Sandstone block retaining walls are a great way to add character and interest to your yard. They can be used for a variety of purposes, from creating a barrier between your yard and a neighbor’s property, to holding up the side of a hill.
Sandstone is an excellent material for building retaining walls due to its durability and low cost. Sandstone blocks are also easy to install because they are just like any other block; they are simply cut in half and stacked on top of each other.
In order to build a sandstone block retaining wall, you will need:
-A level area where you want your wall built
-Six inches of compacted gravel or stone dust (gravel is easier on your knees if you’re going to be working on it)
-A tape measurer or ruler
-A shovel or trowel (you can also use a wheelbarrow).
Measure the height of the area you need to create a retaining wall for.
Measure the height of your wall. This will help determine how many blocks you will need to purchase and how tall the wall should be.
To measure your retaining wall, use a measuring tape and mark it on the ground at one end of where you would like your retaining wall to go, then walk straight back from there until you reach that same point again along your desired path for a second time. Make sure that you are marking off every foot or half foot as this will help keep everything straight as well as give an accurate measurement when calculating how much sandstone block retaining wall material you need to buy.
Now take this distance in feet (or meters) and multiply it by 1/3 (.333). The result is the length of sandstone block material needed per course (row) for this area. So if we were making our own DIY sandbox according to these steps but wanted ours 2 feet high instead of just one foot high like this example shows us then we would multiply 3 x 2 = 6 feet worth of sandstone blocks required per course as opposed too only 4 feet worth which would require two courses instead.
Dig the trench.
The first step in building a sandstone block retaining wall is digging out the trench. This can be done easily with a shovel or pickax, depending on the terrain. The trench should be about two feet deep and two feet wide, with a flat bottom. If you are working on soft ground, like clay or dirt, you may need to dig deeper than this; if your site has hard-packed soil (like gravel), then you may not need to dig as deep.
Once the trench is complete, place some gravel into one end of it until it is full enough for easy drainage—at least three inches of gravel should do the trick.
Fill the trench with at least six inches of gravel, leveling it out as you go. Using a hand tamper, tamp down the gravel until it’s firm and level.
The next step is to fill the trench with at least six inches of gravel, leveling it out as you go. Using a hand tamper, tamp down the gravel until it’s firm and level. The gravel will serve as a support structure for the sandstone blocks, but make sure that there aren’t any voids where water could collect and cause problems later on (like when you’re laying your new patio). Gravel can be purchased at home improvement stores or landscaping stores; while these products are more expensive than some others, they’re worth it if you have heavy lifting to do (or don’t want to risk hurting yourself).
Start laying your blocks at one corner of your trench. Place them at an angle leaning into the bank that you’re retaining. Make sure they are level both side-to-side and front-to-back.
Start laying your blocks at one corner of your trench. Place them at an angle leaning into the bank that you’re retaining. Make sure they are level both side-to-side and front-to-back.
In other words, the top edge of each block should be parallel with the top of its neighboring block, but it should also be set at an angle so that it is leaning into the bank. It’s a little tricky when there are multiple angles involved (for example, when there are corners on both sides), but if you lay out all of your blocks first in their proper orientation before starting to actually pour concrete and build them up, it should make this step easier than it might otherwise be.
Apply mortar mix to each block and lay the next layer of blocks on top of it, making sure to stagger each block so that the seams don’t line up diagonally across the wall. Make sure to keep applying mortar mix as you add each layer of blocks.
The next step is to apply mortar mix. You can use a trowel, or a thin layer of mortar, to cover the first layer of blocks and make sure they’re firmly in place. Once you’ve done this, lay the next layer of blocks on top of it, making sure to stagger each block so that the seams don’t line up diagonally across the wall.
Make sure to keep applying mortar mix as you add each layer of blocks until your retaining wall reaches its desired height (or until you run out).
For a more professional finish, cover up any gaps between blocks with brick masons caulk.
For a more professional finish, cover up any gaps between the blocks with brick masons caulk. Use a caulk gun to apply the caulk in thin layers. Let each layer dry before applying the next one. If necessary, apply several layers of caulk until you’re satisfied with your wall’s appearance.
Conclusion
So, now you are able to build a sandstone block retaining wall. If we have not covered something that you need to know in this article please contact us and let us know so we can help answer any questions that may come up while building your own retaining wall.
