Table of Contents
Follow these steps to properly install a retaining wall. Dig a level-bottomed trench wide enough for the base stones to fit into. Compact the bottom of the trench with a hand tamper. Lay landscape fabric in the trench. Start the wall’s second layer using a staggered pattern. Make sure the wall is level.
What is the easiest retaining wall to build?
For the average do-it-yourselfer, building a retaining wall is easiest when using masonry blocks that will be stacked no taller than three feet, with no mortar binding the stones or concrete members.
How deep should the footing be for a retaining wall?
The general rule of thumb is to bury about one-eighth of the height of the wall. For example, if your wall will be three feet (36 inches) tall, the first course of blocks should start five inches below soil level. The gravel base should start three inches below this.
Can I build retaining wall myself?
Retaining walls can be made from wood, bricks, natural stones or concrete blocks. For DIYers, it’s best to use concrete retaining wall blocks, which can be interlocking and are heavy enough to stay in place without cement or other adhesive. Plan to build your wall after a long period without rain, when the soil is dry.
How do you calculate retaining wall?
Multiply the length of the wall (in feet) by the height of wall (also in feet) to get the square footage of the outside face of the wall. Then, multiply 1.12. This allows for having 12% of the wall’s height under the surface of the ground to give the wall more stability.
How far apart should posts be for a retaining wall?
Retaining wall posts should be at least three feet apart. The distance can be slightly longer or shorter if it works better with your measurements. However, you shouldn’t go more than seven feet apart to make sure your wall is sturdy enough.
Does a 2 foot retaining wall need drainage?
These walls need a drainage system regardless of the wall height. If there are poor draining soils such as clay behind the wall, there needs to be drainage incorporated the wall system. Clay when wet is very weak, so it is essential to provide a way for water to escape from behind the wall.
Do you need rebar in a retaining wall?
A retaining wall must provide a way to release the water that builds up in the slope behind it. Retaining walls must be stronger than freestanding walls. Insert rebar in the footing when you pour it; this should be done at every three blocks or at intervals specified by your local codes.
Does a retaining wall need foundations?
Retaining wall foundation depth should be 300mm if the soil is firm and well-drained, or 450mm if less firm and unstable. Dig out foundation [base on which wall stands] which must be twice the width of the wall.
Do you need rebar in a block wall?
Wall Size. A freestanding garden wall or block privacy fence will require less reinforcing than a basement or other load-bearing wall in a house or other building. An 8-foot-high wall will obviously require more rebar than a 4-foot wall. Very short walls, under 4 feet and laid with mortar, may not require any rebar.
What do you use for drainage behind a retaining wall?
In order to provide proper drainage, at least 12 inches of granular backfill (gravel or a similar aggregate) should be installed directly behind the wall. Compacted native soil can be used to backfill the rest of the space behind the wall.
How much weight can a retaining wall hold?
Even small retaining walls have to contain enormous loads. A 4-foot-high, 15-foot-long wall could be holding back as much as 20 tons of saturated soil. Double the wall height to 8 feet, and you would need a wall that’s eight times stronger to do the same job.
How much gravel do I need for a retaining wall?
Measure the width of the wall, measuring from the back of the blocks to the dirt wall. Determine the height of the wall. Multiply the length, width and depth of the wall. Divide the number by 27 to get the cubic yards of gravel required for your wall.
Can you put retaining wall on concrete?
While you can build a retaining wall on concrete, it isn’t that straightforward. If you have an existing concrete base, you cannot just build your wall on top of it. Without being secured into the concrete, your wall will slide due to the soil pressure against the wall.
How do you build a retaining wall with uneven ground?
Step 1: Install Stakes and Attach String. Step 2: Level the String. Step 3: Dig Retaining Wall Trench. Step 4: Tamp Soil and Add Gravel. Step 5: Add Sand and Wall Blocks. Step 6: Add Second Row of Blocks. Step 7: Pour Gravel and Spread Fabric.
How many deadmans are needed for a retaining wall?
Install one dead man every 6 to 8 feet around the entire wall. Continue building up the retaining wall, using landscaping screws to secure each timber. Cover the ground in front of the retaining wall with 2 to 4 inches of bark mulch.
How much concrete do I need for a retaining wall post?
The post holes into which the retaining wall posts will be placed shall be 450mm diameter with minimum 100mm concrete cover below the post. Footing depth is typically equal to the height of the retaining wall.
