Things You'll Need:
- garden trowels , shovel or grub axe
- Stones
- Bricks
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Step 1
Figure out where and why you want a wall: at the bottom of a gentle slope to create a new planting bed? Between two beds to provide contour and definition? (If the answer to this is "to keep my house from sliding down the hill," see Warnings below.)
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Step 2
Decide on your building material - brick gives a formal elegance and stone a European air. Don't forget to check out the ever-increasing options in interlocking blocks available at home improvement and do-it-yourself stores.
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Step 3
For reinforced walls you need the depth of footings and piers to equal the height of the wall.
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Step 4
For example: A 3 foot wall. You need footing 1 foot deep and 1 foot wide to go the entire distance of the wall. The footing will make an L shape having the extra surface footing behind your wall.
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Step 5
Lay the rebar flat in the bed of footings 2 inches above soil so concrete touches soil, rebar does not touch soil.
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Step 6
Piers are 2 feet deep every 3 feet of wall and on every corner. Piers are set behind the wall below the bed of footing.
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Step 7
Top the footing with cinderblocks that will be the same height as your wall.
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Step 8
Rebar will go through the center of each cinder block.
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Step 9
Fill cinder block with concrete.
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Step 10
Reinforce each level of cinder block with rebar running horizontal and tied to the vertical rebar with tie wire.
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Step 11
Once you create your cinderblock wall, you are ready to face it with whatever material you desire, like brick, stone, stucco, etc.












Comments
mollydan said
on 7/21/2007 an L shape? you lost me there.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Weep holes at the bottom of the retaining wall will help prevent collapse from built up water behind the retaining wall.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 When you reach ground level, after the foundations, remember to put a bit of 2 cm waste pipe in a generous bit of mortar. Remember to use light capping to avoid putting strain on the wall.
Anonymous said
on 5/22/2007 There is an old saying, "anything is only as strong as its foundation." It's very important to dig down at least 18 inches for a wall up to 2 feet. And from 18 inches to 36 inches depending on the frost line and the township you're doing the work in.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If your situation is more severe or structurally concerned, consider contacting a licensed structural engineer. Although many contractors have years of experience, the only guarantee of performance is with a licensed engineer.