Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones even bricks.
Retaining wall base width.
25 mm for each 1 ft 300 mm of wall height for the amount or buried block that is needed.
As the wall height increases the base of the wall must become wider to ensure structural stability.
Insufficient stem width resulting in failure or excessive rotation of the stem.
Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding.
Counterfort retaining walls 12.
Insufficient footing width resulting in rotation or settlement of the wall.
Dig a base trench 24 in.
Building codes and retaining walls 5.
Forces on retaining walls 6.
Cantilevered tilt up walls 13.
The footing is usually made of poured concrete but in some situations homeowners may instead opt to simply use tamped earth or a gravel base.
Pier and pile foundations 11.
The preparation of the base upon which the first layer of block are to be placed is critical to building a well placed stable retaining wall.
150 mm plus an additional 1 in.
The base width of a gabion gravity retaining wall is directly related to the height of the wall.
When digging your trench the bottom row of blocks should be buried about 1 inch for every 8 inches of wall height.
Using a tape measure decide the length and the width of your retaining wall then mark off the area with the garden stakes and string.
The success of your retaining wall depends on a level base.
Divide the base depth of 5 to 7 inches depending on the height of the wall by 1 944 to determine the square yardage of the depth of the gravel base beneath the wall.
Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits.
To create a solid foundation dig a trench for the first course of your interlocking retaining wall blocks to sit in and make sure the ground remains even throughout.
Designing the cantilever wall stem 9.
Wood retaining walls 14.
Retaining wall failures are almost always attributable to poor design or poor construction.
Soil bearing and stability 8.
Earthquake seismic design 7.
We have provided the diagrams below to illustrate a starting point for design analysis to determine the base width relative to the wall height.
Gabion walls 16.
600 mm wide the length of the wall the depth of the trench will be 6 in.
Retaining wall base trench.
Thoroughly planned and ably performed wall construction will help to ensure the retaining wall s stability.
More information on retaining walls where the base trench steps up a slope.