I have been considering getting a retaining wall. Omg this is totally my house problem/issue, I being looking everywhere and find not much info on Back yards with slopeI being thinking about same idea, my issue is will the retaining brick wall have enough strength to support a structure ( 6 feet of space from wall to a pool/ extra room.. thank you. When retaining walls are built, they slope slightly to one side in order to improve drainage. Ive been thinking about how to go about building a retaining wall. It doesnt have to be perfect; just give yourself a line to follow. Take a look at this post on building a small retaining wall. Then, take a sledgehammer and a chisel, place the chisel in the groove, and give it a tap. Lay a second paver into the trench right next to the first paver. We actually had the rows get longer and longer the higher the wall became. Drain tile is perforated pipe that allows water to flow through. Backfilling the space behind the blocks with crushed stone and then installing a flexible perforated drainpipe (available at The Home Depot), also called drain tile, at the base of the wall could create the necessary escape route for groundwater. For taller walls those other components become more critical. Once you have the trench in place, youre ready to create the second level of your retaining wall getting built on a slope. I dont know if Id be willing to do that all by myself, or even with my husband! Not sure if you still check this but how is the wall holding up? The blocks Im using here are 10.5 deep, so a 20 wide trench is recommended. Dig a trench that is 12 inches deep between the two spray-painted lines. A wall that leans into the soil it retains is less likely to be pushed outward by soil pressure than a plain-old vertical wall. To keep the wall secure, those bricks that stick out past the row before need the same foundation as the bottom row: tamp the dirt down, add gravel, and add sand. Wondering if its held up? Oh yeah, and landscaping. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Plant sod, grass seed or plants in the dirt. FREE REPORT: 10 Profitable Handyman Services You Can offer WITHOUT a Contractors License. Your email address will not be published. Rake it smooth and tamp it down. Once youve placed the blocks for the final layer, grab a caulking gun and some construction adhesive. Lay a level on top of the paver, going front-to-back and side-to-side. Want to run a profitable handyman business? I have a neighbor whose back yard is several feet above mine and towards the front of our houses, the yards are mostly level. Thats the reason walls made with this type of brick look slightly curved. And yes, you need the fabric to prevent dirt from washing down into your rock and preventing drainage. Reducing soil erosion, turning steep slopes into terraced backdrops, creating focal points in the landscaperetaining walls serve many purposes. Yet, I am unsure how you made the wall stay together at that point. We cut into our slope at the base of the wall, but ended up added almost 3 additional feet to our backyard at the top. Place one half of the cut paver on top of the masonry adhesive, positioning it so that it sits back about 3/4 inch from the front edge of the pavers in the first course. The weight of the bricks (and they are heavy) hold the wall in place too. Add a second 3-inch layer, raking and tamping that layer as well. Isnt it beautiful?! 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. Im going to use a considerable amount of washed crushed rock as back fill and would like to cover this rock before putting topsoil over it. Once that first row is in, add more paver base to the next step up, and continue this all the way up. Spray paint two lines onto the ground, placing one line 8 inches behind the pavers, and the other line 3 inches in front of the pavers. A series of short walls adds visual texture, and each individual wall will support less soil weight, ensuring that theyre less likely to fail. We also bought a 16 foot french drain pipe and ends and a cover for it. There was also the added difficulty that the slope is not even. How did you get around this problem? Adjust the second paver until it is level with the first stone. 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. This will make leveling the blocks faster since its so much easier to work with than the gravel. Each row will then sit slightly back from the one below it. But, even a short wall will be a large project. The trench must also extend into the hill far enough to bury a whole block. Im in the process of building a similar wall. If youre installing your wall on a hill or slope, I cover that toward the end of this tutorial. First, the bottom row of a retaining wall has to be buried to give the wall support. Learn how your comment data is processed. Miscalculate your construction plans, and you could end up with a weak wall that risks bulging or, worse, collapsing altogether. Hi Dan, thanks for the great step-by-step.
