![]() ![]() In general, you want to dig into the face of the slope at the same angle that the wall will batter. On the project shown in the photos, a short wall was built to border the downhill side of the sidewalk. Add mortar between each course and stagger the joints between courses to strengthen the wall.įirst step in building a retaining wall is to excavate the ground in the rough shape you want the wall. Some local building codes require soil engineers to approve plans for retaining walls above 4 feet tall. Note: If you have a steep slope, you should consult a soil engineer or landscape professional to help design a plan to handle drainage and mitigate erosion. Fill the void behind the wall with smaller drainage rock, gravel and soil. This particular lot sloped in multiple directions, requiring one side of the sidewalk to be shored up as it routed downhill toward the water. Retaining walls are commonly built on hillside lots to hold back the slope of the land, as seen on the lakeside lot of this landscaping project. Here’s a look at the basics of this popular construction method. On a recent landscaping project, the EHT staff was on site for construction of a patio, sidewalk and multi-tiered fire pit, in which dry-stack construction was used for multiple aspects of the project. ![]() Instead of leaning into a slope, each side batters against the other which presses the stones together and holds the wall upright. Each course is set in a bed of mortar.Ī freestanding dry-stacked wall gets its strength from its structure, which is essentially a double-sided retaining wall. This short retaining wall served as edging for a sidewalk. Working with natural stone requires shaping the stones as needed with a brick hammer. ![]() The top course should also pitch slightly toward the slope with the outward edge of the rim as the high point. This means the face of the wall must batter (lean backward) into the slope it retains, usually about 1/2 to 1 inch per foot. When used as a retaining wall, a dry-stack wall will have maximum strength if it slopes in two directions. A dry-stack wall can be integrated into a retaining wall system, used as a low-profile landscape border, or built as a freestanding wall. The popularity of this method of construction is due in part to its versatility. Although mortar cen be used during construction of a dry-stack wall, it is hidden near the rear or interior of the wall, so only the natural rock is visible. The term “dry-stack” refers to the mortarless look of the assembled stone. Alternative Heating & Fireplace InsertsĪ dry-stack landscape wall is a popular way to integrate natural materials into the design of your outdoor living space. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |