Building a brick retaining wall can be a DIY project. However, this project is not for the faint of heart because it requires a lot of preparation and hard work. In fact, labor will account for most of the total project cost. Size and cost considerations are based on a 10-foot brick wall that measures 2 feet high by 2 feet wide. It takes about 50 10-inch-long bricks to build 1 square foot of wall face when you lay them flat in running bond (similar to bricks laid with vertical joints off-set one half brick length). The average new DIYer will typically complete this type of retaining wall in 22 hours over two days.
Key Takeaways
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- The key takeaways are the main points that you want to leave the reader with.
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First things first
So, you’ve decided to build a brick retaining wall. That’s great! But first things first:
- Get a permit! You’ll need one from your local building department, and it’s best to get started on that as soon as possible. Also, make sure you have all the necessary permits before beginning work.
- Get a contractor! By law (and common sense) they’re required to be licensed by the state in which they operate—so make sure they are. Make sure that their insurance covers any potential injuries or damage caused during construction as well. And if it doesn’t already come with one, ask them to give you proof of general liability coverage (permanent/portable). This will protect you from any lawsuits related to accidents that happen while doing business with them—and may even prevent some contractors from working at all without commercial liability coverage themselves.
In addition:
- Get an inspection prior to building materials delivery so we can look around for any problems that might cause delays later down the line;
- We’ll need access from both sides of where our wall will go so trucks can get through—try contacting neighboring property owners beforehand just in case there’s some sorta problem getting across their land (like trees blocking access);
A bit of preparation goes a long way
Planning ahead is critical to the success of any project. Before you begin building your brick retaining wall, be sure that you have prepared the following:
- The ground. You will need to prep the ground so that it can support the weight of your new retaining wall. This may involve adding soil or removing topsoil and replacing it with a heavier material such as gravel or concrete slabs.
- The bricks and mortar. These materials both need to be prepped before they’re used on site, too; if they’re not properly cured, they could shrink or crack after installation and cause problems down the road. The same goes for tools like shovels—they should be sharpened so that you can dig trenches easily without damaging their blades in hard soil conditions or digging too deep into softer ones (which would lead them through softer layers).
- The site itself should also be ready-to-go before starting construction because there’s no point wasting time waiting around while someone else prepares these things! If anything isn’t ready yet (like an approved building permit), then just wait until everything comes together—you’ll save yourself some heartache later on this way.
Layout, layout, layout
Planning is essential. The first step in building any wall is to plan ahead and make sure you have everything you need before you begin. If possible, start by taking measurements of your yard or garden space and sketching out a layout of how you want the wall(s) to look. Once this is done, consider what materials are going to be best for your needs:
- Will it be made of brick? Stone? Concrete blocks?
- How high should it be? How wide?
- Will there need to be drainage channels along the bottom of the wall (providing water runs off into an area away from where it could cause damage)? If so, how many and where should they go?
The last thing anyone wants is for their retaining wall project to come crumbling down due to poor planning! It might seem like common sense but having a good plan for each aspect of construction will help ensure success in getting your dream retaining walls built
Excavation and foundations
Excavation and foundations
Excavation for the retaining wall can be done by hand with a shovel, pick and shovel, or sledgehammer. The depth of the excavation will depend on how much soil needs to be removed. A good rule of thumb is that you need enough soil removed so that there is adequate space between the ground and the bottom of your wall to support it properly. Once you have completed this step, level out your foundation area with a straight board or string line so that you know where to build your wall.
The bricks themselves
- Consider the cost of bricks. Brick is a great material for retaining walls because it looks good and can last for decades if properly maintained, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap. You’ll want to consider how much you’ll need, as well as how much work you’re willing to put into laying them down and cleaning up after yourself.
- Know what size bricks are right for your project. The standard size of brick used in many home renovations is 8 x 2 1/2 x 16 inches; however, if your project requires longer or wider walls than this then there are plenty of other sizes available at varying costs depending on quality (see below).
- Watch out for cracked or damaged bricks when buying new ones so that they don’t end up costing more once they’re installed because they require replacement parts instead of being repaired by professionals who know what they’re doing with broken pieces like these ones do.
- Be careful when placing each piece within each row since this will affect its stability later on down the line when someone else walks overtop where there ends up being less support underneath due to unevenness in height from one side compared against another side which has been laid differently than its neighbor did initially before being covered up during construction time frames etc…
Laying the bricks
Now that you’ve learned how to build a brick retaining wall, it’s time to learn how to lay the bricks. While laying bricks is not as easy as it sounds, with some practice and patience anyone can do it.
There are three things you need to know before starting on this step:
- The first step is making sure your layout lines are straight. Use a chalk line or any other tool that will allow you to draw a straight line along your layout marks so that each row of bricks is perfectly aligned with one another and the ground along its entire length
- Next, place a level on top of each row before installing any bricks so that they are all level with one another. If any rows aren’t level (sometimes this happens due to uneven ground), then use shims underneath them until they sit properly on top of their neighbors
Drainage considerations
Drainage considerations are a must when building a brick retaining wall. A french drain or sump pump can be used to divert water away from the wall, but it’s critical that these systems are installed before laying any bricks. If you don’t want to install a new drainage system, consider using pavers instead of regular bricks for your project. Pavers come in various colors and sizes so they can be easily matched with existing soil color and texture.
Raised beds are another great way to keep soil from washing away—just remember that drainage holes should be installed at an angle of about 45 degrees so rainwater has somewhere else to go except into your bed! The more elaborate your garden is, the more attention you will need to pay on this front; however, if done right (and sometimes even if not), it will make all the difference between success or failure.
Building a brick retaining wall can be done on your own.
When it comes to building a brick retaining wall, you might think that it’s best left to the pros. But the truth is, this task can be done on your own! The first thing you will need to do is prepare your site by making sure everything is level and that the foundation is strong enough to support the wall. Once you have set up all of these requirements, it’s time for laying bricks.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has given you a better idea of how much it will cost to build your retaining wall. It’s important to keep in mind that the cost here is just an estimation, and there will be many other factors to consider when putting together your budget. However, as long as you’re prepared for what lies ahead, we’re confident that you can make your project a success. Good luck.
