Retaining Wall Installation Process

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are required to be dependable so make sure that the company installing them is dependable too.

Questions to ask:

• Is drainage going to be installed behind your wall?

• How much crushed rock is used as backfill behind the wall?

• Will any weed fabric be install around the rock to prevent is from filling with dirt over time.

The above are a few ways that Rogers Landscape goes above and beyond when installing your retaining walls.

A minimum of 12” of crushed rock along with drainage pipe should be installed behind every retaining wall. This allows the soil to expand and contract with the seasons without causing excess pressure and weight on the wall itself, from heavy rains, which can lead to wall failure.

Split Face Stone Retaining Walls

Split Face Walls are a popular product for non engineered walls. The split face blocks are light weight, relatively easy to install and cost effective when compared to a CMU retaining wall or a natural stone retaining wall.

The split faced blocks work with a lip system. Therefore, each layer, or course, of the wall itself is set back about a 1/4” to allow for the lip to hold the block in place atop the lower course.

Pressure Treated Wood Retaining Walls

Wood retaining walls are another cost effective option. However it is important to note that wood retaining walls also require a minimum of 12” of crushed rock backfill. Not only to protect the wall from excess weight and to allow for drainage from heavy rains. But also to protect the wood itself from rot against dirt contact.

Cost wise, there is not a huge difference between the pressure treated wood walls and the split faced block walls. However, the blocks will never rot or deteriorate.

Blocks never rot or deteriorate

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) Retaining Walls

CMU walls are a completely other story when it comes to the installation process. The concrete masonry unit or concrete block walls require a cement footing, rebar, mortar, a cap, and typically some type of veneer.

• Footings

• rebar

• mortar

• veneer

• wall caps

These steps obviously add a significant amount of labor to the wall installation process. It is also recommended to install some type of waterproofing to the back of the wall to ensure water does not sleep through and cause the mortared veneer to fall off a few years down the road.

Here at Rogers Landscape all of these steps are standard practices