Question by whosajiggawhat?: what do i need for base material on a two course wall?
I am planning to build a small “retaining” wall in my front yard. There is a slight slope but it’s more for decoration than for retaining anything. It’s about 36 feet long and curves from the front of the house around the side and back to the fence. I am going to buy the cheapo 8″ wide concrete castle wall blocks from Lowes or Home Depot. It will only be about 1-2 courses high for most of the length of the wall and will get to 3 for a few feet in the middle. I plan to bury atleast the bottom half of the bottom course along the whole thing. What should I use for base material? I have fairly sandy soil and live in a dry climate (bakersfied, CA).
Do I need to use a crushed stone base and leveling sand for such a small wall or could i just tamp down the native soil and use a 1″ sand base?
Should I bother with landscaping fabric?
Should I bother with gravel back fill?
Any help you can lend is much appreciated.
Thanks!
are you supposed to tuck the bottom of the landscape fabric under the first course or just lay it flat under the drainage gravel? I know to tuck the top of the fabric under the bottom course.
Best answer:
Answer by tipster
you can remove 4 to 6 inches of top soil on 2 course with sand base!but if you went higher you could consider 4 inch perforated behind wall for drainage! withcrushed limestone base!
What do you think? Answer below!
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Make sure it is level. If not it will never look right and will fall apart. This may require you to step it as it travels up the slope.
I have clay soil around here so i need to buy sand, if you already have sand think would just need to dig down and tamp it.
Consider 2″ of pea gravel over a compacted dirt/sandy soil base.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1632351,00.html
Hope this video helps
I’d spend the money and buy the interlocking blocks made for retaining walls and garden applications. It’s worth the extra money and it is offset by the ease of installation plus they look a lot better than concrete block. It’s all about resale value. Think.
I think you need to ask some professional! Try to sort it out!
http://equityinspection.com/