How To Build A Retaining Wall

You might be considering building your own retaining wall. You might be surprised what you can do with the right guidance and a set of helping hands. Some of the most common retaining wall materials are stone in both (natural and composite), bricks, concrete, hard wood, steel, or railroad ties. When you select the appropriate material make sure that it matches the application. For instance, if you are retaining a large slope or grade you will need larger bricks or stones versus a small gardening application.

Here's how to build a retaining wall for a raised flower bed.

1. Outline the shape of your garden retaining wall: circular, rectangular, rectangular with curved edges or what have you.

2. Mark your outline with a spray paint or stake and ropes and measure the dimension.

3. Take the measurement to your favorite construction store and order your customized pre-cast concrete stone block with lip lock system that conforms to the shape of your retaining wall when assembled.

4. Dig about 12 inches deep trench ensuring that it’s as level as possible. Lay leveling sand or patio paver base in the trench compacting it with hand packer to ensure a level solid base. Use your ground leveling tool to check if the solid base is perfectly leveled.

5. Lay each base row blocks ensuring that it's flat using a carpenter's level. Repeat the process until all base row blocks are laid before checking the level again with a ground level to check if it's aligned and perfectly flat. Perfectly leveling the base row saves you time later when you're laying the top rows.

Tip: Knock the flange off using a chisel and a mallet for the base blocks for easy leveling.

6. Lay the top rows with the joints staggered with the lower row. You may need to cut a block in half using a masonry wet saw to make this happen. Ensure that the lip at the back of the block interlocks with the top of the lower row. Lay all the top rows to achieve the desired height of your flower bed and - voila - you just built your garden retaining wall.

Tip: Install a perforated pipe for a higher retaining wall to ensure proper drainage of your flower bed.

Building a retaining wall is made easier with pre-cast stone blocks you can buy from landscaping or home improvement stores. Now, there's no excuse why you can't add a focal point in your garden with a retaining-wall-raised flower bed.

 

Retaining Wall News:

 

Irisan still no rehab funds - Sun.Star

Irisan still no rehab funds
Sun.Star
The fund is supposed to be used for the immediate rehabilitation of the Irisan dumpsite, particularly its retaining wall and for conversion of the facility as an eco-park. Earlier, city officials expressed concern on the impending danger the dumpsite .

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Fitchburg encounters costly retaining wall problem - Worcester Telegram

Fitchburg encounters costly retaining wall problem
Worcester Telegram
By Paula J. Owen TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Mr. Bean, who was mayor in the 1990s, remembers when the city had to pay to tear down a house at 242 High St. because the retaining wall behind it that holds up part of Mechanic Street was collapsing onto it.

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Tuesday's traffic alerts - Pittsburgh Post Gazette (blog)

Tuesday's traffic alerts
Pittsburgh Post Gazette (blog)
Crews will build a retaining wall between North Chapel/Manor roads and Brown Road. The closure is scheduled to continue around the clock through late March. Southbound traffic in the right lane approaching the North Chapel/Manor roads intersection will .

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Weracoba Creek retaining wall repair to cost $75K - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Weracoba Creek retaining wall repair to cost $75K
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
By MIKE OWEN - mowen@ledger-enquirer.com Repairing a collapsed stretch of the Weracoba Creek retaining wall will cost taxpayers about $75000, Deputy City Manager David Arrington said Monday. The stretch of about 80 feet collapsed partially into the .

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Centex sues two local companies - Blames them for retaining wall collapse
Millions of dollars were spent by the subdivision's builder, Centex, repairing the wall and buying back 22 homes. Now, in the lawsuit, they are claiming they weren't responsible for the...


Retaining walls - Boston.com (blog)

Retaining walls
Boston.com (blog)
Today, our Monday guy, Sam Schneiderman, Broker-owner of Greater Boston Home Team, provides and overview of property tax bills, property assessments and tax exemptions., discusses discusses retaining walls. It's not uncommon to see brick or stone walls .

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Weracoba Creek retaining wall repair to cost $75K
Repairing a collapsed stretch of the Weracoba Creek retaining wall will cost taxpayers about $75,000, Deputy City Manager David Arrington said Monday...


Shoreline improves fish habitat - Sarnia Observer

Shoreline improves fish habitat
Sarnia Observer
A new stone retaining wall is in place at the Cathcart Park shoreline near Sombra. The stonework replaces a metal retaining wall that was beginning to fall apart. ADAM WIGHTMAN / FOR THE OBSERVER/ QMI AGENCY By ADAM WIGHTMAN For The Observer Ongoing .

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Repairing collapsed Weracoba Creek wall may cost taxpayers $71000 - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Repairing collapsed Weracoba Creek wall may cost taxpayers $71000
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
By By MIKE OWEN on 01/23/12 10:38 Repairing the collapsed section of the Weracoba Creek retaining wall that collapsed about two weeks ago will cost taxpayers $71000 if Columbus Council approves the low bid on the project, according to the agenda for .

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Montville retaining wall work to continue into March
Montville - Construction of a retaining wall at the busy intersection of routes 32 and 163 will continue into March, Mayor Ronald K. McDaniel Jr. said this week.The state awarded a contract for the..


Firth launches its own range of Keystone Retaining Walls
Firth is bringing New Zealanders a locally produced range of the internationally renowned, cutting edge Keystone Retaining Wall systems...


Water, sewer, retaining wall work continues on Williamson Valley Road - Prescott Daily Courier

Water, sewer, retaining wall work continues on Williamson Valley Road
Prescott Daily Courier
In addition, work will continue on the project's retaining walls. Among the possible impacts to drivers: rough road conditions, lane restrictions, reduced speeds, flagging operations, and construction equipment and personnel moving through the work .

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Crumbling wall puts Fitchburg in a hole - Sentinel and Enterprise

Crumbling wall puts Fitchburg in a hole
Sentinel and Enterprise
Last Tuesday, the City Council voted to allow the city to purchase the property at 242 High St. The city owns a retaining wall that props up the sidewalk on Mechanic Street, which is at a higher elevation, and a section of that wall is falling onto the .

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Take a free shuttle to Wellington Point
THE popular picnic spot at Wellington Point Recreational Reserve will be open for Australia Day despite ongoing work on a privately-owned retaining wall on Main Road...


Rough driving in the snow
The driver of this SUV did several spinouts before going over the retaining wall on Interstate 76 westbound just past the Gladwyne off ramp about 3:30 AM Saturday morning. Belmont Hills rescue and Narberth ambulance responded. Luckily there were no serious Injuries...


Truck Hangs on Retaining Wall
A Lincoln driver said it only took a second and his truck was teetering on a wall...


Frisco rock wall vandalized
Frisco police are looking for information on who spray painted graffiti on a rock retaining wall on Fourth Avenue and Teller Street in town recently...


Repairing collapsed Weracoba Creek wall may cost taxpayers $71,000
Repairing the collapsed section of the Weracoba Creek retaining wall that collapsed about two weeks ago will cost taxpayers $71,000 if Columbus Council approves the low bid on the project, according to the agenda for Tuesdays council meeting...


Frisco rock wall vandalized - Summit Daily News

Frisco rock wall vandalized
Summit Daily News
By Caddie Nath Frisco police are looking for information on who spray painted graffiti on a rock retaining wall on Fourth Avenue and Teller Street in town recently. A rock retaining wall on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Teller Street in Frisco was .

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Crumbling wall puts Fitchburg in a hole
FITCHBURG -- The public-works director and the private developer who worked on a property that the city bought and sold at a loss twice said the issue stemmed from a lack of record keeping...



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