Best Material For Retaining Wall Base

While retaining walls are made out of many types of building materials a landscape retaining wall utilizing a retaining wall block system is a popular choice due to the easy installation features.

Best material for retaining wall base.

To keep the blocks on your retaining wall level and structurally sound you need a base layer of several inches of well compacted sharp gravel. That means that the veneer itself is a purely aesthetic element and it needs a solid core to even work as a wall a role usually played by cmu blocks. As with other types of walls set the timbers on a gravel base and provide good drainage behind the wall. Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding.

Fasten the timbers with long spikes or screws. Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones even bricks. This is standard for all types of landscape walls. The blocks are made from cement and lightweight aggregate materials.

Choose a paver base with landscape rocks between 1 2 inch and 3 4 inch in size. More information on drainage and water management. Due to soil erosion your retaining wall should be built on a solid foundation made from paver base. Shown is a traditional block.

For diy purposes opt for manufactured blocks that are. This prevents water from building up behind the wall. Similar to gravel paver base is a form of construction aggregate that contains crushed rocks such as limestone. A handheld tamping tool can really help in getting the gravel level but you re right one stray stone can throw off the entire operation.

Choose timbers that have a 40 treatment rating suitable for ground contact and seal any cut ends with preservative to prevent rotting. Place the drain pipe at the lowest possible point toward the back of the trench and vent to daylight every 50 ft. The leading cause of wall failure. Base material you should use a crushed stone or crushed concrete for the base material.

Fill the trench with a 2 to 3 inch layer of paver base. Timbers are usually available in green and brown. Using round particles will affect the wall in the future as they move underground. Stone veneer is a protective material that can be used as a decorative covering for vertical walls and surfaces.

Placed behind the retaining wall to promote drainage of water away from the wall. 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. A level base on which the wall sits. 150 mm of wall rock in the base trench and rake smooth.

Place a minimum of 6 in. Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits.