A curved retaining wall can be a beautiful addition to your yard, but constructing one can be difficult. If you’re willing to put in the effort, though, you’ll have a gorgeous addition that will last for years. Retaining walls are used to hold back soil, but they can also be used as a decorative feature in your yard. A curved retaining wall is particularly attractive and can take the form of a circle or half-circle. It’s important to consider the position of your home’s foundation when designing this type of wall because it needs to be built on level ground. You should also take into consideration how much weight it will need to bear and whether your site has adequate drainage.
A curved retaining wall can add beauty and interest to your yard and garden. After all, straight lines are boring. Before you begin, remember that every segment of the retaining wall needs to be sloped back into the hill a little bit (about a 1” drop for every foot of height). This will prevent the water from accumulating behind the wall and causing it to collapse. Here are some steps to help you create a beautiful curved retaining wall quickly and easily:
Step 1: Choose your retaining wall block.
When choosing retaining wall blocks, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, you need to make sure that the block is strong enough to support the weight of the soil. If a block doesn’t hold up against pressure from digging or heavy rains, it will fail on you. It’s also important for any retaining wall block to be easy to install so that you can get your project done without having any issues with tools or access points. Keep in mind that if a retaining wall is not installed properly, then it might not last as long as expected.
Lastly but certainly not least — make sure your retaining wall block isn’t going to break under pressure! This means selecting one made from durable materials like concrete or stone which can withstand years’ worth of erosion due rainwater runoff down into their crevices (or when placed right next) dirt piles).
Step 2: Lay out your first tier.
You need to construct a wall of blocks that is:
- level. If the wall is not level, it will lean and look sloppy. Use a level to ensure that every row of blocks is straight up and down.
- the same length as its neighbor. Your retaining walls need to be built in identical increments so they’ll match up perfectly when you’re done building them.
- the same width as its neighbor, too. This step is important because different widths will throw off your measurements later on in the process, making it harder for you to make sure everything fits perfectly together when you’re done laying out each tier of blockwork in place before moving onto another tier’s worth of construction work.”
Step 3: Check the corners for square.
Once you’ve laid out your blocks, use a framing square to check for square. If the block isn’t sitting flush against its neighbor, you’ll need to use one of the following techniques:
- Level each block with a level (or just eyeball it) before laying it in place.
- Draw lines from corner-to-corner and side-to-side on the ground around your wall layout. Then check that these lines are still straight after setting up your walls. If they aren’t, adjust them accordingly before setting any more blocks down.
- Use a plumb bob or laser level to make sure everything is level before moving forward with construction. This will also save time later because any crooked blocks can be taken out immediately instead of having to cut them out later on in the process.
- Tie string between points around your wall layout—this works especially well if working alone because you won’t need as many people (or none at all) helping hold each string line steady while checking for squareness along their length(s).
Step 4: Lay out the next tier.
Lay out the next tier, making sure that it’s level with each other, with the ground and with the previous tier. Use a level to check that each block is at right angles to its neighbour.
Use a spirit level if you have one lying around; otherwise use something straight like an axe handle or even just your hand held flat against the top of one block and see if it wobbles.
If you have an adjustable drill stand this will make life much easier as you can adjust both tiers as one while they are being laid.
Step 5: Install pinning devices on the second tier.
Now that the blocks are set in place, it’s time to install the “pinning devices,” which hold each row of blocks together. This step is more important on large walls than smaller ones and is necessary if you’re using non-mortared block.
Pinning devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes; I recommend using whatever pinning device best fits your specific needs. For example, brick pins work well for brick walls constructed with mortared concrete block but aren’t strong enough for other materials like CMU or stone veneer units (SVUs). If you’re unsure about what type of pinning device will be appropriate for your project, consult a structural engineer or architect before proceeding.
A curved retaining wall can add beauty and interest to your yard and garden.
A curved retaining wall is a great way to add beauty and interest to your yard and garden. It can be used to create a focal point, such as an ornamental landscape feature, or it can simply add character by creating a sense of flow through an area. Additionally, curved walls may be used as borders between flower beds and lawns.
Conclusion
A curved retaining wall can be a beautiful addition to your landscape. It’s versatile enough to be used as a border for a flower bed or even as an accent piece in the middle of your yard. In this guide, we’ve shown you how to construct one using interlocking blocks that are easy to work with and will look great in any space.
