Can Retaining Walls Be Built In Cold Climates?

Yes, retaining walls can be built in cold climates, but they may require special consideration for frost heave and drainage.

What Is The Frost Line, And Why Is It Important For Retaining Wall Construction?

The frost line is the depth in the ground to which the soil freezes in winter. Proper foundation depth should be below the frost line to prevent movement.

Are There Any Alternatives To Traditional Retaining Walls?

Alternatives include gabion walls, crib walls, and vegetated retaining walls.

Can Retaining Walls Be Used For Terracing A Sloped Yard?

Yes, retaining walls are commonly used to create terraced landscapes on sloping yards.

What Are The Signs Of A Failing Retaining Wall?

Signs may include leaning, bulging, cracking, or displacement of the wall, as well as drainage issues and erosion.

Retaining Walls | MJS Construction Group

Google Rating

5.0

Based on 43 reviews

MJS Construction Group | Dual Occupancy Builders

5.0

Adrian Harris

23:00 13 Dec 24

We could not be happier with the end result of our duel occupancy project. With a tight budget and a odd-shaped block of land, finding the right builder was an initial challenge. MJS immediately eased our concerns and presented a clear pathway for the project.Completion was 4 months ahead of schedule and we received exceptional communication throughout through the entire process.We also started at a time when the building industry was going through supply challengers, which did not appear to have an impact on this builder.We encountered zero delays with any single aspect of the project and the end result was completely as expected. There were no defects or issues with the either townhouse.If you are after a builder that knowns how to get the job done, and communicates well without delay, then I would highly recommend MJS construction.

Anna Nutbean

03:40 17 Nov 24

We are absolutely thrilled with our new home! From start to finish, the entire building process was seamless and stress-free. Jeff and his team were professional, attentive to our needs, and committed to delivering top-quality craftsmanship.Every detail was carefully executed, and they went above and beyond to make sure our vision came to life. Communication was excellent throughout the build, Jeff phoned us weekly with an update.The end result is a home that exceeded our expectations in every way — it’s everything we dreamed of and more! We highly recommend MJS to anyone looking for a reliable, skilled, and customer-focused builder. Thank you for making this such a wonderful experience!

Carla Rinder

06:29 09 Nov 24

MJS are the best builders in Melbourne! We couldn’t be happier with the work done by Jeff, Joel & the rest of the fantastic team. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality is top-notch. They always deliver on what they promise, and it’s been an absolute pleasure working with such lovely, reliable people. We would absolutely work with them again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a trustworthy and skilled builder!

MSIS Accounts

20:42 10 Oct 24

Patrick Davies

01:52 19 Jun 24

We couldn't have been happier working with the professionalism and experience MJS Construction offered.This was the first building project we took on and were committed to building a dual occupancy. Whilst we had the plans drawn up with a different builder, we had all sorts of problems working with them, with delays and inconsistent advice and slow responses. Eventually they went into administration, which seemed devastating at the time, however it was the best thing that could have happened.We had spoken with Jeff from MJS Constructions several times throughout the lead up with the alternate builder and always appreciated his direct and honest approach. Once we had the freedom, we contacted Jeff to take over the project, which was essentially from the beginning -we didn’t even have the slab down.From his own experience working in similar situations, Jeff helped us navigate the world of insurance and the challenges with the company going into administration to ensure we got the best result. From there he picked up the project and helped us reset and build the homes we wanted.MJS Constructions gave us flexibility and allowed us to make changes to the choices we had made previously, to update the plans and add a few personal touches that we otherwise weren't able to do.The MJS Construction team were most helpful and supportive throughout each step, from Daniel at the planning phase to Belinda at the selections phase, to Mick as the Project Manager to Josh who prepared the house for us to take over.The buildings themselves are of great quality and the project plan implemented ensured consistent progress each week with weekly progress reports over the phone. When we encountered setbacks, Jeff always presented solutions to meet time targets and we were never left wondering what was going on or what was next. The building site was always kept tidy to the point that passersby would stop to comment, and the final houses were handed over in impeccable condition.We couldn’t have been happier with the experience and appreciated all the work by the team. It was lovely to have them all here for the handover, to do the final walk through and the post project support continues as we settle in.