Best video on DIY retaining wall. When building your wall on a slope, youll want to step your wall up, as shown in the image below. We can provide you with a free quote to let you know how affordable this improvement can be. That meant cutting back branches and pulling out roots and several stumps. Fortunately, working with retaining wall blocks makes it incredibly easy to achieve this step-back construction! What is a Gabion Wall and How Do You Use It in Your Home Landscape? Place drainage aggregate into the trench behind the paver stones until it's about 2 inches beneath the top of the wall. For example, if you want the finished height of your retaining wall to be three feet (36 inches) tall, youd need to dig the trench eight inches deep to accommodate three inches of crushed rock and about five inches (or an eighth of the visible retaining wall) to start the wall below grade. That seemed to work the best going up a slope. I dont have much of a back yard currently, I have about a 90 slope I would like to make my back yard usable, is it possible to start a wall in the middle of that slope? Thats all the glue this wall will need. For the best results, backfill with a few inches of the material after laying each course of blocks, and use a hand tamper to compact the material. Then, grind a groove all the way around the block. Thank you for your support of this blog. Another option is to put a two-foot level on a 24 and use that to level it out. First, mark the location of your wall by either dragging a shovel in the dirt, using stakes and string or even spraying the ground with spray paint. You want your blocks to be perfectly level. We kind of took a break from the wall for a few months after that. But, if you want to transform your own yard and are willing to take your time, this is a very fulfilling project to take on. Hi Dan, I am going to hire someone for building a 4ft high retaining wall by cutting the soil to level the yard, How different of a process will it be to build a 4ft wall than a 3ft wall as you have shown in your video ? Digging deeper is ok. Digging too shallow will compromise the integrity of your wall. Great video and thank you. Position the paver so that the front edge is 3 inches away from the front of the trench. A retaining walls effect on the natural flow of water could impact your neighbors, so some communities require homeowners to obtain a permit before construction commences. When you start building a retaining wall on a slope, the first project is to create the various step-ups youll need for the property. And we did, it just took a long time. Interlocking bricks dont need mortar because the small lip on the bottom-back of the brick holds themin place. Finish laying the base course of pavers, using the same technique you used when setting the second stone. Shorter retaining walls, however, can be constructed by enthusiastic do-it-yourselfers equipped with some basic construction knowledge. Flip each block up, apply the adhesive to the layer below, and then set the blocks back down. The north side of the slope (by the deck) is much steeper that the south side, which meant that the north side would need a taller wall. That process begins at the base, where the lowest wall elevation will get constructed. My husband did it, not me. RELATED: The 10 Best Things You Can Do for Your Soil. Did you add any dirt or anything to build up/level the area above the retaining wall or was it more cutting into existing dirt to level the lower area? That lip prevents the bricks from moving forward, even with the weight of the dirt behind it. Seriously, those bricks are heavy. For a stacked-block retaining wall thats no higher than four feet, a trench filled with three inches of crushed rock will help keep the wall from shifting and settling. Cover drain tile with the landscaping fabric to prevent clogging. Slope the limestone down toward the area where you want to drain the water. For just this reason, retaining walls taller than four feet should be designed and constructed by the pros. Use a four-footcarpenters level to ensure that the gravel layer below the first course of blocks is level before you start setting the blocks.
Before laying your blocks on the first row, its helpful to use a hammer and masons chisel to knock the lip off of the blocks so they can sit flat on the ground. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. The perforated pipe will carry groundwater to each end of the wall where it can drain harmlessly away. Lay the second course of pavers on top of the first course, adding masonry adhesive between the two courses. Add dirt on top of the landscaping fabric behind the wall. This will allow for at least 6 of drainage gravel behind the wall and give you some room to work. Your project turned out so great! First, he put gravel in the trench, then he added sand. If the location where you're building the wall has an uneven slope, you'll need to smooth out the slope before you build the wall. Trench Depth The trench needs to be deep enough for at least six inches of packed gravel base material and half of the height of your blocks. For the final layer, use dirt instead of gravel to fill in the gap behind the blocks. Thanks for sharing your process! It gave us a nice widestrip to start the wall. Im thinking of looking for a specialist that can build retaining walls because my wife and I are thinking of putting a barrier in our backyard to separate her garden from the lawn. Although every property has unique features to consider, youll typically dig a base trench that is 24 inches wide. Please remember that every block at each step-up level must be buried entirely to ensure the correct base depth. Cover the landscaping fabric with a 1-inch layer of drainage aggregate. After completing the trench and the step-up area, you can place the base course of blocks on the base material. This keeps the higher one from creating pressure on the lower one. Not only will it help you achieve a better final result, but it will also help save you time and effort. Add the sand a little higher than it needs to be. Add a small amount of limestone to the trench behind the paver stones. This is for a 3 tall wall max. If youre 