Dry Laid Retaining Wall

A dry-laid retaining wall is a type of retaining wall that does not use mortar in its construction. Instead, the wall is built using aggregate that is mixed with sand and cement in order to form a concrete mixture. The mixture is then poured into place and allowed to cure before the next layer of concrete is poured onto it.

Dry Laid Retaining Walls are a great solution for your garden, withstanding all kinds of weather and keeping your garden looking fresh.

Dry laid retaining walls are a great option for homeowners who want to build something that will last a long time. They’re also inexpensive, easy to install, and don’t require any special tools or knowledge.

If you’re interested in building your own dry-laid wall, here’s what you need to know:

-Start by leveling out the area where you want your wall to go.

-Measure out how long you need each row of blocks.

-Dig out the dirt below your first row of blocks so they’ll sit flush with the ground level.

-Place two rows of blocks on top of each other and make sure they’re level with one another before laying them into place in the trench that has already been dug out for them by making sure both ends touch down evenly onto the ground below them.

You’ve decided to build a dry-laid retaining wall. Great. This is one of the easiest types of retaining walls to build, and it will add instant curb appeal to your home. From planting flowers at the top to growing vegetables at the bottom, dry-laid retaining walls are useful for just about everything. If you’re ready to get started on your new garden project, read on.

What is Dry Laid Retaining Wall

Dry Laid Retaining Wall is a popular choice for landscaping projects. Dry Laid Retaining Walls are easy to build and cost-effective.

Uses of Dry Laid Retaining Wall

Dry Laid Retaining Walls can be used in a variety of applications. They’re great for:

Landscaping: dry laid stone walls are an attractive addition to your garden or yard, and they can help support vegetation and prevent erosion.
Driveway border: stones can be arranged in rows along the edge of a driveway or sidewalk with beautiful results. The stone retaining wall adds character and depth to any space, creating the impression that it has been there forever (which is often true).
Patio/Walkway: if you want something more substantial than just stepping stones to create a path through your garden but don’t want anything too permanent, consider using these instead. They’re easy enough to put down and take up again if you decide later on that you want something else there instead…and this way it won’t look like someone just dumped some rocks into place randomly without thinking about things first.

How long will Dry Laid Retaining Wall last

You may be wondering how long a dry-laid retaining wall will last. The answer is: for decades, and maybe even years beyond that. In addition to being durable, these walls don’t need much maintenance. Their low cost makes them an attractive option for homeowners who want to keep their landscaping looking nice without spending a lot of money on upkeep.

One thing we haven’t mentioned yet is that this type of landscaping isn’t just sustainable it also offers other benefits over traditional retaining walls made from other materials like concrete blocks or bricks. A dry-laid retaining wall can fit into more places where its more expensive counterparts wouldn’t work because its lighter weight and lower cost mean there are fewer restrictions on what kind of property you own (you won’t have to worry about getting permission from a homeowner’s association).

Steps involved in Dry Laid Retaining Wall

Excavate the area and fill it up with soil to bring the height up to your desired level.
Make sure that you have a firm base on which you are going to lay the bricks or stones, as it is very important to have a strong foundation for retaining walls.
If required, use cement and water mixture as mortar while laying the bricks or stones, using a trowel to spread it evenly over each brick/stone being laid down so that they stick properly together when set in place (you could also opt for gap-filling mortars). You can even go ahead and mix cement with sand and water if you want just as long as there’s enough lime available for making concrete later on during construction. A ratio of 1:4 is recommended here – e.g., one part sand (or gravel) should be mixed with four parts cement powder beforehand before combining both of these ingredients together on-site once earthwork has been completed; doing this will help provide strength against erosion due earth movement caused by rainfall, etc., especially since there are no other materials used except those excavated from within existing foundations themselves thus making sure nothing else gets lost along the way. For example: if someone wants their wall made out of black basalt stones then we would advise using “natural” type mortars instead of chemical ones because they contain fewer chemicals which means better longevity than what would otherwise happen if chemical compounds were used instead

The foundation of your retaining wall.

The foundation of your retaining wall is the most important part of the wall. The foundation should be level and firm, and it should be able to support the weight of the wall.

There are several materials you can use as a foundation for your retaining wall: concrete blocks, bricks, pavers, or poured concrete. You’ll need to choose something that will not absorb water from rain or snow runoff; if it does, then freeze-thaw cycles in winter could cause cracks and instability in your retaining wall.

Step 2. Select the foundation material

Select the foundation material

Your retaining wall is only as strong as its foundation. The size of your retaining wall, as well as the type of soil you’re working with, will determine which material you need for your foundation.

You can use any number of different materials for your foundation: concrete blocks, concrete railroad ties and timbers; cobblestones; paver stones; natural stone such as granite or limestone (this is often referred to as “fieldstone).

Step 3. Prepare the base

The base must be prepared before construction can begin. This ensures that the walls are secure, and helps prevent any movement of the wall in future.

