Study Up Before Summer - Wall Installation

Following a tough winter, it's time to build that landscape retaining wall you put on the back burner. Spring thaw lets you study up for installation before summer, time to make this do-it-yourself project simple, solid, and satisfying.

Plan it

You need a plan that determines the location, style, and supplies needed. A landscape supplier like Legends Landscape can give you trustworthy advice as well as the necessary materials. Designs might be vertical, inclined, curved, and/or multileveled.

Dig in

Before digging, you must be sure there are no electric, gas, or water lines under your ground. There are services that will test your ground, and local permitting processes may coach you through that discovery.

• Trench to a depth that allows space for a leveling pad of at least 15-cms and anticipate burying at least 10% of the wall underground
• Allow a trench width for at least 15-cms. at front of the wall and 30-cms. in the back for drainage

Level it

The base of the trench needs the firm and level compacting you get with a power compactor.

• Use geotextile, laid on the leveling pad and excavated wall, to protect against erosion, permit drainage, and provide stability.
• Lay at least 20-mm. of crushed stone at the bottom and use the power vibratory plate to compact and level that base.
• If the wall is to be stepped, start at the lowest level. Then, plan a level path for each level and allow a vertical distance equal to the height of one block.

Start it

Each horizontal row of block is a course requiring careful alignment and leveling.

• Lay blocks of the same height in a course on the compacted base pad.
• Align and level blocks in all directions and all sides.
• Check to see if all blocks are level to and supported by the leveling pad.
• Place blocks end to end with no space between the faces of the adjacent blocks.
• Lay a 10-cm. diameter perforated drain pipe on the compacted level base pad and behind the first-course level.
• Connect the drain pipe to the drainage system to drain water collecting behind the wall.
• Add 30-cm. of 20-mm. clean stone behind the wall, leveling and settling the stone into any cavities between the blocks and the qeotextile.

Build it

Continue additional courses in much the same manner.

• Lay each course after cleaning off the top of the previous row.
• Install connectors or anchors at the extremity of each block.
• Backfill with stone after every eight inches of block.
• Keep vertical seams of the blocks aligned.
• Using geogrid - synthetic grids between courses and into the backfill - adds horizontal security.

Top it

Decorative or simple coping stones will finish the top of the wall.

• Lay the coping stones atop the last course so there is no space between them and the previous course.
• Secure the coping with concrete adhesive.

Consider the options

Retaining and landscape walling comes in various design and material choices. Some block selections come with easy instructions and all the accessories you need. In addition, you may want to consider your options for drainage and hand rails. You can  also learn to build curved, tiered, and multileveled walls. Techno-block, for example, comes in a variety of textures and colours, imitating slate, granite, fieldstone, and more and in a variety of convenient assemblies. Study now for installation before summer, contact Legends Landscape Supply for advice and cost estimates in and around Burlington. Or, visit our location - the only landscape supplier offering free coaching and professional products for do-it-yourself homeowners.