Setting up a retaining wall.
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Stake out & remove sod
Begin by staking out the wall you are making. For curved sections,
use a garden hose to layout the wall line. Dig a trench
along this line. The width of the trench should be twice the
depth of the block you are using (if your block is 8" deep, make
your trench 16" wide). If you are going to use one, two or three
courses of block, make the trench deep enough to bury half of
the first course.
-
Add & compact gravel
Prepare the base by firmly compacting the soil. Place 2" of and thoroughly compacted.
paver base in the bottom of the trench. For walls over 24"
in total wall height, a minimum 6" of compacted paver
base must be used.
-
Level base
Level the surface in both directions with a level.
-
Lay & level blocks
Position the wall units side by side on the prepared base
and level in both directions. Continue assembling additional
courses by placing units in a staggered relationship to the
course beneath, pulling each unit forward until securely
in place.
-
Cut stones
To split a block use a hammer and chisel to score the block
on all sides. Pound the chisel on the score line until the block
splits. To build a 90º corner you will need to use a circular saw
with a masonry blade. Cut a 45º angle, from a front corner to a
back corner, on each of two blocks.Glue pieces together (with
landscape block adhesive) so two block faces form the finished
outside corner.
-
Add multi-purpose gravel
Place landscape fabric directly behind the wall extending
from the bottom of the base course to the middle of the
top course. Back fill each course with multi-purpose gravel.
The multi-purpose gravel should extend 6" behind the wall.
Compact the multi-purpose gravel. Organic soil or clay type
soil is not recommended for back fill material.
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