Installation
How we install a concrete wall
There are eleven stages, from first contact to handover of a clean site. The wall is assembled in two-metre segments: a hole is dug for each post, the panels slot into the grooves without mortar between them and only then are the posts concreted in. At a rate of 20 to 30 metres per day, a 40 m wall is up in one to two days.
We carry out the work with our own team — we do not subcontract the installation. This page describes what happens at each stage, what we need from you and what changes when the plot does not cooperate.
The eleven stages
- 01
Contact
Tell us the municipality, the approximate length and the height you want.
Just send us a message. With those three details we can already give you a ballpark figure over the phone, using the same tables published on the prices page. You do not need exact measurements at this stage.
Client
- 02
Visit
We look at the wall line — on site or from photographs.
This is the stage that determines the real price. We look at three things: whether there is access for the vehicle bringing the pallets, whether the line is clear or has roots, rubble or an old fence, and whether the plot slopes. On small or distant sites, a few photographs of the boundary and the entrance serve the same purpose.
We
- 03
Quote
A fixed price in writing, itemised, before any work begins.
The quote always separates three figures: the material at the list price, the installation per linear metre and the delivery. If the line needs clearing, we say straight away what has to go — that work is the client's and is not part of our price.
We
- 04
Ordering and lead time
The four stock textures leave the warehouse; the rest are produced to order.
Grey in Classic Wood, Alpine, Urban and Minimalist is in stock in the Greater Lisbon area and does not wait for production — that is what almost every job with a set date goes through. White and the other textures in the catalogue are made to order, and there the lead time depends on the factory's workload and on the time the concrete needs to cure.
We
- 05
Material delivery
Panels and posts arrive on pallets, on the agreed date.
Unloading requires a flat, accessible point next to the site. The pallets are heavy and cannot be stacked, so it is best to know in advance where they will go. If the street is narrow or traffic has to be closed off, we deal with that during the visit and not on the day of delivery.
We
- 06
Marking out the line
The line is stretched and the post positions are marked every two metres.
The segment between posts is 2.00 m, the length of the panel. The setting out defines from the outset where the corners go, where the gate comes in and, on a sloping plot, where the wall steps from one level to the next.
We
- 07
Boreholes and foundation
Each post takes a 300 x 300 x 800 mm hole and is buried between 550 and 800 mm deep.
The hole is dug by hand, with a spade or auger, and in stony ground with a demolition hammer. This is the wall's foundation: there is no strip footing or beam, each post rests on its own concrete block. The cost of the hole and the concrete is included in the installation price.
We
- 08
Panel installation
The panels slide into the grooves in the posts, one by one, with no mortar between them.
This is why the system is fast: the panel slots in and settles under its own weight, each 500 mm course on top of the previous one. It takes no glue or cement between panels. A 500 mm panel weighs about 57 kg and is moved by two people, without machinery — only the 3300 mm posts on 2.5 m walls usually call for mechanical help.
We
- 09
Plumbing and concreting
With the segment assembled, the posts are plumbed and concreted into the holes.
The order matters: panels first, then the concrete. That way the post is fixed in exactly the position the panel gave it, and the wall ends up aligned rather than approximate. The concrete needs curing time before any load — the site normally moves on to the next segment while the previous one cures.
We
- 10
Edge finishes and slopes
On sloping ground the wall is built in steps, each step with its own post.
A precast concrete wall does not follow a ramp: it follows the gradient in steps. Where the slope is steeper, the steps are more frequent, and each one means one more post and one more panel cut. On your municipality's page the typical gradient for the area is measured.
We
- 11
Handover of the site
Aligned wall, concreted posts and a clean site.
The job ends with the plot tidy: leftover panels, pallets and surplus concrete leave with us. We walk the line with you before leaving, and that is the moment to point out anything that is not right.
We
Free quote, with no obligation. Tell us the municipality, the length and the height — we reply with a figure.
How long it takes
At a rate of 20 to 30 metres of installation per day, counted from the moment the material is on site. The figures are for continuous installation in normal conditions.
| Wall length | Days of installation |
|---|---|
| 20 m | 0.7 to 1 days |
| 30 m | 1 to 1.5 days |
| 40 m | 1.3 to 2 days |
| 50 m | 1.7 to 2.5 days |
| 60 m | 2 to 3 days |
| 80 m | 2.7 to 4 days |
| 100 m | 3.3 to 5 days |
The pace is our own, measured on site. Higher figures circulating in the market assume a straight line, flat ground, stone-free soil and a team of four.
