Brick retaining walls are a beautiful way to add some character and color to your landscape. When you are building a brick retaining wall, you want to know that it is going to last and that it will look great. To do this, make sure you follow these steps:
Brick retaining wall
A retaining wall is a structure built to hold back the earth from a sloping area. Retaining walls are used for many reasons, but most commonly to keep soil from eroding away in hillsides and steep areas. There are many different types of retaining walls that can be used depending on the situation, as well as many different materials that can be used to construct them.
Brick retaining walls: As you might expect, brick retaining walls use bricks as their primary building material. These are often made of clay or concrete blocks that have been shaped into bricks by machines or handcrafted by humans using molds. They function much like other types of brick structures do; however they tend to be taller and heavier than standard bricks due their increased thickness (usually between 4″ and 6″).
Excavate the area where the retaining wall will be built.
Excavate the area where the retaining wall will be built. Remove all rocks, debris and vegetation. Make sure that there are no obstructions in the way of your construction area, including utility lines or other underground utilities.
The soil needs to be level and stable so that it can support a retaining wall. Excavation for a retaining wall should also be compacted so that water drains away easily and doesn’t pool around the base of the wall.
Excavation is necessary because you need at least four feet of space between where your backfill dirt will go and where your footing trench goes (if any).
Place drainage pipe at the base of the trench.
To prevent water from pooling, you must install drainage pipe in the base of the trench. Install drainage pipe before building your wall, and make sure to leave enough room for it to fit inside the trench when you put down your bricks. Drainage pipes should be installed at least 6 inches below ground level and at least 6 inches above ground level.
Lay out the first course of bricks.
- Lay out the first course of bricks, using a level to make sure each brick is level and each course is straight.
- Excavate the area where the retaining wall will be built by digging down about 6 inches below ground level (about 12 inches for a standard height retaining wall). Add gravel to the bottom of the trench, compact it, and dampen it so that water doesn’t accumulate on top of or behind your foundation.[3]
- After you’ve excavated an appropriate amount of space around your foundation, add layers of mortar between each course until they’re as thick as you want them to be[4].
Compact the gravel with a tamper.
To compact the gravel, use a tamper. Tampers are not expensive and can be bought at most hardware stores.
The first step is to place the tamper on top of your pile of dry-packed gravel. The next step is to turn the handle clockwise until it’s flush with its head. Continue turning until it’s compacted as much as possible without damaging or breaking any pieces in your wall (these will be visible).
Water the gravel until it is damp.
Water the gravel until it is damp, but not soaking wet. If you let the gravel dry out, you will have to dig it up and start again from scratch.
Set up a level line to guide you as you build the wall.
When building your retaining wall, use the level to make sure that each course is straight and level throughout. If you’re using a laser level, this step is even easier—just align the laser beam with the top of your existing structure (or mark it with rope or stakes) and then build from there.
If you don’t have a laser level, you can use something else as an alignment point: I used an old wooden stake that was already in place on my property. Just make sure it stays in place as you build up!
Build up each subsequent course, using a level to make sure each brick is level and each course is straight.
Use a level to make sure each brick is level and each course is straight. If you’re using the flexible type of brick, you’ll need to use some kind of spacers between the bricks so they don’t push against each other. As you work, keep checking that the bricks are laid properly. If any are placed badly, remove them and replace them with new ones—don’t just leave them in place crookedly!
Continue building courses until the retaining wall reaches the desired height. Takeaway: these are simple steps that you can take to build a brick retaining wall
A brick retaining wall is a great addition to your home. It can add colour, texture and interest to your garden while also providing an attractive functional feature.
A brick retaining wall is made up of individual blocks that are stacked on top of each other and held in place with mortar. To build the first course start by laying out a line of bricks on their side so you know where your first course will be. Place these bricks at intervals so that each space between them is about one brick wide (for example: 1 x 2). Use a level to ensure each row remains straight as you build it up – if any rows are out of alignment remove them and start again until they’re straight before laying the next layer down.
Conclusion
If you are constructing a retaining wall, there are some key steps you must take. A key element in the construction process is selecting the right materials for your project. While many homeowners prefer to construct the walls themselves, it is important to consult an expert before starting any building project.
