How to Build a Retaining Wall

The materials needed to build a retaining wall include a long straightedge, Geogrid reinforcement, a tamper, a torpedo level, crushed stones, a hand-drilling hammer, a wheelbarrow, a brick chisel, a level Mason's twine or back support or line level, work gloves and heavy work boots, wooden stakes, a tape measure or retaining wall system block, a carpenter's or framing square, a pickaxe measuring two feet, a mattock, a digging bar, and a long-handled shovel.

To start the steps on how to build a retaining wall, a preliminary excavation must be done in order to come up with an area where the wall will be constructed. The area on the wall's downhill part must then be graded. Stakes must be driven to such area. Between the stakes, a level mason must be stretched above the grade measuring approximately six inches. A line level must be hooked on the string which should be moved down and up as needed.

On the line's uphill side, a trench measuring 18 inches wide x 6 inches deep must be excavated. Crushed stones must then be used to fill up the trench and a tamper to compact such crushed stones. A straightedge may be used to determine whether there is a level gravel footing or none.

The next step on how to build a retaining wall is to make sure that the first concrete unit that will be placed on the stones is distant from the string. The torpedo may be used to verify whether there is a level block. The rest of the block that will finish the first course must then be placed too, wherein same process should be applied.

The next step on how to build a retaining wall involves the second course wherein its first block has to be divided into two in order for the vertical joints to be staggered. A brick chisel must be used to cut the block while a hand-drilling hammer must be used to score a line. Once the block has been cut, it may now be stacked above the first one. Same process shall be done in every course.

Next is to backfill as the block is laid. And the last step is to complete the final grading by filling the trench on the wall's downhill part with stones and then, pouring topsoil until wall level is reached. Topsoil must also be poured on the wall's backside, above wall level.

The procedure on how to build a retaining wall is a little bit costly and tiring, too. But once it is done, one just starts to become inspired to build a garden.

Please click these links if you want to know more about how to build a retaining wall or how to build a retaining wall in general.

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