| Retaining walls are usually used for preserving | | | | with the help of a rake. The stones should be |
| landscaped areas. Retaining walls serve as purposes | | | | compacted together with a tamper. |
| for practical construction, from giving vertical edges | | | | 3. The First Course - The first base of concrete |
| for sloped areas to supporting level areas. If there is | | | | should be laid out on the stones. A torpedo level can |
| a sloping backyard that risk of getting collapse soon, | | | | be used for this purpose for ensuring that the |
| then a retaining wall is the best option for increasing | | | | concrete is in level on all sides. All the remaining |
| strength. It will help in preserving the area and utilizing | | | | concrete units have to be laid out while leveling the |
| it for functional purposes. | | | | stones at the same time. This step can be fairly |
| Variety of materials can be used to build retaining | | | | dangerous, so the protective work gloves should be |
| walls, the most common are wood, concrete and | | | | worn at all times. |
| tiles. Even though basically used as functional | | | | 4. Cutting the First Block - For ensuring improved grip |
| elements in a landscape, these walls can also be | | | | and placeholders for the vertical joints, the first block |
| made of more eye catching elements like colored | | | | of every even numbered row has to be cut into |
| bricks, stone and timber. | | | | halves with a brick chisel and sledgehammer. |
| Materials Needed | | | | 5. The Second Course - When the first block of all |
| - Concrete | | | | the even numbered rows have been cut, the next |
| - Wooden stakes | | | | step is to lay out the second row of concrete units. |
| - Gravel | | | | Each block has to be stepped back by a few inches |
| - Scaping fabric | | | | for ensuring a minor slope backwards. |
| - Interlocked landscaping stones | | | | 6. Backfilling - As the height of the wall will increase, it |
| - Land | | | | has to be made sure to fill down the soil behind it. |
| Tools Needed | | | | While the back portion of the wall has been filled with |
| - Brick chisel | | | | soil, it is also necessary to support its strength with |
| - Framing square | | | | an additional material such as cement. This additional |
| - Pickaxe | | | | support is always needed for walls that reach certain |
| - Masonry twine | | | | heights. |
| - Wheelbarrow | | | | 7. Final Grading - The trench has to be filled with |
| - Shovel | | | | crushed stones on the uphill part of the constructed |
| - Mattock | | | | wall. It should be topped with soil until it reaches a |
| - Torpedo level | | | | few inches above the final level of the wall. |
| Procedure | | | | Preferably, the gradient of the soil and the crushed |
| 1. Excavation and Layout - The task should be | | | | stones should be gently sloping downwards. |
| started by excavating the area where the proposed | | | | Caution and Tips |
| retaining wall needs to be located. It has to be | | | | - If you are planning to build the wall by yourself, |
| ensured that the soil is graded on the downhill | | | | then ready-made interlocking blocks should be |
| section. The wooden stakes have to be drilled into | | | | selected. |
| the downhill side and the masonry twine should be | | | | - The minimum depth of the trench should be ½' |
| stretched across the stakes. | | | | and it should be wider than the size of an interlocking |
| 2. The Footing Trench - A trench has to be dug out | | | | block. |
| on the upper side of the wall. It should be filled with | | | | - The trench should be refilled immediately after the |
| variety of colored stones and then it is to be leveled | | | | foundation layer is completed. |