How to build a retaining wall

Introduction

Retaining walls are sometimes a really helpful thing to have in your yard, particularly if you have the problem of a sloping yard. There are lots of different kinds of retaining walls that can be made, particularly depending on the types of material that you choose. Wood, natural stone, and concrete are a couple of popular options for retaining walls. This article will focus on one of the easiest types of retaining wall to build, which is will concrete stones that interlock. These stones are great because you don't have to use any mortar for them to stay together!

Instructions:
Difficulty level: Difficult

You will need the following things:

• Digging tools (e.g. shovel)
• Work gloves
• Safety glasses
• Level
• Tape measure
• Wooden stakes
• String or garden hose
• Wheel barrel
• Interlocking landscape stones (pick the size stone that you want before determining how many stones you will need)
• Gravel
• Soil Tamper
• Landscaping Fabric
• Spray paint or flour
• Hammer (optional)

Step by Step

1. Determine the location for the retaining wall. Mark the shape and the location of the wall by using your wooden stakes and string. You can use a garden hose in place of the string. Help define the outline of the area with either flour or spray paint.

2. Check building codes in the area. You may need to have a permit to build a retaining wall. You should also have your local utility lines in your yard be marked by one of their reps.

3. Dig a trench along the length of your retaining wall area. The trench should be about six inches deep (you want the first level of stones to be beneath the ground). You also wand the trench to be a little wider than the width of the stones (remember, they vary in size). Try to get the bottom of the trench as level as you can. Then, add a layer of sand or stone dust. Then, try to level the sand down on the bottom of the trench as much as you can.

4. Put down the first stone in the trench and make sure that the stone is level on all sides. A hammer can help you level the stone if it is uneven. Then continue to lay the first row of stones, always stopping to adjust if you need to.

5. You will need to cut on block in half for the first block of the starter course and interlock it with the stone on the foundation course. Cutting the stone will cause the wall to be offset, which will help the stones to interlock and be stronger in the wall. You can cut the stone by scoring it on all four sides with a small sledge. You can also try scoring with a stone chisel, and then use the chisel to hit it very hard, which should cause the stone to cut on the score.

6. Make sure that your stones are level by placing another stone on the foundation layer and running more string along this level. Compare this string to the other string that is running across. If it is not level, make adjustments.

7. Add the second layer of stones, and then backfill the trench with some dirt to keep the foundation strong.

8. Continue to add layers of stone, making sure that they are interlocked and have a cut stone to begin each row.

9. After you have the desired height, you should prevent any dirt from this hill to creep into the wall. You can do this by placing landscaping fabric in behind the wall and up the hill for a short ways (just a couple of feet will do). Then add soil and backfill behind the wall. Tamp all of the soil in the area down and add any soil to any holes that you may have caused during the building process. Now you're done!

Overall Tips and Warnings
Stone blocks really aren't meant to be used for retaining walls that are higher than three feet. If you want a wall that is higher than this, you might need to use another type of material.