Retaining Wall Base Width

25 mm for each 1 ft 300 mm of wall height for the amount or buried block that is needed.

Retaining wall base width.

The success of your retaining wall depends on a level base. Counterfort retaining walls 12. Gabion walls 16. Wood retaining walls 14.

Pier and pile foundations 11. Also called drain tile at the base of the wall. Forces on retaining walls 6. Dig a base trench 24 in.

Cantilevered tilt up walls 13. 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. The footing is usually made of poured concrete but in some situations homeowners may instead opt to simply use tamped earth or a gravel base. 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.

More information on retaining walls where the base trench steps up a slope. 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. Divide the base depth of 5 to 7 inches depending on the height of the wall by 1 944 to determine the square yardage of the depth of the gravel base beneath the wall. Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding.

150 mm plus an additional 1 in. Earthquake seismic design 7. When digging your trench the bottom row of blocks should be buried about 1 inch for every 8 inches of wall height. Insufficient stem width resulting in failure or excessive rotation of the stem.

Designing the cantilever wall stem 9. The preparation of the base upon which the first layer of block are to be placed is critical to building a well placed stable retaining wall. Soil bearing and stability 8. As the wall height increases the base of the wall must become wider to ensure structural stability.

Retaining wall failures are almost always attributable to poor design or poor construction. Retaining wall base trench. One key aspect of retaining wall construction is preparing a solid footing or foundation. Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones even bricks.

We have provided the diagrams below to illustrate a starting point for design analysis to determine the base width relative to the wall height. Thoroughly planned and ably performed wall construction will help to ensure the retaining wall s stability. Building codes and retaining walls 5. Insufficient footing width resulting in rotation or settlement of the wall.