Full Answer
What is the purpose of landscape walls?
Landscape walls are a gardener's way to fight gravity: They're typically used to hold back part of a yard that would otherwise lead to a landslide. They can also step up an especially steep slope, cut down on erosion, and carve out distinct outdoor rooms at different elevations.
What is a garden wall?
Garden walls are low walls, usually about 18-24 inches in height, that line a landscape feature. The garden wall acts as a division between the installed feature and the rest of the landscape. These smaller decorative walls act to bring emphasis to the landscape element and to provide visual and architectural interest to the design as a whole.
What are the different types of landscape walls?
What are the Different Types of Landscape Walls? Gravity retaining walls are one of the most basic and common types of retaining walls. Gravity walls rely on a combination of block weight, connections, depth of buried wall, and wall setback to hold back soil.
What are landscape retaining wall blocks?
Landscape Retaining Wall Blocks are designed for creating small to mid-size retaining walls and free-standing landscape walls. Also fire pits, columns, outdoor kitchens, planter boxes and more. Structural Retaining Wall Blocks for retaining walls between 3' and 50'.
What is the difference between a landscape wall and retaining wall?
Retaining walls can be of any height but are usually higher than 3 feet. Garden walls are low walls, usually about 18-24 inches in height, that line a landscape feature. The garden wall acts as a division between the installed feature and the rest of the landscape.
How do you make a landscape wall?
7:1616:01How to Build a Retaining Wall (Step-by-Step) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou know dump consistent piles and then rake it out into about a two inch layer. And then tamp eachMoreYou know dump consistent piles and then rake it out into about a two inch layer. And then tamp each layer. Really well you really want to pack it down.
What is a retaining wall for landscaping?
A retaining wall is intended to hold back soil when there is a drastic change in elevation. Often retaining walls are used to terrace yards that originally had a steep slope. Additionally, retaining walls can help create usable outdoor space as well as control erosion, (see Landscaping a Split-Level Home.)
What do you call a wall that holds back dirt?
A retaining wall is a structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral pressure of soil, when there is a desired change in ground elevation that exceeds the angle of repose of the soil.
What is the cheapest retaining wall to build?
The cheapest type of retaining wall is poured concrete. Prices start at $4.30 per square foot for poured concrete, $5.65 for interlocking concrete block, $6.15 for pressure-treated pine, and about $11 for stone.
What is the best material for a retaining wall?
Poured Concrete The strongest and most durable choice, concrete can be stamped, stained, veneered, or carved to look like mortared stone.
What do you put behind a retaining wall?
Backfill the wall with gravel or sand. If you use sand, first cover the backside of the retaining wall with landscape fabric. This will keep the sand from seeping between the blocks. If you're backfilling with gravel, you can pour the gravel after every course you lay.
How do I build a cheap retaining wall?
The cheapest way to build a retaining wall is to DIY it. And the most DIY-friendly way is to use commercially available concrete blocks, sold in Home Depot or Lowe's. They commonly come as self-aligning and trapezoidal in shape which makes it easier to form concaves, convexes, or straight walls.
Do all retaining walls need drainage?
All retaining walls should include drainage stone even if a draining pipe is not required.
What is a rock retaining wall called?
Reinforced Wall. Refers to a wall that uses geogrid reinforcement to provide additional stability to resist the pressures exerted behind the structure. Typically, geogrid is used to build taller retaining walls.
What is a small retaining wall called?
Sheet piling is the thinnest retaining wall. However, they can still support a significant amount of weight because they typically consist of steel or reinforced concrete. Their installation method deep within the ground helps them stay in place without taking up much space.
When should you use a gravity wall?
The most basic of retaining walls, the gravity retaining wall uses sheer weight and mass to hold the soil at bay. Since it's mostly about weight, these retaining walls allow for the widest amount of variety when it comes to materials.
How do you build a rock sitting wall?
0:211:51How to Build a Patio Seating Wall or Wall Panel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse the block angles and raised rings for alignment rotating the blocks is necessary to fit cappingMoreUse the block angles and raised rings for alignment rotating the blocks is necessary to fit capping a straight wall is easy just alternate. The position of every other wall cap.
How do you build an exterior half wall?
2:108:53Outdoor Kitchen Half Wall - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first bit of assembly can begin by clamping the 2x6. In place and securing it with pocket hole.MoreThe first bit of assembly can begin by clamping the 2x6. In place and securing it with pocket hole. Screws. Then the 2x4 is secured the same way to the posts. And then to the 2x6.
How do you build a retaining wall?
Due to soil erosion, your retaining wall should be built on a solid foundation made from gravel. Choose gravel that has stones sized between 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch. Fill the trench with a 2- to 3-inch layer of gravel. Use a rake to ensure the stones are evenly distributed.
How do you build a natural stone seating wall?
