10 Steps to a Beautiful Retaining Wall

While retaining walls taller than 4 feet will likely require professional work, you can build short retaining walls on your own. 

Image courtesy of https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/opinion/44498/retaining-walls-that-last

 Interested in building your own retaining wall? We hope you enjoy our 10-step guide!

1. To start, dig a trench. Your trench needs to be wide enough to fit your block and at least 8 inches of free space. Your trench needs to be deep enough to fit the first layer and 6-8 inches of base material.

2. Compact the trench. This can be done with either a hand tamper or vibrating plate compactor. Compacting prevents your wall from settling with time. Make sure the base of your trench is level.

3. Lay a base of crushed stone. The best crushed stone is made up of 1/2 inch - 3/4 inch pieces.

4. Compact the base layer. A long-lasting wall requires a firm foundation. Like before, compact the base layer with a hand tamper or plate compactor.

5. Lay the first course. The blocks should be centered in the trench. Level each block front to back with a torpedo level. As you place the first row, use either a 4-foot or 6-foot level to ensure proper alignment. Once placed, set the blocks with a mallet.

6. Sweep off the first row. Any rubble on the surface will create small height differences that will become more problematic with each new layer. For a level final product, sweep the first row.

7. Lay the stones. Once your firm foundation is set, it’s time to start building. With each new layer, stagger the joints.

8. After a couple rows, include drainage. Place drain grates every 25 - 50 feet apart.

9. Backfill with stone. Backfill to 8 - 10 inches below the top of the capstones.

10. Finish with capstones. Secure the capstones in place with landscape block adhesive. Apply the adhesive to dry stone, and place the capstones so that they overhang the wall by 1 - 1 ½ inches.

If that’s a little bit more work than you bargained for, you can skip steps one through ten by simply giving us a call! Our team of professionals here at LandEx Co. is always ready and eager to help. Hit the button below to connect with our team today.