This is a tutorial that will teach you how to build a square corner for your retaining wall building project. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps of constructing a square corner using our Square Corner Retaining Wall Block.
Square Corner Retaining Wall Block
A square corner is a retaining wall feature which provides maximum support and stability. This type of wall system can be used on all types of slopes, from gentle to steep.
Square corner blocks are designed to be placed in a 45° angle on each side, creating an angled face and giving the appearance of a 90° corner in the finished product. These blocks are usually installed with concrete as an anchor for the rest of your retaining wall components.
Steps For Building A Square Corner With Retaining Wall Blocks
- Dig the trench.
- Place a layer of compacted gravel in the trench.
- Spread out a layer of compacted soil on top of the gravel, working it down into any gaps with your hand or a tamper. This will serve as your base material and place to set your retaining wall blocks.
- Set the first course by placing them along one side of your square corner. Level each block as you go along so they are all at the same height with no visible signs of dirt showing through between them at either end, then tamp in place using a tamping tool or wooden block with some weight on top (such as another brick).
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all four sides until you have finished building up one layer high; compacting between courses if necessary (see video). Continue adding courses until you’ve reached desired height for your project, keeping in mind that each course must be level from bottom to top before laying another layer down over it.
Digging the Trench
The first step to building a retaining wall is to dig the trench where you will place your block. The depth of the trench will depend on how tall you want your retaining wall to be, but it should be at least as deep as the length of one block (usually 12 inches). The width and height of the trench should be wide enough to allow two blocks side by side, with some space in between them.
Next, make sure that there is enough dirt behind each row of blocks so that when they are stacked together there won’t be any gaps between them or along their edges because this may compromise their stability over time. You can also use landscaping fabric or landscape mesh if needed for drainage purposes or aesthetics.
Tamp in the Base
- Tamp the base into the trench with a tamper.
- Use a level to check that the base is level. Adjust as necessary using your shovel, then tamp it back in place again.
- Repeat this process until you have filled your trench with at least 6 in (15 cm) of concrete/mortar mix.
Set The First Course
When you are building a retaining wall, it is important that you set the first course correctly. In order for your square corner to be level and straight, you must make sure that your blocks are spaced correctly and sized correctly. You should also make sure that they have the correct type of mortar in between them so that they can support themselves.
If the blocks are not spaced correctly, the retaining wall will not be as strong as it should be. If this happens, then it could collapse under its own weight or even due to weather conditions like heavy rain or snowfall.
Set The Second Course
When you set the second course, make sure that it is level with the first course. Take a level and measure between the two courses to check for level. Repeat this process four times until you have laid all four courses of retaining wall blocks.
Level Each Block as You Go Along
As you go along, it’s important to consistently check for level. To do this, you can use a laser level or a simple builder’s level.
After laying the first course of retaining wall block, check the corner every two or three courses to make sure that it’s even. If your soil is too compacted and doesn’t allow the block to settle into place, then you may need to add more sand or another material that will help loosen up some of the earth.
Compact the Soil Between Each Course
The soil between each course must be compacted. This is done by using the back of a rake to press the soil down and remove any air pockets. Make sure you compact the soil before starting on your next course so you don’t have to take time out later on to do this step again.
The compacted soil will settle and if it settles too much, it’ll fall over. So be careful not to compact too much or too little when you’re doing this step. It’s important that you keep an eye on how much water is in the dirt as well because if it’s too wet, then there won’t be enough moisture left for plants when they grow in later on (which means no plants). So make sure that everything is damp before compressing them down into place with a plate compactor tool like this one here: https://www.amazon/dp/B002EPLBHO?tag=thefirmeverydayre-20
Continue Adding Courses Until You Have Completed Your Project
Once you have added a full course of blocks, check to see if your retaining wall is level. If it is not, use a level to make the necessary adjustments. Now that you are done with one course, add another layer of blocks next to it on top of the previously laid course. Continue doing this until you have built up all four sides of your retaining wall.
To make sure each block is level and compacted as needed, tamp down the soil between each course with a tamper or by hand. If there’s too much wind blowing around while laying down our retaining wall block walls, we recommend building up each new layer above an existing layer so that they’re standing firmly against one another in an attempt to keep everything nice and straight while working outdoors
This is a step by step tutorial on how to build a square corner for your retaining wall building project.
This is a step by step tutorial on how to build a square corner for your retaining wall building project. A square corner is easy to build and looks great. Whether you are adding an accent to the corners of your existing retaining wall, or starting from scratch with only one side of your project completed, using square corners will add a little flair to your project.
To build this type of corner, you need two blocks that are 8 inches long and two blocks that are 7 inches long (or whatever size fits the rest of your design). Cut them down so they fit together exactly as shown in the picture above – making sure all sides match up perfectly without gaps or overlaps. Then attach them using concrete adhesive or mortar mix between each block like normal; however make sure you leave about 1/4 inch gap between where the patching begins and ends so that it doesn’t chip away when you’re finishing up later
Once both sides have dried sufficiently (about 48 hours), apply another layer over top AND around each edge again just like before – keeping in mind not all materials will adhere well enough if they aren’t primed first so check labels carefully before choosing products such as paint too closely resemble one another
Conclusion
If you build a square corner retaining wall block, this will allow for a seamless transition from the main structure to either side of the corner. The process is very similar to building the rest of your retaining wall but with just one added step. The following tutorial will show you how to properly construct this type of corner so that it looks good and is structurally sound.
