How To Design a Retaining Wall
To a casual observer a rock retaining wall might appear to be an outdoor construction project that can be created right on the spot. However, as often is the case, advance planning will help immensely in this task. Take some time to layout the precise location of your rock wall and also to procure an ample supply of rock material and then the actual installation should go much smoother. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Lay out the placement of the wall. Plan the height, length and shape of the wall. The length and height are fairly straightforward, but keep in mind that the height can vary and if it does you might want to step the wall down or use a slow continuous curve to make the change in elevation. The shape can be in a straight line or the wall can bend with the terrain. Some sort of curvature is almost always advisable in a retaining wall.
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Plan the actual structural layout of the rock material. Don't forget that with almost every wall each piece has to overlap in some sort of way to acquire real structural strength.
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Plan a work schedule. Maybe you have several friends or neighbors who are willing to help with at least part of the project. It might be a good idea to estimate how much work is involved and also to guess how much actual assistance you might receive. These details can help determine whether the project can be accomplished in one day or if multiple work days are necessary.
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Plan the work to corresponds with the natural weather cycles of the region of the country where you live. Do this to avoid working when the weather is wet or the ground is frozen. If possible it is good to work when the moisture content of the soil is low and the daytime temperatures are not excessively hot or cold.
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Plan on having all materials on hand by the time the actual construction phase begins. This includes the rocks for the wall, but you might also need gravel to go underneath the rock wall. And if you are planning to rent earth-moving equipment or mechanical tools, then you will need to make prior arrangements, so that these tools will be available on the work day.
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Take time to study the lay of the land. If you have just purchased property, this task might be best delayed for a while, so you can observe how water collects and runs off during severe weather. It would be a shame to build a wall that might be damaged by a summer thunderstorm.
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Tips & Warnings
A group of workers greatly enhances the work environment in a project like this.
Pace the work load. This not only means to work at a steady and regular pace, but also not to attempt too much construction in one day.
