DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists

DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists ๐—˜๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฌ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด! DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists brings 20 years of hands-on experience to every project. Donโ€™t pay twice for the same job.

Get it done right the first time. DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists can assist you with all your outdoor requirements. We take pride in assisting clients with creative and practical advice.

Landscape Beautification & Stormwater Improvement ProjectWe recently had the privilege of enhancing the entrance landsca...
29/05/2026

Landscape Beautification & Stormwater Improvement Project

We recently had the privilege of enhancing the entrance landscaping at the home of Mr & Mrs Cameron, transforming the existing garden area into an attractive, structured feature that complements the architecture of the residence and improves the overall street appeal of the property.

The project included:

โ€ข Construction of decorative terraced retaining walls using dry-stack retaining blocks.
โ€ข Re-shaping and preparation of planting areas.
โ€ข Supply and placement of quality topsoil.
โ€ข General landscape enhancement to create a neat and aesthetically pleasing entrance feature.
โ€ข Stormwater Management Improvements

During the course of the works, it was identified that stormwater from the roof downpipe was discharging into the landscaped area, resulting in ongoing soil erosion.

To address this issue, the downpipe system was extended and redirected to discharge safely onto the estate road's stormwater runoff path.

The completed works have significantly improved both the appearance and functionality of the property entrance. The new terraced retaining walls provide a clean, modern appearance while creating usable planting areas and improving the overall presentation of the home.

DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists would like to thank Mr & Mrs Cameron for the opportunity to undertake this project and for entrusting us with the enhancement of their property.

๐—ฆ๐—ง๐—ข๐—ฅ๐—  & ๐—™๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—— ๐——๐—”๐— ๐—”๐—š๐—˜ ๐—”๐—ฆ๐—ฆ๐—œ๐—ฆ๐—ง๐—”๐—ก๐—–๐—˜Our thoughts are with every family, homeowner and business affected by the recent storms ...
09/05/2026

๐—ฆ๐—ง๐—ข๐—ฅ๐—  & ๐—™๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—— ๐——๐—”๐— ๐—”๐—š๐—˜ ๐—”๐—ฆ๐—ฆ๐—œ๐—ฆ๐—ง๐—”๐—ก๐—–๐—˜

Our thoughts are with every family, homeowner and business affected by the recent storms and flooding across the Southern Cape. We understand the stress and uncertainty that severe weather can cause, and we are ready to assist where we can.

DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists is available for:

โ€ข Emergency retaining wall repairs
โ€ข Stormwater damage repairs
โ€ข Erosion control
โ€ข Washed-away paving repairs
โ€ข Subsoil drainage solutions
โ€ข Excavation and cleanup work
โ€ข Slope stabilisation

Serving Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield.

๐Ÿ“ž CALL US: +27 82 778 7066
๐Ÿ“ง [email protected]
๐ŸŒ www.dvccivils.co.za

PROJECT REPORT โ€” 2022-08 | Schoongezicht Country EstateThis project is a textbook example of what happens when basic civ...
21/04/2026

PROJECT REPORT โ€” 2022-08 | Schoongezicht Country Estate

This project is a textbook example of what happens when basic civil and construction principles are ignored.

Upon inspection, we identified the following issues:

No drainage installed behind the outbuilding
Subsurface water saturating both the founding soil and underlying sand layer
Expansive clay causing structural cracking to the building
Severe movement and failure of the paved driveway surface
No proper subgrade or G7 subbase โ€” paving laid directly on sand over clay

RECTIFICATION WORKS COMPLETED:

โ— Excavation and removal of all saturated clay material
โ— Installation of subsurface drainage behind the outbuilding
โ— Construction of a retaining block wall after removal of backfilled material against the structure
โ— Installation of a concrete open surface channel between the house and retaining wall
โ— Sealing of the area with a concrete apron to prevent water ingress
โ— Regrading and correcting falls for proper water runoff
โ— Import and compaction of SSG subgrade (150mm)
โ— Placement of a 50mm crusher run bedding layer
โ— Reinstallation of existing paving (cleaned and reused)
โ— Diversion of stormwater to a newly installed sump system

THE RESULT:
A stable, properly drained, and structurally sound surface โ€” built to last.

THE LESSON:

This entire situation could have been avoided if the fundamentals were done correctly from the start. Cheap work almost always becomes expensive later.

At DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists, we donโ€™t do shortcuts โ€” we fix what cheap work got wrong. If youโ€™re dealing with movement, drainage issues, or failed paving, letโ€™s sort it out properly the first time.