Nik Michalik

05:56 15 Apr 24

Design and construction of dual occupancy dwellings.After an unpleasant experience with a previous builder, our family was quite hesitant to pursue further property development plans and engage with another builder, however, after our initial discussion and meeting with Jeff and the MJS Construction team, we felt that things would be different, and indeed, fast forward 12 months and our faith has been restored in the construction industry.While there are some players who contribute to giving the building industry a less than positive reputation, Jeff and his team work tirelessly on the other side to provide an excellent customer experience and product of the highest quality to balance things out.From the weekly check-ins, constant correspondence, to the great attitude of putting the customer's needs first, no task or request was too great or felt cumbersome to ask. If you want a builder that values transparency, communicates clearly and effectively, and is attentive to detail then you won't go wrong with Jeff and the MJS Construction team (Mick, Dan & Belinda).Thanks MJS Construction!Jack, Izabela and Nik

Nam Do

00:35 05 Mar 24

Best builder ever!!! I can’t recommend Jeff and his team enough.If you get a chance to build with MJS, count yourself lucky. We went through over 3 years lengthy process with 3 different builders just dragging things out. The last one was Porter Davis, who went under. That’s when MJS took over from our early framing stage and finish the job in 7 months.The whole process with Jeff was so simple and everything was so well communicated, which is a breath of fresh air after dealing with all other builders. His attention to details, quality of work, expertise, experience, and great communication make the building process a breeze. Jeff is super accommodating and always making sure I get exactly what I want in the house.This was definitely a silver lining for us with Porter Davis going under. Now, we have a much better-quality built house and exactly how we want it. Jeff went above and beyond in several areas and did extra work for us above what we had agreed. His whole team at MJS (Daniel, Joel, Josh, Belinda) and all his tradies (Guy, Luke, Jessie) are all very kind, knowledgeable, professional, and easy to deal with. Thank you all!

Alison Lord

04:59 07 Feb 24

Jeff and the team at MJS are excellent builders. We have been extremely pleased with the final result of our townhouse development in Beaumaris. This has culminated in MJS winning the 2023 HIA award for our project. They are a very efficient building team and the project ran smoothly throughout. All of the trades people work to an excellent standard and we could not recommend MJS more highly. We are happy to speak to any prospective client of MJS. Thanks again Jeff and if we were to build in the future you would be the first person we would call.Best regards, Alison & Greg

ilana weizman

03:25 13 Jan 24

We very highly recommend MJS Construction Group. We started our dual occupancy homes in July 2022. We were quoted 12 months for the project and it was actually completed under time in just 11 months! Jeff and the team (Daniel, Joel, Josh and Belinda) were absolutely fantastic. They are extremely experienced and unbelievably well organised. I was so nervous in the beginning, but everything was smooth sailing from start to end. Would absolutely use MJS again without any hesitation if we were to build again.

Phil Sealy

23:02 17 Dec 23

I have just completed a two townhouse development with MJS Construction Group.From start to end, the process was executed on time and communication from Jeff and the team was excellent. Whilst under construction, trades seemed to be on site everyday ensuring the project was completed and handed back to me ASAP, which is vitally important to keep my holding costs to a minimum.The build looks amazing, and I am so glad I built with them, so much so, that I have just instructed them to commence working on another townhouse development I have.They get a five-star recommendation from me….

Brian Teys

23:17 09 Nov 23

We are first time builders and were somewhat apprehensive about what we were about to embark on. We could not have made a better decision than going with MJS Construction Group to build our 2 townhouses. Our thanks to Jeff, Daniel, Joel, Josh and the team for their patience, dedication and focus in delivering 2 fabulous townhouses. Jeff, the General Manager, made the project feel like a real partnership. He made sure everything went to plan and gave us confidence that we would get a top class finish, which we did. We were kept fully informed of the progress of our build with weekly briefings giving us plenty of opportunity to ask questions and keep up to date. Nothing was too much trouble. We were provided with an end to end solution from drawing up the plans to dealing with the intricacies of the council planning process to handing over the keys at the end. We couldn't be more happy with the final result. We recently had handover of the townhouses and despite a few minor defects that have been identified, Jeff has continued to show his persistence in following through to ensure they are rectified without any fuss in a timely manner. If you're looking for a dedicated, professional builder with attention to detail do yourself favour, put MJS at the top of your list.

