Here are the steps to build a retaining wall on a slope:
- Plan The Layout of Walls
- Select the Stones
- Excavate and Clear the Ground
- Dig Trench with Steps Down Following Slope
- Install Gravel Base
- Put First Row of Stones and Connect Steps
- Wheeping Tile and Gravel Behind The Wall
- Continue Stones all The Way Up
- Step #1: Get the Trench Compact and Level. ...
- Step #2: Install the Wall Rock. ...
- Step #3: Excavate the Second Level. ...
- Step #4: Place the Base Course of Blocks. ...
- Step #5: Compact the Wall Rock Behind the Blocks. ...
- Step #6: Fill in the Step Up Areas.
How do you build a retaining wall on a sloped yard?
- Using a tape measure, decide the length and the width of your retaining wall.
- Mark off the area with garden stakes and a mason’s line or other string. Tie the string to the stakes at the desired height of the wall. ...
- If your wall will be curved, use paint to mark the shape and location of the wall.
How to build a DIY fence on a slope?
- Before building or even ordering your new garden fence check that the slope isn’t too steep to handle fence panels. ...
- Start by installing your first fence post. ...
- If your new garden fence is going to be in a straight line then I would recommend installing your last fence post so that you have a post at each ...
How to build a stone patio on a slope?
- Decide on the location.
- Determine your final height.
- Decide on the shape and size you want.
- Select your materials for the patio surface (concrete, flagstone, pavers, etc).
- Choose your retaining wall materials (interlocking blocks, concrete blocks with veneer, stucco or paint, stacked stone, etc).
Can I build a shed on a slope?
When building a shed on unlevel ground, as the foundation grade becomes steeper the problem becomes greater. There are two main solutions to building a shed foundation on a slope: The deck. The retaining wall. Note: If you are lucky your shed site will be relatively level. If you only need to build a shed base on a slight slope this can be achieved by cutting into the slope slightly on one side and building up the crushed stone on the other.
How do you build a rock retaining wall on a slope?
Dig a trench about 8 -10 inches deep, so that the first course of stone will be fully or mostly submerged. ... Plot where the retaining wall will sit at the bottom of the slope, using stakes and. ... To calculate the necessary width of the trench, just remember the base of the structure should be half the wall's height.More items...•
How steep of slope requires a retaining wall?
The maximum slope for the soil you can safely go without having a retaining wall is 35 degrees. This is especially important if the soil is granular. If the angle is steeper than 35 degrees, you need a retaining wall to keep the landscape in place.
How do you build a retaining wall on a wooden slope?
InstructionsPlan Retaining Wall. Stake out the area where you plan to build the wall. ... Cut Into Slope. With your shovel, dig about 2 feet back into the slope. ... Prepare Retaining Wall Area. ... Mark Other Post Locations. ... Dig Post Holes. ... Add Gravel to Post Holes. ... Set Posts in Holes. ... Pour Concrete.More items...•
How do you landscape a steep slope without retaining walls?
Landscaping on SlopesStabilize With Plants & Trees. A smart way to stabilize the soil on a hill is by planting shrubs, trees, and flowers. ... Install Stairs or a Path. If your slope is not too steep, installing a stone path or stairs in your landscape can be a good option. ... Build Up Tiers of Walls. ... Build a Deck.
What is the most effective way to stabilize a slope?
Slopes can be stabilized by adding a surface cover to the slope, excavating and changing (or regrading) the slope geometry, adding support structures to reinforce the slope or using drainage to control the groundwater in slope material.
What is the most common method of slope stabilization?
The most commonly used techniques include mechanical (compaction, dewatering, mixing, etc.) and chemical (lime, cement, fly ash, etc.) stabilization. Support stabilization: Structural supports aim to increase the stability of the slope.
What is a Deadman retaining wall?
In construction, a deadman is a relatively heavy weight, typically a mass concrete block used to provide support or resistance to a load. These blocks are usually embedded firmly in soil; however, some blocks may simply rest on the ground surface.
Does a retaining wall need a footing?
The key to building a strong and durable retaining wall is a stable footing and proper drainage. A retaining wall needs a footing because if the ground below it shifts, the wall will shirt too and possibly collapse.
How high can a retaining wall be without rebar?
Most retaining walls, whether load-bearing or not, average between 3 and 4 feet in height. As a general rule, you do not want to build any sort of structure over 4 feet in height without including some type of structural support within.
How do you landscape a steep slope on a budget?
4 Cost-Effective Landscape Design Ideas for a SlopeInstall Groundcover Plants.Build a Tiered Retaining Wall.Create a Natural Rock Garden.Build Stairs or a Pathway.Tackle Your Slope in Sections.
What can be used to stabilize slopes?
There are many methods that could be used to help prevent or stop erosion on steep slopes, some of which are listed below.Plant Grass and Shrubs. Grass and shrubs are very effective at stopping soil erosion. ... Use Erosion Control Blankets to Add Vegetation to Slopes. ... Build Terraces. ... Create Diversions to Help Drainage.
Does a 1 foot retaining wall need drainage?
Every retaining wall should include drainage stone behind the wall. Though it is a good idea to install a drainage pipe on all walls, there are certain situations where a perforated drain pipe is absolutely necessary.
Is a 20% slope steep?
Around 11-20% is considered moderate and gradients above 20% are considered “steep”.
Is 3% slope steep?
Little or no slope: 0 - 3 % gradient. Gentle slopes: 4 - 9 % gradient. Moderate slopes: 10 - 15 % gradient. Steep slopes: 16 - 30 % gradient.
How high before you need a retaining wall?