Contact us:
082 778 7066 | [email protected] | www.dvccivils.co.za

DVC CIVILS - Reputable, Reliable and Trusted.DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists is a trusted civil construction company w...
21/04/2026

DVC CIVILS - Reputable, Reliable and Trusted.

DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists is a trusted civil construction company with over 20 years of hands-on industry experience.

Our Services:
โ— Site Preparation & Earthworks
โ— Retaining Walls (Concrete, Gabion & Dry Stack)
โ— Paving
โ— Stormwater Management Systems
โ— Subsoil Drainage Solutions
โ— Landscape Design & Preparation

Why Choose Us?
โ— More Than 20 Years Of Hands-On Experience โ€” Weโ€™ve seen what works and what fails. We build accordingly.
โ— 5 Year Workmanship Guarantee โ€” Confidence in what we do.
โ— Insured and Compliant โ€” No risk to you, we operate responsibly and professionally.
โ— Professional Crews โ€” All workers are registered and projects are managed with safety in mind.
โ— We Fix What The Cheap Guy Got Wrong โ€” Many of our projects involve correcting failed workmanship. We do it right the first time.

At DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists, every project starts with understanding the ground conditions, load requirements, and long-term performance expectations. We donโ€™t just build structures โ€” we provide engineered solutions that prevent failure.

Service Areas:
โ— Plettenberg Bay
โ— Knysna
โ— Sedgefield

When you choose DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists, you choose peace of mind.

โ€œThe bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.โ€

Contact Us:
๐Ÿ“ž De Vries Cronjรฉ: +27 82 778 7066
๐Ÿ“ง [email protected]
๐ŸŒ www.dvccivils.co.za

๐——๐—ฉ๐—– ๐—–๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—น & ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฆ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐˜€ was appointed to carry out excavations, structural retaining works, and associated civ...
25/03/2026

๐——๐—ฉ๐—– ๐—–๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—น & ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฆ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐˜€ was appointed to carry out excavations, structural retaining works, and associated civil improvements at a residential property in Plettenberg Bay.

The project involved the stabilization and development of a steep sloped site, requiring engineered retaining solutions, access formation, and surface finishing to create a safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing environment.

๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐— ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ด๐˜†

The works were executed in a structured sequence to ensure long-term stability and durability:

1. Controlled excavation and benching of the slope
2. Installation of reinforced concrete foundations
3. Incremental construction of retaining walls with proper backfill compaction
4. Formation of access routes and platforms
5. Final surfacing and finishing works

Special care was taken to address:

โ— Load distribution on retaining structures
โ— Soil stability and erosion control
โ— Practical access during construction on a steep site

๐—™๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ข๐˜‚๐˜๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ

The completed project successfully achieved:

โ— A structurally sound retaining system supporting the slope
โ— A functional and durable driveway suitable for vehicle access
โ— Improved usability of the property, including level areas and access stairs
โ— A clean, aesthetically pleasing finish with integrated civil works

The retaining structures and paving provide both long-term performance and visual appeal, in line with DVCโ€™s standard of โ€œ๐—•๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—น๐˜ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜.โ€

๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—น๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป

DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists delivered a comprehensive civil solution that transformed a challenging sloped site into a safe, accessible, and usable space.

All works were carried out in accordance with industry best practices, ensuring:

โ— Structural integrity
โ— Longevity
โ— Client satisfaction

DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists was appointed to execute subsoil drainage works to mitigate groundwater accumulation a...
24/03/2026

DVC Civil & Retaining Specialists was appointed to execute subsoil drainage works to mitigate groundwater accumulation and associated hydrostatic pressure impacting the driveway, garden areas, and house foundation at Schoongezicht Country Estate in Plettenberg Bay.

The works were undertaken in accordance with the approved drainage detail and executed in two distinct phases due to site constraints and geotechnical considerations.

๐—ฆ๐—–๐—ข๐—ฃ๐—˜ ๐—ข๐—™ ๐—ช๐—ข๐—ฅ๐—ž๐—ฆ

Excavation Works:

โ— Mechanical excavation (TLB): approximately 30mยณ
โ— Manual excavation: approximately 168mยณ
โ— Excavation conducted under constrained conditions adjacent to existing structures and slopes

Due to slope instability, the majority of excavation was undertaken manually to ensure safety and control.

