the late 1990s when local people banded together to defeat a developer’s plan to demolish the lido and build apartments on the site.A Community Interest Company campaigned successfully to have the pool brought back into use which was achieved in 2017. Now it was the turn of the buildings currently being restored by Buxton Building Contractors of Surrey.Once completed the building will house an Art Deco event space, suitable for weddings, an exercise studio, library, community hub, café and heritage learning zone plus workspace.A key element of the design is the generous area of glazing facing the pool. Here will be installed Crittall Homelight Plus steel windows that replicate the original fenestration and, because of the slender frames, maximise the benefits of natural light on this bright coastal location.The windows are also hot dipped galvanised to prevent corrosion and Duralife coated with marine grade polyester powder which will offer the highest level of protection against the aggressive wind-borne sea salts that caused damage to the original building.Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive, commented: “The handsome Saltdean Lido was inspired by contemporary ocean liner and aircraft design and is architecturally probably the finest in England.”Once completed, thanks to the streamlined white concrete surfaces and the sparkling Crittall windows, the building will once more provide, quite literally, a shining example of its genre.

An openair swimming pool of a design described as the finest in England is being restored to its former elegance with Crittall windows playing a significant role.Saltdean Lido, some five miles east of Brighton, is a Grade II* listed Art Deco masterpiece built in 1938 utilising an innovative reinforced concrete structure designed by architect Richard Jones. It is one of only three Grade II* listed lidos in the country and has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register for many years.The structure epitomises the essence of the modernist movement with sweeping lines designed to elevate Saltdean’s status as a resort. In its heyday, immediately before the Second World War, holidaymakers and local residents would flock to it paying sixpence to swim and to sunbathe on the adjacent lawns.After the war, during which it was used for Fire Service training, it lay derelict until restored by Brighton Borough Council and stayed in use until the late 1990s when local people banded together to defeat a developer’s plan to demolish the lido and build apartments on the site.A Community Interest Company campaigned successfully to have the pool brought back into use which was achieved in 2017. Now it was the turn of the buildings currently being restored by Buxton Building Contractors of Surrey.Once completed the building will house an Art Deco event space, suitable for weddings, an exercise studio, library, community hub, café and heritage learning zone plus workspace.A key element of the design is the generous area of glazing facing the pool. Here will be installed Crittall Homelight Plus steel windows that replicate the original fenestration and, because of the slender frames, maximise the benefits of natural light on this bright coastal location.The windows are also hot dipped galvanised to prevent corrosion and Duralife coated with marine grade polyester powder which will offer the highest level of protection against the aggressive wind-borne sea salts that caused damage to the original building.Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive, commented: “The handsome Saltdean Lido was inspired by contemporary ocean liner and aircraft design and is architecturally probably the finest in England.”Once completed, thanks to the streamlined white concrete surfaces and the sparkling Crittall windows, the building will once more provide, quite literally, a shining example of its genre.

Another one of our lovely customers recently sent in some pictures of them having used Owatrol products to restore their hardwood decking.As you can see, their efforts paid off and his garden deck looks as good as new!Here’s what he had to say about it:We have recently renovated our hardwood decking with Prepdeck, Net-trol and Textrol. The decking was laid three years ago and treated with a decking stain (not Owatrol!) but it started to turn grey very quickly.These pictures were taken over the course of a few days. The process was simple to follow and we’re very pleased with the results.Products usedPrepdeckPrepdeck is a water-based, high-grade stripper/cleaner specially designed for the removal of old, solid and semi-transparent stains, unsightly grade stamps and other types of finishes from wood.It is a three-in-one product: Its main purpose, when used undiluted, is an effective way to prepare wooden surfaces for further treatment.When used diluted, Prepdeck can reduce the mill glaze on new wood to prepare the surface to accept a saturating finish.Net-TrolNet-Trol is a powerful wood cleaner and brightener which restores greyed and weathered wood back to its natural colour. It easily removes surface and ground-in dirt to leave the wood looking fresh and new again. All without damaging the wood’s fibres.Net-Trol is fast-acting and can restore the colour of your wood in as little as 15 minutes. All without sanding!It is also is biodegradable and does not contain solvents or bleach, making it safe to use in multiple environments.TextrolTextrol is a highly saturating oil for exterior soft and hardwood. It works by saturating the wood to protect it from within, meaning there’s no film on the surface and so it will not peel or flake.Textrol is available in 7 shades, including clear, and enhances the natural beauty of the wood whilst providing a mildew-resistant finish.This offers exceptional and long-lasting protection from the effects of moisture, weathering and UV rays.Thank you so much for sending us over these pictures of your renovated hardwood decking, Paul!

Byrom Point is a new build 398-bed student accommodation scheme that has been completed using the Generix stone cladding system in a Jura Limestone finish. Designed by Falconer Chester Hall architects, the project is a significant addition to the World Heritage site around Liverpool's docks.

