Table of Contents
What kind of wood should I use for a retaining wall?
The best kind of lumber for these walls is Douglas fir pressure treated with preservatives to discourage rot. It will be green or brown in color and rated for earth-to-wood contact. For timber walls, large timbers for can be very expensive, which is why railroad ties are a common alternative.
Does a 2 foot wood retaining wall need drainage?
Most retaining walls require drainage and are built with a perforated pipe set behind the wall in a gravel base. Because the grade of this yard has a slight slope that will promote water runoff, we can skip this step on this project, but we will add gravel for drainage and back fill with dirt.
How long will a wood retaining wall last?
A timber retaining wall can last a little over a decade, if treated properly. If not maintained, the lifespan of a timber wall is around 3 to 5 years. To keep its fresh look, timber requires serious maintenance. The material will hold up for so many years only if its pressure-treated with chemicals.
What is the cheapest way to build a retaining wall?
The cheapest types of retaining walls are wood and concrete blocks, followed by concrete and stones or bricks. Each material has benefits and drawbacks, including strength, longevity, and attractiveness. For those who are planning on building their own retaining wall, it is vital to plan and research.
How far apart should posts be for a wood 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.
How high can a wood retaining wall be?
Your walls can be as long as you want, but limit the height to 4 ft. Add more terraces as needed to retain higher slopes, stepping them back about 4 ft.
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.
Are wood retaining walls good?
Wood can be a budget friendly solution for a DIY retaining wall. However, wood is subject to fungal rot, termites, and water damage. When following all of the best recommendations, a wood retaining wall can last up to 40 years. Without proper techniques, a wood retaining wall can fail in as soon as 5 years.
Can you build your own retaining wall?
Choose a DIY-friendly building material. 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.
How do you build a retaining wall on a sloped yard?
To build a retaining wall on a slope, follow these steps: Dig a stepped trench. Gravel base. Install the first row of blocks. Rough gravel. Install remaining block layers. Secure top row blocks. Backfill.
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.
What is a Deadman on a retaining wall?
A Deadman railroad tie is a railroad tie that runs perpendicular to the retaining wall and into the hill that you are building the retaining wall against. Deadman ties are great for ensuring the retaining wall is as solid as possible. We recommend using a deadman railroad tie every 20 feet of your retaining wall.
Do retaining walls need footers?
A buried structural footing is usually required for larger retaining walls. To create this, a landscaper pours concrete below frost level (the depth to which the ground will freeze during the winter). Footings poured too shallow are prone to shifting and moving if moisture in the soil freezes and heaves.
How deep should post holes be for retaining wall?
Retaining wall posts should be at least as deep as the amount of soil they will be holding. A good rule of thumb is to halve the height of the wall and then add 4 inches. This is how deep you should place your posts.
How deep do retaining wall footing need to be?
A concrete footing should be 100mm deep by 300mm wide if the footing is for a free standing wall. The footing should be increased to 150mm deep and 450mm wide if the wall being built is a retaining wall. For larger retaining walls an engineer may need to be approached for advice.
How deep should a garden retaining wall be?
The basic rules governing the building of a garden retaining walls are simple. Firstly the foundation you place should be a minimum of 150mm (6 inches) thick.
Does a wood retaining wall need drainage?
Every retaining wall should include drainage stone behind the wall. These walls do not have natural joints for water to drain through like segmental blocks and wood walls do. These walls need a drainage system regardless of the wall height.
