Building A Low Stone Retaining Wall

To build a natural dry stone retaining wall prepare the site.

Building a low stone retaining wall.

With its diamond blade it cuts the stones pretty easily. Design and build your retaining wall to slope at a minimum rate of. Plan for good drainage proper width height ratio and distance between tiers. The interlocking retaining wall block can be used to build walls up to 24 to 36 inches high depending on the size of the block.

Lay high quality stones and use a geotextile backing to ensure the wall lasts a long time. The success of your retaining wall depends on a level base. Excavate to a depth of 6 inches along the entire base of the stone retaining wall using the string marker as a guide. It may be necessary to cut some of the stones as the wall comes together.

Anything taller should be handled by professionals. That s where the wet saw comes into play. Other materials that could be used for such a project include landscape timbers railroad ties and cinder blocks. Building a retaining wall will help reduce erosion improve water drainage and create usable garden space.

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. A wall that leans into the soil it retains is less likely to be pushed outward by soil pressure than a plain old vertical wall. Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits. This tutorial is designed for beginners interested in building stone retaining walls using a dry stack method but it also works for retaining block and flagstone walls.

It s a great home improvement project that can be completed in a weekend whether you re a novice or an old hand. Use a hand or power tamper to level the base. Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding. Simply mark your stone at the desired size and cut.

The following is a. The wet saw is the perfect tool to rent when building a retaining wall. 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 easiest way to build a stone retaining wall is to use the dry stack method that requires no mortar between stones and does not need a concrete footing like mortared walls do.