For the construction of a large villa of soft and natural colours in the countryside near Bologna, various Atlas Concorde floor and wall-tiles collections were used. Stone and wood effect porcelain stoneware tiles highlight the volumes and geometries in interior design by coordinating with outdoor floors that surround the home. Atlas Concorde floor and wall tiles offer interesting cues and ideas for home furnishing.The private dwelling, divided into two separate blocks, is at the heart of a lusciously green and bright garden rich in walkways made from the Trust stone effect outdoor floor collection. Indoor floors alternate the Axi wood effect porcelain stoneware and stone effect Advance collections. For the bathroom was used wall tiles, a cladding that combines expressive power with practicality, the Ewall collection, inspired by the look of spatula spread cement. Prestigious materials throughout the kitchen. The kitchen of the villa is enriched with style thanks to the Atlas Concorde porcelain stoneware and wall tiles. The tiles distinguish themselves for impeccable aesthetics and decorative character, guaranteeing numerous advantages, such as easy cleaning and maintenance. The low porosity makes the kitchen wall tiles resistant to humidity, stains, mildew and bacteria, and make them perfect for creating the kitchen backsplash, which needs to have other specific requirements, such as ease of cleaning, resistance to stain and resistance to heat. Bathroom tiles in a hose of great aesthetical impact. The bathroom wall tiles of the villa are covered in tiles from the Ewall collection by Atlas Concorde. Inspired to spatula-worked cement, the surface is enhanced by a delicate structuring and reflections of light, for a tremendous aesthetic and visual impact. Atlas Concorde ceramic tiles also guarantee easy cleaning and maintenance when used as a wall tile in showers, where they carefully highlight the elegance of every detail.Safe living outdoor. The surfaces immediately surrounding the villa created using the Trust porcelain stoneware collection give life to outdoor floors that combine the naturalness of stone with resistance to heavy footfall and adverse weather conditions, durability and safety. Outdoor floors in 2 cm thickness are also perfect as patio or terrazzo tiles, to experience the outdoor living of the house in total freedom.

Project Overview: Westfield London has undergone a £600 million refurbishment and extension programme to become the largest shopping centre in Europe. With shopping and leisure outlets including a flagship gym, cinema, restaurants and bars, it is a premier retail and social venue in London.The design intention for the 740,000 sq foot extension was for Jura Limestone to surround a significant part of the exterior of the building and small sections of the interior. Various factors encouraged the designers to explore alternatives that could provide both a fast turnaround and the majestic, enduring appearance of Jura Stone.The Solution:Powdertech expertise, combined with the flexibility and design freedom of aluminium and powder coating, enabled the vision to be quickly realised.A sample of Jura limestone was sent to Powdertech where tests of different powders and effects were compared against the limestone which has natural veins of quartz and fossils appearing against a beige background. Test samples were sent back to the client and within four weeks ‘Ballycastle Stone’, a bespoke powder in our Landscape™ range, was ready to be applied to 4500sq m of aluminium cladding panels. These have an uneven leg tray to produce a saw-tooth effect as the image shows.It was essential to achieve colour consistency between batches and our powder coatings excel in this aspect. The overall effect on the finished building is an homogenous appearance of stone, across the whole, but with variations in flecks of colour against the background, just as in the stone itself. The powder coating will provide excellent corrosion protection and has an external life expectancy of up to 40-years.Benefits of using Powdertech:Powdertech is passionately interested in the development of powder coatings to reproduce natural tones and textures and in the effect of colour within architectural design.All powders have excellent weather resistance and colour stability.Powdertech's rigorous pre-treatment system will help to keep the façade free from corrosion for up to 40-years.Powdertech understands the need for fast turnaround in building construction and can accommodate short timescalesPowdertech’s state-of-the-art plant has capacity for large fabrications.

The Sniezka Medica Spa, a multipurpose hotel with great urban appeal, is located in Łomnica, Poland. Atlas Concorde floors and tiles help shape the contemporary design of the large spaces of this hotel. Every detail of the project and the choice of materials have been designed to give the best reception to an international clientele.Marble-finish ceramic surfaces for scenic patterns and geometries in space Spaces are modern and welcoming. In the hall and in the area in front of the hotel’s reception, the star is Marvel PRO, which outlines the floors in scenic and practical interiors. Here, interior design plays with an alternation of light shades, such as Cremo Delicato, and dark shades, such as Noir St. Laurent. The honed finish of the Marvel PRO marble-effect stoneware gives unprecedented shine. In the Noir St. Laurent nuance, the stoneware surface resembles a kind of French marble with a dark ground, shades ranging from rich brown to deep black, outlined by white veins. It alternates with Cremo Delicato, which looks like a kind of Italian marble in a beige shade that verges on ivory, standing out for its delicate brown veins.Stone-effect stoneware for outdoor safety and aesthetic impact   In the hotel’s three entrances, stoneware surfaces celebrate a luscious, attractive nature with the Trust collection by Atlas Concorde. The ceramic surfaces of the Trust collection look like stone, with similarly rich details. Titanium was the colour of choice for this architectural project, as it takes inspiration from a precious split stone, embedding its scratches and elegant colour streaks.

The circular building, where legends like The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd began, was redeveloped and reopened in 2006. FOAMGLAS® insulation was used for the floor, the façade and the flat roof, ensuring water and vapour resistance despite the open nature of the façade. It is also non-combustible and waterproof.

A Victorian masterpiece restored. The St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel and Residential Chambers is being hailed as one of the city's most romantic buildings. Majestic shower screens were specified for all 68 luxury apartments and penthouses in the residential chambers and the key elegant bedroom suites at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. A wide variety of Frameless models were supplied including Barcelona, Rio and Cadiz shower enclosures. As well as the high performance that you would expect from a premium product, minimal design and accurate installation were essential for this project.

The local council was tasked with constructing a footpath within a restricted area allowing safer access to a busy health centre. It was important to maintain the natural green appearance. A retaining wall was required and had to be quick and easy to erect with minimal disruption. ABG Webwall was chosen as the solution. The Webwall was quickly constructed using 4m x 1m panels which were filled with soil from the excavation and cutting. The wall was replanted to restore an naturally green appearance. Webwall was built in a quick cost effective way to create an environmentally friendly retaining wall