For a stacked-block retaining wall that’s no higher than four feet, a trench filled with three inches of crushed rock will help keep the wall from shifting and settling. Your retaining wall will only be as strong its support system. These blocks (available in gray and earthy tones in smooth or textured faces, like these at The Home Depot) can be found at virtually any home improvement store and many garden centers as well. 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. Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials, from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones, even bricks. Photo: DO choose a material you can easily work with. These can determine whether their buried lines will be in the way and mark their exact locations. While you’re at it, do also place a call DigSafe (811), a nationwide service that will notify local utility companies that you plan to dig. You may have to submit plans for your wall and schedule a property inspection to ensure that building a retaining wall won’t create drainage problems. DON’T forget to check with the authorities.Ī retaining wall’s effect on the natural flow of water could impact your neighbors, so some communities require homeowners to obtain a permit before construction commences. 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.
Shorter retaining walls, however, can be constructed by enthusiastic do-it-yourselfers equipped with some basic construction knowledge.
For just this reason, retaining walls taller than four feet should be designed and constructed by the pros.
Miscalculate your construction plans, and you could end up with a weak wall that risks bulging or, worse, collapsing altogether. With every additional foot of height, the pressure of the soil increases substantially. 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. Despite their simple appearance, though, these walls require a good deal of planning-sometimes professional engineering-to keep their shape.
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