Build A Concrete Retaining Wall

Pouring a concrete retaining wall is not that difficult and this easy to follow how to guide will show you just what to do.
Build a concrete retaining wall. 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. Materials tools and site. How to build a concrete wall prep work. That s right the idea is that.
Here are the steps tom ralston owner of tom ralston concrete in santa cruz ca follows when pouring a retaining wall. Concrete blocks are ideal for building walls to hold back the soil after you dig into a slope for a pathway patio or another landscaping project block retaining walls are generally the same as freestanding block walls but with a few important differences. Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits. 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.
The wall we built was a weekend long project and an exhausting one at that. 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. Poured concrete retaining walls can be colored textured accented with embedded objects and much more. Rather than messing around with mortar they lay the walls down like lego pieces using concrete while it s still in the bag.
So diyers have come up with an interesting trick. 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. Afterward place the forms and pour the concrete to shape your wall. A poured wall is much stronger and generally last many more years than a block wall.
Whether you need a wall as a property marker a support structure or to hold back soil or water you can make one by building wood frames called forms. Once you ve got your base set up it just takes some finesse in building the wall up and turning corners. A concrete wall needs to be built on top of a concrete footer in order to be stable. If you want to build a concrete retaining wall you should consider pouring the wall rather than making it out of concrete blocks.
The success of your retaining wall depends on a level base. It took a day to rip out the old collapsing retaining wall to dig farther into the hill to provide room for the backfill gravel and to help unload materials. Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding. Whether you re building a retaining wall or just need some extra privacy a cinder block wall is an affordable way to get the job done.