Removal of Excavated Material:

โ— Excavated material loaded and removed using 6mยณ waste bins (28 units)
โ— Off-site disposal necessitated by lack of on-site stockpile space

Temporary Works and Shoring:

โ— Installation of temporary shoring systems to maintain trench stability
โ— Measures implemented to prevent collapse and ensure safe working conditions

Drainage System Installation:

โ— Installation of three (3) 110mm perforated agricultural drainage pipes (approx. 27 linear metres total)
โ— Pipes installed to designed falls and connected to discharge point

Drainage Layer Construction:

โ— Installation of A2 bidum geotextile (approx. 160mยฒ)
โ— Installation of 500 micron heavy-duty plastic lining (approx. 180mยฒ)
โ— Installation of bidum with 10mm HDPE mesh (approx. 120mยฒ)

Backfilling and Compaction:

โ— Placement of 19โ€“30mm clean stone (approx. 24mยณ)
โ— Placement of free-draining sand (approx. 130mยณ)
โ— Layered compaction to achieve stability and prevent settlement

Connections:

โ— Connection of subsoil drainage system into existing drainage infrastructure
โ— Extension of drainage system to suitable discharge point (daylight)

๐—ฆ๐—œ๐—ง๐—˜ ๐—–๐—ข๐—ก๐——๐—œ๐—ง๐—œ๐—ข๐—ก๐—ฆ ๐—”๐—ก๐—— ๐—–๐—ข๐—ก๐—ฆ๐—ง๐—ฅ๐—”๐—œ๐—ก๐—ง๐—ฆ

The ex*****on of works was influenced by the following conditions:

โ— Unstable slope conditions requiring manual excavation and shoring
โ— Limited working space and lack of stockpiling areas
โ— Proximity to existing structures and paved surfaces
โ— Safety considerations associated with deep excavation

These factors necessitated careful planning, staged ex*****on, and additional temporary works to ensure safe and effective completion.

๐—ข๐—จ๐—ง๐—–๐—ข๐— ๐—˜

The completed subsoil drainage system provides:

โ— Effective control of subsurface water
โ— Reduction in hydrostatic pressure against structural elements
โ— Improved slope stability
โ— Protection of existing paving and foundations
โ— A durable and low-maintenance drainage solution

๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฎ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐˜, ๐—ž๐—ป๐˜†๐˜€๐—ป๐—ฎThe recent paving project at this Protea Street property shows a significant...
23/03/2026

๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฎ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐˜, ๐—ž๐—ป๐˜†๐˜€๐—ป๐—ฎ

The recent paving project at this Protea Street property shows a significant modernization of the driveway and entryway.

๐—•๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ: ๐—ช๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—™๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ

The original driveway featured a mix of aged materials and obstacles that impacted both aesthetics and functionality.

Aged Pavers:
The previous interlocking bricks were weathered, uneven, and showed signs of moss growth and shifting.

Mixed Surfaces:
There was a disconnect between the brick paving and older stone sections, creating a fragmented look.

Obstructions:
Several tree stumps and overgrown plants (including a large Monstera on a stump) were located directly in the path of the driveway, limiting usable space.

Retaining Walls:
While the concrete block retaining walls were functional, the surrounding ground was uneven and lacked a finished edge.

๐—”๐—ณ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ: ๐—ฆ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ธ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—™๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น

The completed work provides a cohesive, high-contrast finish that maximizes the property's curb appeal

Charcoal Interlocking Pavers:
The new dark charcoal paving creates a bold, modern aesthetic that contrasts beautifully with the brickwork of the house.

Consistent Grading:
The area has been professionally leveled and filled, removing the previous stumps and creating a seamless transition from the road to the house.

Professional Edging:
A light grey border has been installed around the perimeter of the charcoal paving, providing a clean "frame" and better structural integrity.

Improved Accessibility:
By clearing the central obstructions, the driveway now offers a much larger, unobstructed area for parking and vehicle movement.

Integration:
The new paving integrates neatly with existing features, including the stone patio area and the base of the retaining walls.

House Snaddon - Baron's ViewCharcoal rockface retaining wallโœ…๏ธ Reinforced concrete foundationโœ…๏ธ Subsoil drainageโœ…๏ธ Compa...
13/11/2025

House Snaddon - Baron's View

Charcoal rockface retaining wall

โœ…๏ธ Reinforced concrete foundation
โœ…๏ธ Subsoil drainage
โœ…๏ธ Compacted freedraining backfill
โœ…๏ธ Topsoil handtamped in blocks
โŒ๏ธ Shortcuts, sorry we don't do those
โœ…๏ธ Full 5 year guarantee on workmanship

(Completed: September 2025)

House Bartlett - Brenton ParkIn need of more space? Let us make your wish come true.We consider it done only once the si...
13/11/2025

House Bartlett - Brenton Park

In need of more space? Let us make your wish come true.

We consider it done only once the site is neat and tidy again!

(Completed: October 2025)

Address

36 Campbell Drive
Knysna
6571

Opening Hours

Monday 07:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 07:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 07:00 - 17:00
Thursday 07:00 - 17:00
Friday 07:00 - 17:00

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