how to course a retaining wall

• Using a tape measure, decide the length and the width of your retaining wall.
• Mark off the area with garden stakes and a mason’s line or other string. Tie the string to the stakes at the desired height of the wall. ...
• If your wall will be curved, use paint to mark the shape and location of the wall.

How deep should the first course of a retaining wall be?

about 4 to 6 inches deepTo bury the first course or first row about halfway, dig the trench about 4 to 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide or twice the width of the block. Before beginning any excavation, call 811 to check for underground utilities.

How do you level the first row of a retaining wall?

2:484:19Retaining Wall Base and Block Leveling Techniques Segment 3YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHaving a flat concrete surface makes it easy to snap a chalk line for help in aligning your firstMoreHaving a flat concrete surface makes it easy to snap a chalk line for help in aligning your first row of block.

How do you start a retaining wall?

7:1616:01How To Build a Retaining Wall (Step-by-Step) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFinally you can start on the first layer of retaining wall blocks. And start actually building yourMoreFinally you can start on the first layer of retaining wall blocks. And start actually building your wall so it start at one side and just work your way down one block at a time leveling.

Do you need leveling sand for retaining wall?

When the base material is compacted it is also recommended to spread a 1� layer of coarse sand. This will help the wall settle evenly. So, make sure the sand is level also.

Does retaining wall need to be level?

A retaining wall should be level. The leveling process begins at the most vital part of your wall, the base. With a level base, the rest of the wall will naturally follow suit as you lay additional layers of blocks.

How do you level a retaining wall on a slope?

0:483:26Building Retaining Wall Step-Ups into the Slope - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf a slope is present below the wall contact a local engineer for assistance compact and level theMoreIf a slope is present below the wall contact a local engineer for assistance compact and level the base trench making a minimum of two passes with a mechanical plate. Compactor.

Does a 2 foot retaining wall need drainage?

Every retaining wall should include drainage stone behind the wall. Though it is a good idea to install a drainage pipe on all walls, there are certain situations where a perforated drain pipe is absolutely necessary.

How do you build a retaining wall step by step?

Step by Step: How to build a retaining wallDig 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 base should I use for a retaining wall?

gravelLay the Base Due to soil erosion, your retaining wall should be built on a solid foundation made from gravel. Choose gravel that has stones sized between 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch. Fill the trench with a 2- to 3-inch layer of gravel. Use a rake to ensure the stones are evenly distributed.

How deep should a retaining wall be?

The exact depth of the trench depends on the proposed height of the wall, but follow this rule of thumb: Dig a trench to be an eighth of the wall plus three inches. For example, if you want the finished height of your retaining wall to be three feet (36 inches) tall, you’d need to dig the trench eight inches deep to accommodate three inches ...

What materials are used to build retaining walls?

Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials, from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones, even bricks. For DIY purposes, opt for manufactured blocks that are designed specifically for building retaining walls; a locking flange along the bottom edge creates a secure attachment between rows.

What happens when a retaining wall saturates?

When it saturates clay-type soils, they swell and put excessive pressure on the backside of the wall. To avoid failure, make drainage provisions at the same time as you go about building the retaining wall.

How much soil pressure does a retaining wall need?

Soil is heavy, especially when soaking wet from a recent rainstorm, so a basic retaining wall (four feet tall and 15 feet long) potentially has to support up to 20 tons of soil pressure.

Can you build a retaining wall short?

Shorter retaining walls, however, can be constructed by enthusiastic do-it-yourself ers equipped with some basic construction knowledge. Does that sound like you? If you’re looking to get your hands dirty and enhance your landscape with a retaining wall, these guidelines for building a retaining wall will help you get off to a good start.

Planning a Block Retaining Wall

There are several retaining wall systems to consider when choosing the building materials for your wall. You can choose regular block that simply stack together for a gravity-held wall, a block system that works with pins for easy and secure assembly or block with an interlocking lip as we did for this project.

Prep and Lay the Retaining Wall Block

Now that you have a plan and a layout, prep the area and begin building the retaining wall.

Retaining Wall Ideas

Once you know how to build a block retaining wall, think about some different DIY landscape ideas for retaining walls.

What is retaining wall?

Retaining walls have a wide variety of uses around the yard, all of which involve keeping earth from spilling off a steep slope. They’re indispensable in the creation of sunken patios, walkout basements, and any other hardscape with an abrupt separation of ground elevation. You’ll also find retaining walls in parks and public gardens, where they act as retainers for plants, statues, and decorative landscaping elements.

How to keep retaining wall from pushing outward?

They’re also widely available at most home centers. To keep the bottom row of blocks from pushing outward, bury the lowest section of a retaining wall. The general rule of thumb is to bury about one-eighth of the height of the wall.

What is buried footing?

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 high should a block wall be?

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. For best results, make sure the first course of blocks is perfectly level.

What is gravity wall?

You could also add extra strength with a “gravity wall,” which is so wide that its weight serves as a buttress against the pressure of the soil behind it. This type of wall isn’t common, however, because it requires an extensive amount of stone or concrete for construction.

What is a step back wall?

This design, known as “step-back construction,” creates a sturdy wall structure that pushes back against the lateral pressure of the soil behind it . Step-back walls can be built by anyone with a strong back and basic construction knowledge, as long as they have blocks designed for retaining wall assembly.

How much does a retaining wall cost?

A natural stone or brick retaining wall laid by a mason can cost upwards of $20 per square foot, and a poured concrete retaining wall will set you back $13 to $18 per square foot.

How far back should a retaining wall be?

The rule of thumb is to separate wall tiers by a distance that’s no less than twice the height of the wall below. So if the bottom wall is 4 feet tall , the wall above it should be built at least 8 feet behind it.

How Wide Should a Retaining Wall Trench be?