Rick B

03:14 20 Oct 23

Great work from MJS and the team! Quality Builders

helen halidas

06:58 25 Sep 23

MJS team (Jeff, Daniel, Josh, Joel and others) were amazing to deal with, again that is. From our weekly update, even if no update and just touching base, to getting the house built quicker than we imagined. We have absolutely loved building with you guys, our dream home has exceeded our expectations and we love it!!

Melbourne Simple Insulation Solutions

05:50 20 Jan 23

Leila C

03:40 13 Jan 23

We’ve just moved into our new MJS built home – and here’s a summary of our experience, and why we’d use them again: first off, it definitely felt like a “team” project and that we were a part of the process. Our concerns were heard and addressed to our satisfaction. Jeff was our main point of contact throughout the build and he clearly takes pride in his work. We challenged him with specific requests (such as retaining parts of the garden that are not usually retained in knock-down-rebuilds) and he made it happen! He communicated weekly with us to keep us updated on the build progress and was readily available if we reached out to him, and acknowledged our concerns and guided us through uncertainties. The wider MJS team are just as approachable and great to work with. We had a brilliant experience, despite the challenges on the sector posed by COVID-19. The final product speaks for itself – it is stunning and we are still receiving compliments from strangers on the street! Thanks so much, again, to MJS for our amazing home!

Eli Ratiner

02:37 10 Dec 22

My wife and I recently completed a dual occupancy development with MJS; unlike the horror stories that have gained prevalence in the news recently, building with MJS was a pleasure and exceeded all our expectations.Given that this was our first project, we were particularly diligent in selecting a builder who could deliver a quality build whilst operating within our strict budget. After receiving a strong recommendation from a family friend and inspecting the quality of their work, we chose to proceed with Jeff and the team at MJS. The first thing that stood out to us was Jeff’s willingness to collaborate and find creative solutions that would provide us with the extras we wanted, without blowing up our budget. Moreover, throughout this project, Jeff and the team were extremely responsive, delivered on their commitments and conducted themselves with a great degree of professionalism - this really helped minimise the stresses associated with developing a property. Another thing we really appreciated was the way Jeff held himself (and everyone involved) accountable; not only in sustaining our dialogue but also persistently chasing up subcontractors to ensure that all promises were fulfilled. Impressively, this demeanour and attitude did not cease after handover - Jeff ensured that all the identified defects were addressed in a timely manner and with little fuss. A small shout out to the rest of the MJS team who were instrumental in making our vision a reality:Daniel, thank you for your patience and for hand-holding us throughout the selections process. Joel, thank you for keeping things ticking along onsite and facilitating visits for our peace of mind. Josh, thank you for bringing everything together during the fixing stage and ensuring that all work was performed to a high standard. Also worth noting that all the interactions we had with the subcontractors were positive - everyone was friendly and willing to address any identified issues.All in all, I’m pleased to confirm that our project was delivered on time and on budget. This was quite a remarkable achievement given the challenging circumstances that the building industry was facing with material availability as well as COVID lockdowns in Victoria.A final thank you to Jeff, Daniel, Joel and Josh - you guys are legends and the final product is outstanding!

Narani Smyth

23:02 17 Oct 22

Jeff and his team (Daniel, Joel and Josh) went over and above to ensure I had my dream home. Even through the challenging time of COVID they were able to finish my build to the highest quality, on time and within the budget. Every step of the way Jeff was professional and transparent with weekly updates which I appreciated. Jeff is extremely knowledgeable and was always willing to share his expertise and advice. Thank you, Jeff and the team! I would highly recommend them to any of my friends or family.

