Building A Rock Retaining Wall At Home

Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits.

Building a rock retaining wall at home.

Without this simple footing the rocks have a tendency to move. This ditch will act as the wall s footing and prevent the rocks from sliding forward due to pressure from the earth behind. This footing is similar to a concrete retaining wall just not as engineered. 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.

Prepare the footing photo by russell kaye. In other words for a four foot wall two feet wide. Using a tape measure decide the length and the width of your retaining wall then mark off the area with the garden stakes and string. Once built you ll have a rock solid retaining wall without all the heavy mortar lines.

To create a solid foundation dig a trench for the first course of your interlocking retaining wall blocks to sit in and make sure the ground remains even throughout. Dig a trench that s below the frost line and 2 feet wider than. Design and build your retaining wall to slope at a minimum rate of. To build a natural dry stone retaining wall prepare the site.

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. The wide base needs to go back into the slope at least half as wide as the wall is tall. Self stacking concrete blocks make building a sturdy retaining wall a much simpler diy project. Anything taller should be handled by professionals.

The success of your retaining wall depends on a level base. Plan for good drainage proper width height ratio and distance between tiers. How to build a rock wall 1. Building a retaining wall is suitable for diyers as long as the wall is a maximum of 3 feet tall in most areas.

This makes your rock wall into a 50 year wall. The easiest way to build a stone retaining wall is to use the dry stack method that requires no mortar between stones and does not need a concrete footing like mortared walls do. Try to cut the ditch into native soil rather than loose added soil as the former provides a more stable foundation for the wall. How to build a short retaining wall this 2 retaining wall is a great architectural element that also serves a purpose to keep dirt from a sloping yard from going into the driveway.

Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding.