Retaining Wall

Simply put, the retaining wall is a kind of wall with interlacing blocks that holds back, or "retains" a higher level of ground. The blocks can be brick or wood, and may or may not require mortar to seal. A retaining wall, also known as a terraced wall, an anchor wall, or a landscape wall, is an attractive feature to your property, whether on a lawn or in a garden, creating a distinct border between the higher and lower surface.

The result is a groomed, professional look that flatters a wide variety of home designs, whether suburban or rural. The retaining wall was used as far back as the ancient Romans and even earlier; it is practical as well as attractive. Usually, they are not very tall. The retaining wall is difficult to build if it is more than a man's height. Often they are only a few feet tall, because of the strength required to hold back the upper level of earth.

Why would you want one? Your personal reasons may be quite practical or purely for the aesthetic appeal, and the retaining wall serves well in either case. The wall may help keep your driveway clear of debris or encroaching grass. It may border as a pathway through a garden, or help level a sloping backyard. It may tastefully hide an air conditioning compressor. Whatever your reasons, the retaining wall is a versatile option that is applicable to many property styles.

It is helpful to be familiar with the terms involved in retaining walls in order to know what you want. This will assist you in purchasing materials and in knowing how the retaining wall works and is built. You may want to refer to these terms when buying your materials and when building your retaining wall.

Backfill is the material you use to fill in the area behind the blocks of the wall. This can be gravel or crushed rock, or specific kinds of aggregate that some companies sell. It is important that you purchase the kind of backfill that most suits your wall design.

Batter is the term used to describe the angle of the wall. Usually, the retaining wall will not be built at a 90-degree angle to the ground, but will have a shallow incline towards the upper surface. This is accomplished by adding each new layer of blocks not directly atop the lower level, but slightly offset to allow for a small lip on the lower level.

Blocks, incidentally, are the main part of the wall, the bricks that you use. They can be stone, concrete, or even wood, depending on the size and type of retaining wall you build. Thick, heavy concrete blocks are the best kind for large, long retaining walls, while smaller bricks and wood blocks work well for smaller walls, like tree rings.

A "running bond" is the most common and versatile way to layer the blocks. Rather than stack them up directly on top of each other, leaving clear seams between each stack, you may want to stagger each block so that the upper layers straddle the lower levels across the seams. In other words, one block will evenly straddle the seam between the lower two blocks. This gives the retaining wall extra strength.

The base is the layer of compacted gravel and sand on which the first layer of blocks is set. This is tamped down as much as possible to ensure the wall does not settle or sink drastically after it is finished. The gravel allows water to drain from the lower level, preventing rot damage.

There are a variety of designs, all serving unique purposes and having unique features. A tree ring, for instance, is to enclose trees or other plants on a raised surface above a lawn. A landscape wall, on the other hand, may border the edge of a designated lawn area. The decision you make will depend on what kind of area you want to enclose, what your budget will allow, and, of course, what will suit your personal preferences. A wide variety of materials are available to you as well. Your retaining wall could be made of thick concrete bricks or of wide, flat stone plates, depending on the style you want to achieve.

The retaining wall may take a weekend or up to a week of solid labor, depending on the size of your wall. Most small retaining walls are not labor intensive; hence the "do it yourself" aspect of the project. Pick a design that fits within your available time, and you should have the project finished soon.

Fortunately, the tools required for a do it yourself retaining wall are simple and inexpensive. You can purchase most of these at your local hardware store. Masonry distributors and landscaping companies will have anything else you cannot find at the hardware store.

You will need safety glasses, gloves, and a dust mask for your personal protection. For laying out the foundation, you will need a level (preferably at least 4 feet long), a tape measure, and a string line. Other necessary tools are a hand tamper, a rubber mallet, a masonry saw, and both square and rounded shovels. You may want shims and a broom to help ensure levelness and to keep your area clean.

With relatively simple equipment and for little expense, you can make a do it yourself retaining wall on your property. The first step in getting started is to make sure you have the required materials. After this, assuming you have selected the kind of wall you want, you will begin by establishing the boundaries and dimensions.