Tyrell Cramond

07:03 09 Sep 22

Elena Pavlou

04:00 25 Jul 22

Jeff and his team at MJS have been incredible to work with. Their dedication, attention to detail and ability to follow through constantly exceeded our expectations. MJS helped guide us when we were unsure of decisions and always made sure we were happy with the outcome. I can’t recommend Jeff and the team more highly. For such a huge investment, you want to have a team like them behind your project. If we were to build again, we would absolutely use MJS construction.

Seshan Ramaswamy

22:41 16 May 22

My wife and I are extremely happy to have gone with MJS Construction Group. Very top quality and reliable. I will highly recommend you to talk to this Construction Group if you are building your dream home.

Oleg Mitnovetski

09:16 13 May 22

This was our first build and we were very lucky that MJS Construction Group was recommended to us. We were building during the challenging time of Covid, with shortages of building materials, lockdowns, price rises and still Jeff and his team managed to complete our house ahead of schedule. It was completed to the highest standard and on budget. The whole process was very transparent, with no hidden costs, all fees were explained and most were included in the contract. Jeff's communication was excellent, and kept us updated on the progress of the build weekly. He is very knowledgeable and always ready to share his expertise and advice. We will definitely be recommending MJS Construction Group to our friends and family.

Danielle Sacks

05:25 22 Jan 22

Jeff and the MJS team went over and above to deliver an outstanding dual occupancy build for us. Even with lockdowns due to Covid 19 they were able to manage and finish our build on time with premium quality and within our budget. They communicated with us weekly and guided us to make the whole process seamless. We highly recommend them to anyone requiring a new build.

nimrod carmi

05:21 10 Oct 21

Jeff and his team are fantastic, couldn't recommend them high enough

Michael Dobbs

01:40 19 Jul 21

Jeff has completed a number of projects for me. MJS always keeps me well informed and delivers a quality result within a promised timeframe. I highly recommend them for planning, design and construction of dwellings, especially dual occupancy units.

Alexei Mitnovetski

00:53 03 Jun 21

Many thanks for Jeff and the MJS group for their hard work. Always listened to our queries, no matter the difficulty. Everything was done professionally and with care . Jeff and the MJS group made our dream house come true and we cannot be thankfull enough!This is the "one in a million" builder, highly recommend!

Kylie May

04:57 15 Apr 21

We have recently finished a rear extension with Jeff and his team. The whole process from planning until after completion was carried out in a very professional manner and nothing was ever too much trouble for them. Jeff continually kept us informed throughout the whole process and his attention to detail has resulted in an extension we are thrilled with. We would gladly use them for any future building works, in fact I doubt if we would use anyone else!

Roman Meister

12:43 02 Feb 21

MJS Construction group just completed construction of two townhouses for us & our partners in mid December 2020. The overall project was completed in less than 10 months despite Covid19 restrictions that were imposed during the build. We cannot speak highly enough of the very high standard of the completed townhouses. We were touched by Jeff, Daniel, Josh & dedicated team of trades’ attention to detail, their dedication & quality finish. Special thanks to Jess & Guy also. The professionalism of the whole team is outstanding. We are very pleased with the result!Considering this was our first project - thank you Jeff & teamRoman & Nonna

Mikhail Solovei

23:45 10 Jan 21

MJS Construction group have just finished building of two townhouses for us, and we are so happy with the result! It is not the first time we build;during the process we were admiring Jeff's knowledge, honesty, attention to details, and above all, professionalism. Our whole project was finished in 10 months!, and to a very high standard. Thank you Jeff, Josh, Daniel and all team for the wonderful work you have done!Mikhail and Elena, Elsternwick.

Sanjeeb Rai

00:47 08 Dec 20

We used MJS to complete our duplex. This is my experience dealing with them.I found Jeff to be man of his word and a straight talker. When he says he will do something he makes sure it is done. He also follows up with you to make sure the job is completed. Even after 6 month of completing the build he still keeps in touch to see how the house is and if anything needs to be repaired. From what I know some of the other builders don't want to know you once the project is completed. So it is a very big plus and peace of mindAlso I found that Jeff is a trustworthy person. He will not lead you on with vague promises. He will let you know straight up if it can be done or not. If he is not sure he will follow up and give you an answer. He is also very knowledgeable and I mean not only text book but also practical real life building knowledge. When you want something different he usually comes up with a solution for them.Build was completed couple or weeks before the deadline. The attention to detail was great and was on budget.This was my experience dealing with Jeff and MJS Construction. If you are building I highly recommend giving him a call as you have nothing to lose but gain a very good builder.

