A retaining wall can hold back in many different places in my yard, such as a hillside. Retaining walls are not just limited to only slopes, but I can use them anywhere in my yard, such as edges of garden beds, groups of trees and shrubs or outdoor living areas.
To have a long lasting retaining wall has to be properly constructed and have a good drainage system.
A retaining wall should not be over four feet high. A small retaining wall definitely have to hold up enormous loads like 20 tons of saturated soil. Sometimes this project gets to be more than what a do-it-yourself can do. If that happens, always hire a professional builder.
Step 1
A. Start digging out of the slope so I can create a battered surface for the retaining wall. Then always allow one foot of space for the gravel back fill between the back of the wall and the hillside.
B. Put my stakes to mark the ends of the front edge of the wall and if I am going to have curves or corners. Then I will take my string and connect them all. Take your line level and adjust the string until I get it level.
C. Now I will dig a trench for the first row of blocks and the gravel sub base. The depth of the trench need to equal the height of the blocks plus 8 inches. I will use my string to make sure the trench remains level.
D. Put sheets of landscape fabric and cut them three feet longer than the height of the wall and line the excavation. Arrange the landscape fabric so they overlap by at least 6 inch.
Step 2.
A. Put a six inch layer of compatible gravel sub base into my trench. The next step is to compact it with my hand tamper.
B. Now I will lay the first row of blocks in the trench, making sure the front edges are align with the string.
C. Always check the blocks a lot of times with the level. If they are unlevel them I will need to add or remove the gravel, till I can get it level. Always sweep off the top of the blocks before I begin the next row.
Step 3
A. Start laying the second row of blocks and make sure the blocks remain level.
B. Place four inch perforated drainpipe over my gravel sub base behind the blocks. One end of the pipe has to be unobstructed so that runoff water can escape.
C. While I am adding six inches of coarse gravel behind the blocks and pack it very good, but do not crush the drainpipe.
D. Keep laying rows of block until the wall is eighteen inches high.
E. Fill behind the wall with coarse gravel and always pack it down with a hand tamper.
Step 4
A. Finish laying all the remaining rows of block, not the capstone row, always back filling and tamper as I go.
B. Fold the end of the landscapes fabric down over the gravel back fill.
Step 5
A. Following the manufacturer's instructions. apply the construction, apply the construction adhesives. Lay the capstones in place.
B. Put topsoil to fill behind the wall and in front of the base of the wall.
C. Now I can figure out what I want, whether it is sod or plants above or below the wall.
SUMMARY
Retaining walls can really change up the way my lawn looks.
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