| building
a retaining wall |
|
| before
you start |
| 1.
check with your council |
| Low
garden edging can usually be installed without council approval. However,
walls over 1 m will generally need to be designed and certified by
a suitably qualified engineer. Walls in locations close to buildings
or driveways, in places where significant ground water or storm water
build up can be expected, in steep or unstable terrain, or where there
is reactive clay or fine sandy soils, may need special attention.
If in doubt, please contact your local council before proceeding |
| linkwall |
| 2.
check off your equipment |
| •
garden gloves •
spade
•
spirit
level
•
wheelbarrow
•
stakes
and string
•
small
broom
•
pencil
and square •
rubber
mallet
|
| •
100m
diameter AG pipe (if drainage required) •
road
base (granular material) for foundations |
| •
blue
metal (or gravel) for backfill |
| If
you need to split blocks, you’ll also need... •
safety glasses •
hammer
and bolster |
| For
larger jobs you may also require...
•
skid
loader •
wacker
packer •
ear
muffs •
circularsaw
with masonry blade |
| •
geosynthetic
reinforcement mesh |
| 3.
work out how many blocks you need |
| |
1.
Determine the wall length and wall height |
| |
2.
Multiply length by height to get the m3 wall face area |
| |
3.
Multiply this figure by the number of block units per
m3 |
|
eg
|
Meadow
Stone = 16.6 units per m3 |
|
Tasman
= 13 units per m3 |
|
Balmoral
= 26 units per m3 |
|
Heathstone
= 14 units per m3 |
|
Terrace
= 10 units per m3 |
|
Canturbury
= 30 units per m3 |
| Add
2% to this figure to allow for mishaps and get to it |
|
need
help?
here's a free retaining wall video
|
| These
are usually used in areas of limited access and room and suitable
soil types to allow for digging of holes. |
| The
general rule of thumb is that the posts need to be as far in
the ground as they are out. |
| Depending
on finished height requirements, differing sized timber is available. |
| If
low walls are required - up to 400m x 50mm thick timber is suitable. |
| For
over 400mm in height x 75mm thick should be used |
| Usual
sizes are 200 x 50 x 2.4, 200 x 50 x 3.0, 200 x 75 x 2.4 or
200 x 75 x 3.0 |
|
|