Serryn Hayes

00:54 09 Oct 20

Our project was a full internal renovation which included some very complex structural changes. Jeff and his team at MJS Constructions came highly recommended from friends. After meeting with a number of architects and builders, our first meeting with Jeff left us absolutely clear that he was the one to run our project.Jeff was very knowledgeable and provided clever suggestions that made our layout more workable and he was transparent from the beginning about what could and couldn’t be done within our budget. Danny worked patiently with us through the selection process and we were very impressed that lots of little important details that are often ‘extras’ were in fact already incorporated into the contract. Provisional sums were generous and so our project came in on budget with no hidden extras.The communication during the project was outstanding. Jeff contacted us at least weekly during the entire project to provide an update and took us through regular walk throughs so we could see the project progress, ask questions and check in on details along the way.His team of highly skilled professionals worked extremely hard during the pandemic period which posed big challenges with supply shortages and restrictions. Despite this, they continued to deliver an outstanding high quality result, right on time.One of the many extra things that delighted us was Josh ‘the finisher’ who spent the last two weeks meticulously checking every detail, addressing any issues and setting up/configuring our appliances so that our home was truly ‘move in’ and ready to enjoy.We absolutely struck gold with Jeff and the MJS team. He is an outstanding Project Manager with a strong attention to detail. He provides excellent communication and was always honest and transparent. Like everyone, we had heard 100’s of horror stories about builders and, being our first major project, we were nervous. However, we have had an incredibly positive experience throughout and we can not thank Jeff and his team enough.We absolutely recommend MJS Constructions as a 5 star builder. Jeff is our go to builder now and after such an amazing experience, we look forward to working with him on other projects down the track.

Daphne Able

12:24 19 Jul 20

We've just moved into one of 2 townhouses built by MJS Constructions. We can't praise thework done by Jeff and his exceptional team enough!!. The build was meticulously followed by Jeff on a daily basis and contact with us was prompt and clearly communicated. The level of work is visibly high.We employed the services of MJS Constructions after falling victims to a charloten builder that left us financially and emotionally devastated. This company was just what we needed to get us back on our feet and we're thrilled in our home.Do yourselves a favour and use this company - you will be very happy with the result. We are happy to be contacted for feedback.

Rick Pian

02:17 01 Jul 20

It is extremely hard to find a good builder in a competitive market. This is the fourth building project and third dual occupancy project that we have done so we are quite familiar with the process. By far Jeff and his team have been the most responsive, thorough and knowledgeable of all that we have dealt with. Jeff exceeds all expectations as a manager and communicator. He promises to call every week and does so without fail, he is hardworking and transparent, and his attention to detail is exceptional. He also listens, which is probably the most important characteristic of a builder to have. He has a fantastic knowledgeable team and his tradesmen are very respectful and experienced.We are overjoyed with the results of our dual project, exactly as we expected, no less, probably more. I cannot recommend Jeff enough. I would be very happy to do another project with Jeff, he has become our go to builder. The most heartfelt thank you to Jeff, his team and tradesmen at MJS.

Lisa yau

07:29 10 Jun 20

My husband and I researched extensively and spoke with numerous building companies before engaging Jeff for our duplex building project and we are very glad about our decision. From the beginning ( before signing contract) till the handover, Jeff and his staff exceeded our we expectation with their progress communication and follow- up.We were fully aware of every step of the build and it greatly reduced any potential anxiety through the project.Jeff and his staff are experienced, knowledgeable and have good work ethic. We appreciate their practical advice to ensure the build was of good quality, aesthetically pleasing and within our budget at the same time.After we were handed over our beautiful townhouses, Jeff and his staff are great at following up with us to ensure we are happy with everything.We have recommended MJS to our friends and we think all the staff at MJS have set a good example for people in their industry.

suegle9

04:58 30 Apr 20

Jeff and his team rescued our build project, having been left high and dry from our previous builder. We would have no hesitation in recommending MJS Construction Group for your build project, and look forward to working with Jeff and his team on our next project. We valued Jeff's high communication and project management skills and the team’s attention to detail and quality. MJS took away all our concerns during the build and has followed up post hand over to ensure all is well. Jeff and his team at MJS are total professionals with a strong client focus that ensured our project was enjoyable, exciting and delivered ahead of time. We strongly recommend MJS to look after your project. Thank you to all the staff and team at MJS Constructions; we could not imagine where we would be without you.

