I’m a firm believer that anyone can build their own retaining wall. I did it, and so can you! Don’t believe me? Well, keep reading. All throughout this article, I’m going to detail how you can do this project on your own with some careful planning and hard work.
Choose A Location
- Choose a location where you want to build the wall.
- Make sure there is enough space to build the wall.
- Make sure that your proposed wall will not block access to anything (e.g., a doorway or another building) or block a view of anything (e.g., a patio area). The wall should be at least 20 feet from any building, tree or other structure in order for it not interfere with those things. It’s also important that the top of your retaining wall doesn’t get too close to underground water lines and/or power lines because they could be damaged if they are hit by falling dirt, stones or other debris during construction—and this could cause serious injury.
Plan The Design
When planning for your retaining wall design, you need to have a good idea of what you want. The design of your retaining wall should be functional, aesthetically pleasing and safe. It needs to fit the space and shape of your yard or garden.
You can use brick pavers as part of a modern or traditional look in any type of landscape. You might choose brick pavers that match some other bricks in your home or you may decide that they will stand out as an eye-catching feature on their own. When choosing the right materials for your project, keep in mind that it is important not only to consider how much money you are willing to spend but also personal tastes and preferences on how it looks in the end result.
Dig A Trench
- Dig a trench that’s as deep as you want your wall to be.
- Dig the trench in a straight line and make sure it’s level.
- Use a shovel or pick to remove dirt, keeping your head and arms out of the trench. If you need to, use a wheelbarrow or other tool for removing the soil from your work site.
- Wear steel-toed shoes when digging so that you can avoid injuries from sharp rocks or roots. It’s also important to wear gloves when digging because they help protect against cuts from sharp objects like glass or metal fragments found underground—and they keep your hands clean.
Add Sand
- Add sand. Sand helps to prevent erosion, but it can also be used as a foundation for the bricks to sit on. The amount of sand you add will depend on how deep your trench is and where you are placing the retaining wall. For example, if your retaining wall will be placed in an area with a very high water table or if there is excessive rain in that region, then more sand is needed than if the area was dryer and less prone to erosion.
- Level with a rake or shovel until even all around (this may require multiple trips). You want all four sides of your brick pavers sitting flat on top of your newly poured foundation—not sloped one way or another—so that they do not fall out over time when exposed to weathering elements like wind and rain damage (or worse).
Lay Your Pavers
Once you’ve got all your bricks in place and the mortar has dried, it’s time to begin installing your retaining wall. First, lay out the pavers with a level on top of them. You want to stagger them so that they look like this:
Each row should be straight and even with one another. To make sure they’re straight, use a level or long ruler to check that each row is level before putting any mortar down. Once you’ve got everything straight and level, start spreading mortar between the pavers using a trowel or putty knife (a thin metal spatula). Then use a hammer to tap each paver into place as you go along until all sides are flush with one another. Working in small sections at a time will help keep things manageable when working on sloped ground like this!
Fill Holes With Dirt
- Fill the holes with dirt.
- Add more dirt to fill in any gaps that remain between pavers (especially important for larger gaps).
- Use a tamping tool to pack the dirt tightly.
By following the instructions, you can successfully build your own retaining wall.
You can do it! There are many benefits to building your own retaining wall. You’ll be happy with the results, and you’ll have a beautiful backyard that will increase the value of your home. If you’re interested in building a retaining wall for yourself, we recommend following these steps:
- Plan ahead by understanding what materials you need and how much space is available for construction.
- Make sure everyone involved understands safety procedures and has access to proper tools.
- Work diligently while taking care not to damage existing structures such as trees or other plants in the area–they may need protection from heavy equipment during construction!
If at any point during this process something doesn’t seem right (we don’t recommend ignoring advice), feel free to contact us so we can help out.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve gotten you more excited (and maybe a little less nervous) about embarking on a plant-based lifestyle. We know the struggle, and we came to these tips—even the one about watching badminton!—through our own trial and error. Remember that the important thing is to keep on trying. As we covered earlier, you don’t have to go super hard on yourself for slip-ups, because this journey can take time and looks different for everyone. Plus, don’t forget that the best way to keep yourself on track is to keep it fun, keep it positive, and keep yourself engaged with the people and the world around you. After all, caring about others is a great reason to switch to this lifestyle in the first place