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. If you have any questions about building a retaining wall on a slope for your next residential or commercial landscaping project, give our team a call today at (425) 549-5147! I love how the final wall looks, the white bricks really help to divide the landscape both physically and with their bright colors. Wear safety goggles, gloves and ear protection when using the wet saw. Despite their simple appearance, though, these walls require a good deal of planningsometimes professional engineeringto keep their shape. If you forget that step, erosion can eventually lead to wall failure. Again, this first row is critical because you wont be able to go back and fix it later. Well-built retaining walls transform unworkable inclines into usable outdoor space for the garden. Carson Barrett began writing professionally in 2009. With every additional foot of height, the pressure of the soil increases substantially. For small garden walls that will be less than eighteen inches high, you can use smaller blocks like the Pavestones in the image below. Use a broom to sweep the blocks thoroughly between rows. It just wouldnt be profitable, and Id have to break my back trying to stick to a timeline. Hopefully you can see how we expanded each row. After taking out the old chain link fence and garden box, we had to clear away the over-grown plants that were growing where the wall was going to be. However, I am so glad that you mentioned the need to bury the first layer of the wall so that it has a firm foundation. Draw a straight line all the way around the block where you want to make your cut. Im having a civil engineering company redo my backyard landscape and put in a retaining wall in the spring. Im curious how much time has passed since you installed the wall and if youve seen any movement due to drainage issues. We never found a video specifically about building a wall in the middle of a steep slope, but we watched and read enough that we felt confident we could do this. My wife and I are looking at doing something like this as well, although the area in our yard isnt nearly as steep, it still might be nice to have. I have a 100 feet long wall. These are the blocks I will be using in this tutorial. Once you have 6 built up, go back and level it out. Follow your local block suppliers guidance on base depth for the system you are using. Be careful not to pack too hard, or youll move your blocks. Make sure to dig your trench so that it is level. I cant imagine how difficult it must have been to get everything in place, my cousin recently had something similar done and it took him about a month. Copyright 2012-2021 Handyman Startup LLC |, The best retaining wall blocks for DIYers, How to build a retaining wall step by step, How to plan and design your retaining wall, How to build a retaining wall on a hill or slope, these 6 x 16 x 10.5 concrete garden wall blocks, Heres a video showing how this tool works, How To Start and Grow A Business While Working a Full Time Job, 6 Proven (and Profitable) Handyman Business Models That Can Replace Your Income, Paver Base (aka crushed stone base) Amount depends on the size of the wall. The fabric is just landscaping or weed barrier fabric that you can pick up at any hardware store. All Rights Reserved, on How to Build a Retaining Wall on a Slope, Home and Garden Landscaping Ideas for Walkways and Paths. Any discrepancies here will show up higher in the wall. Is there a reason you didnt do that? To accomplish this, youll add a paver base to the very bottom row only, then add the first row of blocks. Dont do that. FYI: the french drain has to go in with the holes down to work correctly, which just seems backward. Does that sound like you? Groundwater is the natural enemy of retaining walls. The goal is to create a flat, level result that meets your needs. Handyman Insurance Everything You Need to Know, The First 5 Steps to Starting a Home Based Handyman Business, Handyman Pricing How to Figure Out Your Hourly Rate, Handyman Business Names: The Ultimate Guide, Handyman Licenses and Laws How To Avoid Getting Stung, Home Advisor Pro Review: What You NEED to Know, Quit Your Job In 6 Months Or Less The Ultimate 9-5 Escape Plan, Learn how to start or grow a handyman business, The 3 Most Common Handyman Business Mistakes. The locking flange on the bottom edge of every block guides it to click into position slightly behind the lower block, preventing the top blocks from being pushed outward. An affiliated link means that I receive a small commission on the sale of any product you purchase from links in my posts at no extra cost to you. I used those pavers with the lip in a different part of my yard, and because they have to centered over one another for stability, did the rows of your wall get shorter and shorter the higher the pavers went? Both had to go, and we knew we needed some kind of retaining wall to keep the flat dirt from sliding down the slope. I tried to break the pavers with a mallet and a heavy chisel once, but it did nothing. Join 15,000+ newsletter subscribers and get handyman business updates, insider secrets, and special offers not shared anywhere else. Tamp the dirt down firmly to prevent the base course of pavers from moving. Be sure to tamp down the gravel and backfilled soil after each row of blocks. To avoid failure, make drainage provisions at the same time as you go about building the retaining wall. It takes a minimum of two passes to achieve an acceptable result, and it sometimes needs 4-6 passes to build the proper foundation. Use full-sized pavers along the wall until you reach the other end, where you can use the second half of the cut paver. Anything over 3 feet requires a permit in most states because it often requires an engineer. Once you have the blocks in place, youll need to run the plate compactor along the wall rock to ensure the slope supports are in place. Be careful not to let dirt or rocks get between the blocks. I have an area at the top of my slope near the back of the house that I want to level and Im wondering if a wall like this would hold additional dirt than what is already there. 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