What speeds up and what delays the works
Accelerates
- Straight, clear lineNo roots, no rubble and no old fence to remove.
- Flat plotWith no steps, the wall runs from one end to the other at the same level.
- Access for heavy vehiclesThe pallets are unloaded next to the line, not 40 metres away.
- Stock textureShips from the warehouse, with no wait for production.
- Stone-free soilThe hole is dug with a spade instead of a demolition hammer.
Delays
- Rocky groundEvery hole becomes hammer work — that is what causes the most delay.
- Steep slopeMore steps, more posts, more cuts.
- Line to be cleared on the day of the worksPreparation is the client's responsibility. If the old fence or the rubble are still there, installation does not start.
- Difficult accessPanels carried by hand to the line.
- Many corner posts and gatesEach change of direction is an extra post and a finishing detail.
What is included in the installation
Included
- Marking out the line and the post points.
- Drilling of the holes, including in stony soil.
- Foundation of each post, with the concrete and materials it involves.
- Assembly of the panels and plumbing of the posts.
- Steps and finishes on sloping ground.
- Clearing the site and removing the offcuts at the end.
Quoted separately
- Delivery of the material to the site — on request, depending on the municipality and the volume.
- Line preparation, carried out by the client: pulling out roots, removing rubble and stones, demolishing an old fence that is in the way. It has to be done before the day of installation.
- Gates, shutters and automation.
- VAT at 23 %.
Free quote, with no obligation. Tell us the municipality, the length and the height — we reply with a figure.
Tools and labour
Installation is by hand. The tools are ordinary — tape measure, spirit level, spade or auger, crowbar, a concrete mixer or bucket for the mix, and a bricklayer's trowel. No crane or special equipment is needed on most sites; exceptions are made for the 3300 mm posts of the 2.5 m walls and for plots with no access.
A 500 mm panel weighs about 57 kg and is moved by two people. That is why the system does without the machinery a masonry wall would require.
Questions about the installation
How long does the installation take?
At a rate of 20 to 30 metres per day, a 40 m wall takes one to two days of installation and a 100 m one takes three to five. To that time you must add the delivery of the material, which is arranged for the day before or for the morning of the start.
Is a strip foundation or a pad footing required?
No. Each post has its own concrete footing in a 300 x 300 x 800 mm hole. There is no foundation beam all the way round, and that is why the system is faster and cheaper than a wall built on site.
Does it take cement between the panels?
It does not. The panels slot into the grooves in the posts and sit under their own weight. Concrete only in the post holes. A decorative joint can be made on request, but it is not part of the installation technique.
Do I need machinery or cranes on my plot?
On most sites, no. Installation is manual, with ordinary tools: tape measure, spirit level, spade or auger, crowbar and a mixer or bucket for the mortar. The 3300 mm posts on 2.5 m walls and very difficult ground are the exception.
Can I install the wall in front of an existing fence?
Yes, provided there is at least 350 mm of clearance. Below that, only after we have seen the site, because the hole for the post needs room to be dug and concreted.
What do I have to guarantee on my side?
Three things, and the second one matters most: a flat, accessible spot to unload the pallets; the wall line clean — no roots, no rubble, no stones and no old fence, because that preparation is the client's responsibility and has to be done before we arrive; and the boundaries agreed with the neighbour. From there on it is up to us.
Is installation included in the price of the material?
No, those are two separate figures. The material is charged at the list price per m² and the installation at 59–79 € per linear metre of wall, already including drilling the holes and the concrete for the foundation. Delivery of the material is quoted separately.
Do you build earth-retaining walls?
Not with this system. It is a boundary wall: it encloses, it does not retain ground. To retain earth another solution is needed, with a design.
Measurements, photos and visit
The request is handled remotely: send the measurements and photographs of the wall line and the plot entrance — for most sites that is enough to close the price.
If you prefer someone on site, the site visit is possible and is chargeable: the value depends on the location and is given on request.
Request a free quote
Within 2 working days we will send the price of your wall: how much the material costs and how much the supply and installation costs. The final value is confirmed by the manager.
Just leave your name and phone number — that is enough for us to get back to you. If you tell us the municipality, the length and the height, we will reply straight away with a price and with the lead time for the material.
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