The trench you are going to build your retaining wall in should be wide, deep, and level. Size the trench so there’s enough room for the block and at least 8 inches of space behind it. Excavate deep enough to completely bury at least one full course, including space for 6 to 8 inches of base material. Establish a level trench to ensure an even layer of base material. That will help prevent the wall from tipping after freeze/thaw cycles. Our experts use a laser level and a story pole to determine the depth of the trench.

How to compact soil in a trench?

Compact the soil in the trench bottom with a hand tamper or vibrating plate compactor. This step is often neglected. The excavator, and even hand shovels, can disturb and loosen the top inch or two of soil, and that’s enough to make your wall settle—settling is bad!

What to use to match rough surfaces?

If the end of a block will be visible, and you’d like it to match the other rough surfaces, use a block splitter.

What happens if you put a pebble on a block?

Even a small pebble on the surface of a block will throw the one above it out of alignment. And that crooked block will affect the one above it, and so on. That little stone could eventually create an unattractive hump in the top course.

Can you split a solid block?

These solid blocks are heavy. Lighter, hollow blocks are available, but they can’t be split because cutting them will expose the voids. Also, some hollow blocks require individual backfilling, which is time consuming. These pros prefer Versa-Lok blocks, which are held together with pins rather than a lip on the bottom because pinned blocks work better on tighter curves, and the flat bottom makes them easier to stack. They have also found that the small back lip on some lipped blocks can be prone to cracking, which will weaken the wall.

Is stone compacted as soon as it's laid in a trench?

You’ll notice the stone is almost 100 percent compacted as soon as it’s laid in the trench. The same type of stone will be used for backfilling, which also eliminates the need for hauling in multiple materials. 5 / 18. Construction Pro Tips.

How many inches should a base be for a retaining wall?

If you’re building a short retaining wall (less than 18″), you can get away with a four-inch base.

How many different retaining wall blocks are there?

There are hundreds of different retaining wall blocks out there, but let me save you some time.

How deep should I dig for a 6" paver wall?

If you’re using 6″ tall blocks like I am here, you’ll want to dig about 9″ deeper than ground level. That will allow for six inches of packed paver base and half of the bottom block to be buried. Digging deeper is ok. Digging too shallow will compromise the integrity of your wall. Don’t do that.

How wide should a trench be?

This will allow for at least 6″ of drainage gravel behind the wall and give you some room to work. The blocks I’m using here are 10.5″ deep, so a 20″ wide trench is recommended.

How to build a wall on a slope?

You want your blocks to be perfectly level. To accomplish this, you’ll add a paver base to the very bottom row only, then add the first row of blocks.

How to level a wall with a torpedo?

Start at one end of the wall and install one block at a time, leveling side to side and front to back with a torpedo level. Again, this first row is critical because you won’t be able to go back and fix it later. Getting lazy here will just cause more work later, make your wall weaker, and make your friends laugh when they see the shoddy work.

How to cut a block with a hammer?

Grab a masonry chisel and a mini sledge. Draw a straight line all the way around the block where you want to make your cut. Then, take your chisel and hammer and chisel a notch all the way around the block. Once you have a groove all the way around the block, place the chisel in the groove and hit it a bit harder with the hammer. The block should split pretty nicely.

How Is a Retaining Wall Used?

One of the most common functions of a retaining wall is to stop erosion on hillsides in cases where growing plants to control erosion is either undesirable or impractical. But you are underestimating the possibilities for these structures if you see them only as erosion-fighters.

What is a retaining wall?

A "retaining wall" holds back (or "retains") the soil behind it. The pressure behind a tall wall, holding back tons of soil and water, can be enormous; considerable knowledge and experience is needed before undertaking such a project. Even a well-constructed wall would be compromised over time if the builder were to fail to provide ...

What is the best material for retaining walls?

Which material you choose will depend on factors such as your design tastes, the function (s) of the wall, and cost. Poured concrete (reinforced with rebar) is commonly used in commercial settings. At the other end of the spectrum, pressure-treated timbers or wood are popular in rural settings.

How long has David Beaulieu been writing about landscaping?

Plus: How to Build a Retaining Wall. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. A "retaining wall" holds back (or "retains") the soil behind it.

Is stone a good retaining wall?

Stone is an excellent choice, although techniques for building a stone retaining wall differ from those for building a regular stone wall. By contrast, concrete blocks are not very natural-looking at all. But that's all right in a landscape design where the natural look is not the objective. For example, if you have a patio made out ...

Can retaining walls be leveled off?

Consider how you are changing the "lay of the land" on your property when you erect a retaining wall. An area that is sloping and unusable can be leveled off (behind the wall) to create an outdoor living space, such as a patio, or to create new garden beds .

Can you use concrete blocks for retaining walls?

For example, if you have a patio made out of concrete pavers, then a nearby retaining wall built with concrete blocks will complement it nicely. There are concrete blocks made specifically for building retaining walls, and using these makes the job go surprisingly easy.

How to use the retaining wall calculator?

The retaining wall calculator may seem complicated at first, but don't worry! Just follow this simple set of instructions, and you will get your calculations done in no time.

What is backfilling a retaining wall?

Backfill is something that cannot be forgotten when building a retaining wall. It is crucial for keeping the wall steady, as well as making sure it does not get eroded by water. It is recommended do use a granular material such as gravel, which is what we chose for the retaining wall calculator.

What is a cap row?

A cap row is the top-most row of the retaining wall, reaching higher than the wall's actual height, which is often used for decoration. Input the height and length of the retaining wall. Input the height and length of one of your chosen blocks. You will be given the total number of retaining wall blocks needed.

How thick should a backfill be?

As already stated above, the thickness should be no less than 12in/30cm.

Do you have to go from the top to the bottom?

Tip: You don't need to go from the top to the bottom.