Rock Retaining Wall Construction

Without this simple footing the rocks have a tendency to move.

Rock retaining wall construction.

Secrets to building a retaining wall. Bury the bottom course or courses of the retaining wall one tenth the height of the wall to prevent the soil behind from pushing the bottom out. Try to cut the ditch into native soil rather than loose added soil as the former provides a more stable foundation for the wall. In other words for a four foot wall two feet wide.

It sincerely breaks my heart every time i see a wall built with stone blocks courtesy of big box stores inspired by diy cable tv. 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. A retaining wall is a special kind of wall. This makes your rock wall into a 50 year wall.

It has to not only support itself but actively hold back pressure from the material behind it as well. This ditch will act as the wall s footing and prevent the rocks from sliding forward due to pressure from the earth behind. Building a retaining wall is suitable for diyers as long as the wall is a maximum of 3 feet tall in most areas. Big small retaining free standing.

And i love rock walls. The rock themselves are very dense. How to build a natural dry stacked stone free standing or retaining rock wall. Step back the blocks rocks or timbers to get gravity working in your favor.

Here are some of the most important things to remember when you re building a retaining wall. This footing is similar to a concrete retaining wall just not as engineered. 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. Rock retaining wall construction can be very challenging.

It s not unusual for a cubic foot of rock to weigh between 150 200 pounds. Dig a ditch the length of the wall that is about a foot wide and 8 to 12 inches 20 5 cm 30 5 cm below the ground level. How to build a retaining wall with a terrace integrate stone steps and a stone retaining wall into a challenging backyard slope to make the space more usable. Large boulders will either require you to have a piece of mechanical equipment or you have to master using gravity to help you lift the stones in place.

This lets the walls lean and push against the fill. Choose high quality stones.