For your convenience, we did the research to find you some answers. A retaining wall can reach heights of over ten feet depending on the size of your project. That said, most cities require a permit for walls over three feet tall, so remember to check your local building codes before breaking ground.
Can you build on a 50% slope?
It's not unheard of to have houses built on grades of as much as 50%; however, the cost of the complex foundation systems required for such houses is often more than the cost of an entire house on flat ground.
When building a retaining wall on a slope, what is the first project?
When you start building a retaining wall on a slope, the first project is to create the various step-ups you’ll need for the property. That process begins at the base, where the lowest wall elevation will get constructed.
Why are retaining walls important?
Retaining walls add value to residential and commercial properties because they provide reliable property boundary markers, prevent soil erosion, and allow you to make better use of your landscaping space. A common use for retaining walls today is to create terraced areas that become suitable for planting. If your property is on a slope, you’ll ...
How deep should a trench be for a house?
Although every property has unique features to consider, you’ll typically dig a base trench that is 24 inches wide. You’ll determine the depth by allowing for six inches plus an additional inch for every one foot of wall height for the number of buried blocks or materials needed.
What is retaining wall used for?
A common use for retaining walls today is to create terraced areas that become suitable for planting. If your property is on a slope, you’ll build flatter spots that are more usable for different needs.
How many passes to build a foundation?
A plate compactor is usually required for this part of the job. It takes a minimum of two passes to achieve an acceptable result, and it sometimes needs 4-6 passes to build the proper foundation.
Do you need to compact retaining walls?
The goal is to create a flat, level result that meets your needs. You don’t need to compact these materials, especially if they’ll be used for flowerbeds or other features.
Can a trench be buried in a hill?
The trench must also extend into the hill far enough to bury a whole block. If you have a slope below the start of the wall, an engineer is usually needed to complete the initial steps.
Detailed Steps How to Build a Retaining Wall on a Slope
To understand the process we want to go more detailed in each step backing it up with images from actual project.
Plan The Layout of Walls
Just like every complicated or structural work the most important step is careful planning. Otherwise you are risking running into constant problems, redoing most of work and loosing thousands of dollars.
Select the Stones and Order
The scale of work depends on type of stones. We are not talking only about colors and grading, size will be one of biggest factors going through the job.
Excavate and Clear the Ground
Often enough the plan how to build a retaining wall on a slope involves transforming entire sloped hill into several flat surfaces that are held by these blocks.
Dig Trench with Steps Down Following Slope
Very similar to start of all retaining walls, contractors dig a trench where it all will begin. Once again the size and depth depends on stones selected for wall.
Install Gravel Base
At the very bottom of our wall there will be gravel. The purpose of stone is to create a solid pad for heavy wall and not sink in the soil.
Put First Row of Stones and Connect Steps
Everyone says that first layer of retaining wall on a hill is the most important one and we are happy to confirm that fact. It can take hours to connect steps and properly level just next stone. It’s very easy to make tiny mistakes and contractors are not exclusion of the rule.
Why did we build a retaining wall on the slope behind our house?
We built a retaining wall on the slope behind our house to give us more usable space, and it opened up our backyard and gave us a lot more room .
How do you know how each layer ends into the ground?
You can see how each layer ends into the ground as the slope gets more shallow.
Do interlocking bricks need mortar?
Interlocking bricks don’t need mortar because the small lip on the bottom-back of the brick holds them in place. We also bought a 16 foot french drain pipe and ends and a cover for it. And we ended up getting some landscaping cloth too.
Does a French drain go in with holes down?
FYI: the french drain has to go in with the holes down to work correctly, which just seems backward. Here’s a good YouTube video explaining why.
Is half of my backyard a steep slope?
Half of our backyard is a steep slope. Dividing the flat, usable part from the slope used to be a chain link fence that was falling down and a deteriorating garden box. Both had to go, and we knew we needed some kind of retaining wall to keep the flat dirt from sliding down the slope. My brilliant husband realized that if we built the retaining wall part way down the slope, we could increase our usable yard by a few feet.
Checking in with The Local Authorities
- Retaining walls that are built on a slope can alter the drainage paths of water and direct the water into the houses of your neighbors and cause flooding and water damage. Because of that, you will have to check if there are any rules you will have to follow associated with the construction. There might be a maximum allowed height and width, the required depth for the foundation, minimum …
Structural Integrity
- Because of their purpose to stabilize the soil around them, retaining walls that are built on a slope have unique structural requirements that differentiate them from other types of walls. Most garden walls are built to provide privacy, indicate the edges of your property, provide safety for pets and kids and keep them inside of your backyard. Building small garden walls using cinder bl…
Materials
- There are a plethora of materials you can use to build a retaining wall. Concrete blocks are the best choice since they are inexpensive and easy to work with, but you can also use bricks, wood timbers, and smaller boulders. If you are new to DIY, we recommend you to use concrete blocks because they are really heavy (around 14 pounds each), meaning they will be able to hold a signi…
Construction
- The process of building a retaining wall involves several important steps. Make sure you understand everything and take your time. In our example, we will explain how to build a retaining wall with blocks that flatten the slope and create usable land on the otherwise unworkable part of your backyard. Your wall might differ from the one we use as an...
FAQ
- Should I Build a Retaining Wall or Reduce the Slope with Dirt?
It is generally better to build a retaining wall since it is cheaper than reducing the slope with dirt, and it looks much better than just plain dirt. - At What Slope Should I Build a Retaining Wall?
The slope should be at least 10 degrees for it to make sense. Hopefully, now you know how to build a retaining wall on a slope. Make sure you have read everything carefully and understand every step of the process. Good luck with your DIY, and see you soon!