This is an important part of the process of building a retaining wall. The different designs all share a basic method for building the foundation, and it is critical that it be a good one. Improper foundations will weaken over time and may cause the wall to bow or collapse.

Remove the surface vegetation and either discard it or replant it later, since it cannot be used as backfill. Depending on the size of retaining wall you want to build, you may need a vehicle such as a Bobcat with a backhoe or shovel to clear away the earth. This should not be necessary, except in exceptionally long or high retaining walls. In most circumstances, a hand held shovel will suffice. Clear away enough earth to create a flat area that abruptly rises up to a higher surface. After the area is cleared, you are ready to start laying the foundation.

The kind you want to build will dictate to a certain degree how you should build it. There are plenty of options available, regardless of what kind you build. In all cases, you will have a cleared area on which to start.

Usually, you want at least one foot of depth in your foundation for every eight feet of height to your wall. In other words, your first row of blocks must sink at least one foot. Additionally, your must have a layer of compacted gravel below the first row of blocks, as a foundation. Use the hand tamper to ensure a tight, compact layer of gravel. Then, lay down the first level of blocks. It is important at this point to make sure your rows are level, so spend the extra time to make them as perfect as you can. This will save you work, and will make your finished retaining wall look better when finished.

You will need to have a layer of moisture membrane between the block layers and the wall of earth on some designs. This is to protect the retaining wall from water runoff as much as possible. Drain tile behind the outer wall is another option that will also help carry water away. Usually this is only a necessary consideration with large retaining walls on large, sloping hillsides, so this step may be optional on a very small wall, or on a wall design that uses stone blocks instead of wood or brick.

As you proceed on the first layer, it is worth repeating that it be as perfect as you can make it. The first layer will determine the general look of the finished product, so make sure the blocks are firmly in place, that they touch each other, and that they are level. Fill in the back with gravel or crushed rock after you establish the look of the first layer.

The next row will lock into the first. In many retaining wall designs, the blocks come with pins, flanges, or tongue-and-groove systems to lock the rows together. In other cases, you may need to use mortar to seal the rows. Regardless, the rows must lock together. Most of the time, the design will be staggered, in what is known as a "running bond" pattern, where one block straddles the seam on the lower two blocks.

After the first row, the successive rows follow the same pattern. Insert the new blocks atop the first row, seal them, and fill in the backspace with more gravel. In a retaining wall, you will probably want to offset each successive row to angle into the hillside-it is better than building it straight, since natural settling of the earth will push against the wall, and an outward-bowed look is unattractive.

A slight overhang on the top layer is usually a good aesthetic finish. The top layer, the cap, often is flatter than the lower block layers, and will meet the grass directly. It will cover up the gravel beneath it in most cases.

Tree rings are similar to the basic retaining wall. A tree ring adheres to the same idea as a retaining wall (and is, in fact, a retaining wall, strictly speaking). The tree ring is designed to elevate trees and other plants and vegetation, mostly for aesthetic purposes. It can add an eye-catching element to a garden or a walkway.

The tree ring can be either rounded or oblong, or square. If rounded, you should take care to make the curves as even as possible. Also, if the tree ring stands independently, you will need to bring in soil from an outside source to fill in the middle of the ring. Finally, you should make sure the tree will fit the ring you make for it. Take into account that as the tree grows, the roots will spread, so give the tree enough of a base so that its roots can reach the deeper soil before branching out.

You need not feel restricted to just one retaining wall, either. Sometimes a slope is long enough or steep enough that two or three retaining walls would work on it. A retaining wall works wherever there is a slope in the earth, so you can be imaginative.

The retaining wall is a good choice for the do it yourself handyman or home landscaper looking for his next project. It is highly adaptable to a variety of home designs, suitable for lawns, gardens, pathways, and nearly anywhere else you think it would look attractive. Chances are it will flatter most locations.

The do it yourself aspect of the home retaining wall is part of the appeal of this simple yet stylish landscaping design. The work involved is not overly strenuous, and you can work at your own rate. None of the steps are dangerous or too much for a single person to handle. The retaining wall is a safe and relatively easy landscape project that produces a beautiful addition to your home.