Building a retaining wall is a practical and stylish way to manage slopes, prevent erosion, and add structure to your outdoor space. With the right tools and techniques, you can create a durable and visually appealing wall that enhances your landscape. This guide will walk you through the steps to build a retaining wall with confidence.
Table of Contents
Planning & Design The Retaining Wall
- When building a retaining wall, consider the space, location and length.
- Sketch the retaining wall beforehand to get an idea of the overall design and placement in your yard.
- Use the sketch to map out the space in the yard using a measuring tape.
- Write down the exact measurements on your sketch. Use a line level, stakes and mason string to mark the desired wall height.
- Decide which landscaping products you will use to build a retaining wall. Rockland offers concrete stones in a variety of colours and sizes from Expocrete and Barkman.
- Do an estimate of concrete stones required based on the desired wall height and size of hardscape material.
- Determine the amount of landscaping materials required for the base. We recommend at least 1 inch of base material for every 8 inches of wall you intend to build.
Rockland Landscaping Supplies has a Materials Volume Calculator and knowledgeable staff to help you determine the required amount of landscaping supplies.
Excavation & Base Preparation For The Retaining Wall
- Before digging a trench, always remember to contact the utility company serving you in the Edmonton Area to ensure it’s safe.
- For walls that are 3 stack stones or less, dig a trench 3 inches deep. To estimate the correct depth for excavation, consider the height of the retaining wall:
- For taller walls that use more than 3 stack stones, dig the trench 8 inches deep. Note: You will need to bury one row of stones below ground level.
- The width of the trench should be approx. 12 inches wide depending on the stone landscaping products being used.
- Remove sod and soil using a spade/shovel and wheelbarrow to haul away debris.
- Use your measuring tape frequently to check the depth.
- Use a vibrating plate compactor or hand tamper across the trench to provide a level surface to lay the stack stones.
- Apply 2-4 inches of angular gravel using a rake to spread it evenly in the excavation site. Ask our staff at Rockland to verify how much landscaping materials should be used.
- Use a plate tamper or hand tamper to compact it into a solid base.
- Apply 1-2 inches of masonry sand depending on the height of your wall.
- Use a 2”X4” to smooth and level the surface using your level.
- Tamp again until you have achieved uniformity right to the edges and proper elevation.
Retaining Wall Installation
- If the retaining wall will be built on a slope, start at the lowest point.
- Use your mason’s string and stakes as a guide to start placing stones side by side.
- Use a level and rubber mallet to ensure stones are securely in place.
- To cut stones to fit your space, mark the stone where it needs to be cut and score the stone with a line using a chisel and sledgehammer. Then pound the score line with the chisel and sledgehammer until the stone gently breaks apart.
- Once the first row is complete, stack the second row by staggering the placement of the concrete stones to ensure the joints do not line up creating an interlocking pattern.
- Optional: Apply landscaping adhesive or mortar to each level of stone until you reach the desired height.
- Use a strong adhesive on the capstone to prevent shifting.
Installation Completion
- There will be an empty cavity behind the wall that will require backfill.
- For walls that are less than 3 bricks in height, use the soil used during excavation and compact in 4-inch increments.
- For taller walls, backfill with 6 inches of gravel for better drainage and top off with soil.
- Spread sod or grass seed across the soil.
- Your DIY retaining wall is complete!
Where in Edmonton & St. Albert Can I Find The Best Landscaping Supply Company?
Rockland has a large selection of concrete stones from Belgard, Techo-bloc and Barkman plus Edmonton landscaping supplies and equipment rentals for your garden projects.
In Edmonton and St. Albert, Rockland is the most favoured supplier of landscaping products. For your landscaping projects, we specialize in offering the finest landscape supplies. We have gone a long way to comprehend your demands as a 20-year-old, award-winning landscape supplier. Call Rockland immediately at 780-239-7625 or send us a message at sales@rocklandsupplies.com to learn more!