0:031:14How to Build a Seat Wall Made of Pavers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis seeding wall begins by drawing the curve or radius on the ground with paint. Along that line aMoreThis seeding wall begins by drawing the curve or radius on the ground with paint. Along that line a 1 foot wide trench is dug and filled with paper base in addition to providing seating.
What is the purpose of retaining walls?
Proper installation of landscape retaining walls can make sloping lots usable while managing both soil and water runoff. In addition to serving a functional purpose, retaining walls also add aesthetic appeal to your landscaping. Use them in home gardens to highlight flower beds, patios, or yard features.
What are retaining walls made of?
While retaining walls are made out of many types of building materials, a block system is a popular choice due to the easy installation features. The blocks are made from cement and lightweight aggregate materials.
Why do you need to capping a retaining wall?
Capping helps to protect your retaining walls from weather and erosion. There are several options for capping material. For some types of retaining wall block systems, there are corresponding capping stones that are designed to match the design of the wall block.
How to build a straight wall?
When building a straight wall, establish a string line along the back side of where the first layer of blocks will be placed. This will provide a guide to help ensure the wall is straight. Obviously, this will not work when building a curved wall.
When should you backfill a retaining wall?
After each row is completed , you should use backfill to reinforce the retaining wall.
What happens if you don't level the first layer of a wall?
It is critical for building a sturdy and good-looking wall. If this first layer is not level and firmly placed, the final wall will show any defects.
What are the Different Types of Landscape Walls?
Gravity retaining walls are one of the most basic and common types of retaining walls. Gravity walls rely on a combination of block weight, connections, depth of buried wall, and wall setback to hold back soil. When the right conditions are present, and when built within their recommended height limits, gravity retaining walls are able to resist lateral pressure solely with their weight and embedded depth. These mortar-less, yet structurally interconnected (lipped units and specialized pins) retaining wall systems also permit water drainage to prevent hydrostatic loads. Gravity retaining walls are normally used in non-critical applications, where final wall height will be under 36". For information specific to your project, contact RCP Block & Brick.
What are retaining wall blocks?
For taller walls, 3' to 50', retaining wall blocks are combined with soil reinforcement products such as geo-grids, earth anchors, or galvanized steel grid reinforcing. These additional reinforcement products help to create larger composite reinforced soil structures. With a properly designed and engineered combination of products, the reinforced soil mass can support greater earth pressure and surcharge loads.
What is gravity retaining wall?
Gravity retaining walls are one of the most basic and common types of retaining walls. Gravity walls rely on a combination of block weight, connections, depth of buried wall, and wall setback to hold back soil. When the right conditions are present, and when built within their recommended height limits, gravity retaining walls are able ...
Do landscape walls hold back soil?
Freestanding landscape walls do not hold back soil as in the case with a retaining wall. Block are normally connected using one, or a combination of specialized pins, masonry adhesive, and gravity.
What is landscape wall?
A landscape wall built for supporting outdoor structures are sturdy installations that are designed to hold the vertical weight of architectural elements like pillars, gazebos, gates, pergolas or fencing. Support walls must be strong to withstand the vertical pressure applied by the constructed element. These walls will typically be double-sided, i.e. surfaced with decorative stone on all exposed sides.
How tall is a garden wall?
Garden walls are low walls, usually about 18-24 inches in height, that line a landscape feature. The garden wall acts as a division between the installed feature and the rest of the landscape. These smaller decorative walls act to bring emphasis to the landscape element and to provide visual and architectural interest to the design as a whole.
What are some uses for retaining walls?
A few uses for outdoor walls: Retaining slopes and creating more usable land space. Defining a garden bed. Support. Seating. A retaining wall is a strong structure that is made to keep a hill, slope or mound of earth in place. Unlike indoor walls, retaining walls receive pressure horizontally instead of vertically.
What is a seating wall?
Seating wall. Seating walls are built to provide a permanent arrangement for guest accommodation. Seating walls can define a patio or circle a fire pit or outdoor fireplace. While seating walls do support some vertical weight as they are used, they are not considered to be retaining or structure-support walls.
How tall are caps?
Caps come in both single and double sided and are typically 2 to 3 inches in height. There are also square caps for columns. Enhancing your landscape with a stone wall is a great investment in your home. Consult with an EP Henry Authorized Hardscaping Contractor for out what kind of wall is best for you.
What do landscaping elements do?
Getting them mixed up can cost you time and money. We all know what a house’s walls do: they divide rooms and perhaps support the roof and upper floors of the home. Indoor walls receive pressure from above, i.e. vertical pressure.
Do seating walls have to be double sided?
Seating walls will use double-sided wall systems as they are visible from both sides. Like garden walls, seating walls have their own construction methodology which is simpler than that used for retaining walls. Seating walls often are terminated by columns which can support lighting or decorative planters.
