Find the Best Rock Pitching Near You

Cities and towns across Australia are developing fast, and you may have already seen the results of stone pitching without realising what it's called. Also known as rock pitching, it's the practice of breaking rocks and stones and then 'pitching'. or moving them to another location to secure certain types of land features or even human-made structures.

For example, many homeowners rely on grouted rock pitching to create elegant and 'natural' walkways in their backyard oases. If you've ever seen a 'wall' of stones placed in a particular way on a sloping hill, that arrangement also called for stone pitching services.

Often, rock pitching projects include rock breaking. To accomplish this, machine operators will use an excavator, and a rock breaker used to crush or break down large boulders that they may encounter during earthworks projects. These are engineering projects that involve the processing of large quantities of soil. Examples of this is excavation done to prepare land for building roadways or constructing sewage and drainage pipe systems.

Once the rock is broken into manageable pieces, service providers will use these smaller stones to secure the soil and land in areas prone to floods or massive seepage. The rock pitching technique can also be used on gully floors between check dams and for scour protection between rivers.

Stone pitching is a process that uses concrete in layers embedded with rocks. Together with the concrete, the laid-out stones create a stable walkway, and the stones blend more seamlessly into the landscape. This technique helps to stabilise an embankment and culverts to break up the flow of stormwater.

Essentially, stone pitching used in road construction helps to stop soil erosion and runoff that would otherwise happen if earthworks engineers were to just leave the piles of excavated soil or land as is. Stone pitching in road construction also calls on a technique known as vertical rock pitching. By placing the rocks vertically, contractors can create retaining walls for vegetation on the side of roadways.

There are some requirements for stones used in rock pitching for road construction. This includes:

• Stones should be clean, hard, and dense, free from cracks, seams, or other imperfections that could interfere with erosion control.
• There can be an assortment of sizes used, but average rock sizes should be within 100 mm to 300 mm.
• Stones should be placed with the hands, with closed joints into freshly spread cement mortar.

Whether it's through grouted rock pitching or vertical rock pitching, the technique of stone pitching is all about protection. Contractors and engineers will use this strategy to protect areas vulnerable to erosion.

Stone pitching reduces and, depending on the placement, blocks the flow velocity of sediment, soil, and water. This way, there is less potential for downstream erosion. Examples of use cases include the headwall of culverts, around dams, at the sides of roads, on the banks of rivers, on sloping hills at the side of roadways, and even around neighbourhoods.

Since it's a more 'permanent' solution to sloped soil erosion, rock pitching needs a well-prepared and cleared surface. This means your intended work area should be cleared of any loose debris and should be fairly even.

Once the area is ready, it's time to select and lay your stones. They should fit together firmly, more or less interlocking like a puzzle. Ideally, they need to be placed perpendicular to the slope, with the narrow side facing down.

Operators can also blend this erosion control method with more natural techniques like planting additional vegetation through the stone pitching.

iseekplant has a nationwide network of quality rock pitchers operating in all Australian capital cities from Brisbane to Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne to Darwin, Perth and Adelaide. We also offer rock pitching solutions in all major towns and cities from Cairns down to the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Geelong and Hobart.

Ready to get successful rock pitching completed on your project? Simply use iseekplant's powerful Get a Quote tool to get the best stone pitching professionals instantly. You can also call us on 1300 691 912 or email us at projects@iseekplant.com.au for more information.

Stone pitching is a method used on steep slopes to stabilise the ground, typically for pathways or embankments. The technique involves interlocking large stones with their flattest sides facing upwards, creating irregular steps that blend naturally with the landscape. These steps not only provide stability but also enhance the visual appeal of the area. Stone pitching is commonly used in areas where erosion control and slope reinforcement are critical.

Several alternatives to stone pitching can be used to stabilise slopes and prevent erosion. One such method is the use of gabions, which are wire mesh cages filled with rocks, providing similar erosion control and slope reinforcement. Another alternative is the use of bio-engineering techniques, which involve planting fast-growing vegetation to stabilise the soil naturally. This option is cost-effective and ideal for environments with rapid vegetation growth, offering a sustainable solution to erosion problems.

Stone pitching is primarily used to prevent soil erosion and reinforce slopes or embankments. Creating a resistant surface with interlocking stones helps prevent water from washing away the soil, especially in areas exposed to heavy water flow. This technique is particularly useful for stabilising surfaces near watercourses, where constant water pressure can lead to erosion. Stone pitching provides long-term stability while enhancing the aesthetic value of the landscape.

The main difference between riprap and stone pitching lies in the method of placement and the purpose. Stone pitching involves carefully placing stones by hand to armour and stabilise slopes, creating an interlocking surface. On the other hand, riprap involves dumping angular, graded stones to stabilise larger areas quickly, typically along shorelines or embankments. Both methods have specific stone size and material requirements, but riprap tends to cover larger areas with less precision than stone pitching.

In a retaining wall, stone pitching involves using irregularly shaped stones that are carefully selected and placed on a bedding material to reinforce the structure. The stones have a typical thickness of around 100 mm, with a total facing thickness of approximately 300 mm. At least 90% of the stones used should have a mass of no less than 40 kg, ensuring that the wall remains strong and durable. This method is often used to provide additional strength and resistance against water and soil pressure.