Place the next block, making sure it's even with the first. Walls can range from small landscape stone walls to surround a garden to enormous soil-retaining projects along a highway. Wall construction material Wood or railroad ties. If the retainer wall is to be built along a slope, make stepped trenches so that only one layer of blocks will be below the soil at all points. Excavate deep enough to completely bury at least one full course, including space … Before you buy materials or begin work, check local building codes and your homeowners association regulations to see if there are any restrictions or requirements you need to follow. Retaining walls may be defined as a wall built to resist the pressure of liquid, earth filling, sand, or other granular material filled behind it after it is built. These grooves will need to be cut off with a hammer and chisel if the layout of the pattern does not fit the direction of the grooves. If you choose heavier materials, like … Your local utilities office should perform this free of charge. They are used to bound soils between two different elevations often in areas of terrain possessing undesirable slopes or in areas where the landscape needs to be shaped severely and engineered for more specific purposes like hillside farming or roadway Use a torpedo level to create steps so that each section of the wall remains level. Visit your local town or city hall to learn more. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas. Follow the saw and blade manufacturers' instructions for use and safety. Tamping the base provides a strong foundation. This article has been viewed 271,768 times. Can I build a six-foot tall retaining wall? Sketches of the retaining wall forces should be considered to properly distinguish the different forces acting on our retaining wall as tackled in the previous article, Retaining Wall: A … The soils used below and behind the wall are a critical part of the total wall structure. XL Wall Section PDF DWG . Simply drape the garden hose out in the general area of the proposed wall utilizing its curves. No. Purchase 10% more blocks than your estimate. But with Adbri Masonry, we've got some good news for you. The interlocking retaining wall block can be used to build walls up to 24 to 36 inches high, depending on the size of the block. When you begin the initial planning, there are several considerations that will affect the material and type of wall you build. When you’re done, you can add topper stones or include plantings behind your retaining wall. Plan your layout. Tamp down the dirt with a hand tamper and keep it level. Your retaining wall will only be as strong its support system. Block retaining walls are generally the same as freestanding block walls but with a few important differences. Build a retaining wall to give your landscape a makeover along with adding an architectural element and creating a raised planting bed. To build a retaining wall, begin by planning and marking out where you want your wall to be. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ab\/Build-a-Retaining-Wall-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Retaining-Wall-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ab\/Build-a-Retaining-Wall-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1335982-v4-728px-Build-a-Retaining-Wall-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"