subject: How to Design and Install a Retaining Wall [print this page] Author: Harry Mason Author: Harry Mason
If you are interested in a do-it-yourself (DIY) job, then building your own retaining wall can be a great project to undertake. Building a wall can be an expensive venture, but then again, you do pay for quality and experience. Then again, building something with your own hands can be fulfilling, but we would advise you to get some professional help, as it is important that the wall is safe and dependable. There are many professional retaining wall stonemasons who can both design and build the wall for you, like Hardrock Stonemasonry at www.limestonewalls.com.au. But here are some instructions if you want to design and install a retaining wall yourself.
Getting Ready:
Preparation is everything. If you prepare in advance, then your building project will go along smoothly. First determine where the retaining wall is going to be placed. Mark this area with strings or stakes and then follow up with an outline that can be created with spray paint in order to keep track of the pattern throughout the construction. Before you start with the digging, enquire with your local building codes to determine the need of a permit to build the wall. Also, have your local utilities marked out on the ground so you dont dig them up accidentally.
Dig it Up:
Start digging a trench that is wider than the stone and is about six inches deep. After this, level the bottom of the trench and then add a layer of stone dust or sand. Level this down and then pack it down at the bottom of the trench.
Lay the Stones:
After this, lay the first stone in the dug-out trench and make sure it is level, both side to side and from front to back. If you need to adjust it, then use a hammer to level it. Continue to do so until you have laid the primary course.
Cut one block in half and then lay it as the first block of the primary stage and interlock it with one end of the foundation course. The stone is being cut because you want the seams of the wall to be offset and this needs to be done for every other (alternate) course. You can cut the stone by scoring it on all four sides with a small sledge or a stone chisel. Then put the chisel on the scored line and strike it sharply; the stone should break along the scored line. If you can use a circular saw with a masonry blade, then you can skip this and just cut the blocks.
Additional Courses:
Go to the other end of the foundation layer and place a stone. Make sure you run a string line between the two stones to check whether they are level or not. If your first level is laid well and is level, then there shouldnt be a problem. If not, then go back and adjust the first layer before you lay any other stones on the foundation level. Remember, if the base is uneven or weak, the wall will collapse soon enough. Once you know the courses are level, then go ahead with laying the additional layers. Backfill the trench with the dirt you have excavated and pack it down to ensure that the foundation of the wall is solid.
Continue to lay the additional rows of blocks, making sure they are interlocked.
At the End:
Once you have reached the height you want the wall to be, lay the landscaping fabric behind the retaining wall and up the hill as well for a few feet. This is done so as to make sure the soil does not find its way through the wall. Backfill the wall and pack the soil into its place. Finally, add the top soil to the areas that you have excavated and make it one level.
Some things you will need for this project :
Tape measure
Shovel
Hammer
Level
Chisel
String line
Landscaping fabric
Pencil
Square
Gloves
Protective glasses
Garden hose
Stakes
Compacter
Skid loader
Wheelbarrow
Circular cut-off saw with masonry blade
Load of sand
Flexible polypropylene pipe
Gravel for the base
Backfill
A retaining wall is more than just a great way to create new sight lines and beautify a lawn. In some cases, it is a necessity. In very wet environments or areas where there are frequent thunderstorms, a retaining wall can save your soil from eroding away. Building a wall, however, can be quite expensive. Using natural stones is very pricey. Quarries charge homeowners significant rates for something you can find in the woods, but no one wants to collect and drag enough stones from the woods to build an entire retaining wall. That's where concrete limestone walls come into play. For more details visit our website www.limestonewalls.com.au .About the Author:
Harry Mason has been in the retaining walls business for a long time and is familiar with all its features. He like to share his knowledge with everyone through his articles.