Domenic Brasacchio

22:00 02 Mar 20

I wanted to say a big thanks to the team at MJS Construction. I've built with Jeff before and it's refreshing to work with a builder that is truely a professional and cares about the end product he produces. The end result was a well finished product beyond my expectations. It's the little things that made a difference like the advice on selections and refinements to plans during the build phase that resulted in a great finish.You often hear about people who have poor experiences with builders, but I can truely say that the team go above and beyond to ensure that you feel like you're being listen to along the journey. So even on the odd occasion that something do go wrong onsite, the team made sure that the situation was rectified without question. At the end of the day, I had a great experience with on budget and on time delivery. I have no hesitation in recommending them and that's quite rare in this industry in believe.

Jessica ZINELLU

00:13 29 Dec 19

Jessica Lam

06:34 19 Nov 19

Jeff, Josh and the team have been absolutely wonderful! We had a knock down rebuild project to build two houses on the one block of land for my partner & I and the in-laws. The MJS team have been extremely helpful the entire way of our development journey and really paitent with us, espcially with the in-laws when they had lots of questions. They explained things to us when we were unsure and they definitely had our best interest in mind by providing us with helpful suggestions when we were being money concious. It has been an absolute pleasure working with the team, they've delivered amazing houses that exceed our expectations and worked really hard and diligently to complete our homes ready for move in before the Christmas to avoid the long period of rest over the holidays.

Dayna Van Rooyen

04:43 15 Oct 19

We have 2 Beautiful Townhouses! The professionalism, quality and speed was impressive. MJS team are so organised and on top of everything. Stress free building. We can't thank you all enough.

James Geros

05:03 03 Oct 19

As home development investors, we've researched and tendered to several builders and were immediately impressed with MJS as they instilled with us the confidence we needed to commit to our projects. Jeff is thorough and prompt with explanations of the entire building process and any quires we have.Jeff is hardworking, transparent and honest with an exceptional eye for detail and quality. A vision that translates into the end product.The post hand-over support has been beyond exceptional and I cannot praise this enough with any slight teething issue immediately resolved.Jeff continues to be our primary builder and we look forward in expanding our portfolio with him.Based on these experiences we highly recommend MJS.

Alan Dang

13:31 29 Sep 19

Popi Fidantsis

05:58 28 Sep 19

We highly recommend anyone who is looking to build to give MJS Construction Group a call. We are onto our third project with them and I have to say the building process is very easy with regular updates on the build. Attention to detail is second to none as is the management of the entire project. Communication skills are impeccable and we are always made to feel like we can completely trust them to stay on top of the trades. We really appreciate the staff’s cooperation and dedication towards quality, workmanship and helpful hints and recommendation along the way. If you want quality, price and customer satisfaction, then MJS Construction Group will deliver at the highest level. Definitely 5 star service and piece of mind.

Mike Watson

22:04 08 Sep 19

We had a relatively small extension project on a property with very restricted access. Many other builders didn't even turn up to quote. After a call, Jeff was on site within two days and advised us how to change our plans to make the project easier and less expensive, without compromising design or function. Jeff and his team were a pleasure to deal with. Nothing was too much trouble and the speed of work had our neighbours in awe. Jeff considered the impact on the neighbours and worked with them to accommodate their needs. Attention to detail was exceptional and even at the end, Jeff was suggesting light placements or small changes which can only be assessed at that stage. While only a small project, Jeff treated us like his only client - super responsive and delivered on time and on budget. We highly recommend Jeff!

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