Before you start to build your retaining wall, remove any vegetation growing within the area. Then check for any dips or depressions in the ground which may have been caused by tree roots or erosion from rainwater runoff. Level out any dips or depressions using gravel or sand if necessary, ensuring that you level out to a depth of 1.5m if possible (this will provide added strength).

Dig out your base to a depth of 60cm so that it is level with the existing ground level as far as possible on all sides (if digging down further than this is not possible then leave an earth mound). Use a spirit level to check for dips or depressions in your trench; these should be filled until they are flush with surrounding soil levels once again before continuing work on building up retaining walls around them

Step 4. Set the foundation stones

Make sure the stones are level. If you’re using a laser level, now is the time to use it to lay out your foundation stones, as this will make it much easier to orient yourself when placing them later on.
Use a framing square (or a straight edge and pencil) to draw lines along the tops of the stone (with enough overhang that you can easily put in blocking before putting up retaining wall sections).
Set each stone by hand into place with mortar mix, making sure not to set them above grade or too far inward so that too much weight isn’t placed on one area (this may cause cracks).

Step 5. Level each row

Once you have laid the first row, use a spirit level to check that it’s level and tap in place with a mallet. If you can’t get your stones to sit flat, use your hammer and chisel to remove some of the dirt beneath them or tap them gently into position with a mallet. If they’re still too high, remove more dirt until they are flat enough for the next layer of stones to sit on top without being pushed over by gravity.

Step 6. Backfill behind the wall with excess earth

Now, backfill the wall with excess earth. A shovel or a backhoe will work well for this task, but if you don’t have either tool on hand, a wheelbarrow can help you transport the earth from one spot to another.

Just make sure not to overfill the wall; doing so will cause it to collapse.

Benefits of Dry Laid Retaining Wall

Dry Laid Retaining Walls are an aesthetically pleasing, cost-effective, and sustainable solution for retaining walls. They offer many benefits to homeowners over traditional concrete or poured-in-place retaining walls.

Cost-Effective. Building a dry-laid retaining wall is much less expensive than pouring in place concrete or hiring a masonry contractor to construct a poured-in-place concrete wall, which can often run $1-$2 per linear foot of the wall. Dry laid retaining walls can be built by homeowners or contractors with little or no experience in masonry construction at a fraction of the cost of other methods.
Aesthetically Pleasing. The look and feel of any structure have an impact on its value, especially considering how much time you spend looking at your home each day. Dry-laid retaining walls offer great aesthetic appeal because they’re made from natural materials such as stone veneer blocks that look like real natural stone rather than fake plastic blocks from big box stores (which we all know are ugly). Dry laid blocks also allow for flexibility when designing your project so you don’t needlessly spend money on excess materials just because some designer decided he/she knew best about what “looked good”. This means less waste during installation as well – no more having to buy extra pieces because something wasn’t exactly right.

Cost of Dry Laid Retaining Wall

The dry-laid retaining wall method is a simple and affordable way to build a sturdy retaining wall. The materials needed for this type of retaining wall are much less than those required for a concrete or stone block wall; this means you’ll save money on labor costs.

The cost of the materials depends on the size and height of your retaining wall, but generally ranges from $1-$2 per square foot (PSF) with some variation depending on location and availability of materials. It’s important to choose high-quality material that will last through weather conditions such as ice storms and heavy rainfalls, which can damage low-quality material quickly due to its weak bonding properties.

Materials needed for Dry Laid Retaining Wall

Dry-laid retaining walls are made of stone and mortar. Stone can be natural or man-made, but it must be solid and uniform in appearance. Mortar is a mixture of cement, sand and water that is used to bind the stones together. In addition to binding the stones together, mortar also fills gaps between them.

Tools needed for Dry Laid Retaining Wall

Shovel
Wheelbarrow or cart for transporting materials, such as soil and stone
A trowel (for smoothing) and bucket (to carry water) are optional but very handy. A steel trowel with a wooden handle is ideal because it is strong enough to dig through hard soil without bending but still flexible enough for use on soft ground. It also allows you to smooth the wall as you lay it down, which helps prevent movement in the future.

Maintenance tips for Dry Laid Retaining Wall

Keep the wall free of debris. Debris such as leaves, twigs, and stones can collect on the surface of your retaining wall and disturb its appearance.
Keep the wall free of weeds. Weeds will compete with your plants for nutrients in the soil, which can prevent them from growing well and cause them to die earlier than they otherwise might have if there weren’t any weeds competing with them for vital nutrients in their environment.
Keep the wall free of moss/lichen/algae or whatever else is growing on it (I guess this depends on where you live).

Learn how to build a dry-laid retaining wall.

What is a Dry Laid Retaining Wall?

A dry-laid retaining wall is a wall that is built on the ground instead of on a foundation. It is also known as a dry stack wall because it does not use mortar or glue to hold it together.

Final words

By now, you should have a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into when it comes to building a dry-laid retaining wall. It’s not something that every DIYer can do but if you’re willing to put in the work, we think it will look great. The best part about this type of project is that there are so many different ways you can customize your design based on what materials are available around your home and how much time or money you have available for construction.