For you guys who do landscaping

[Bleed Green]

How tough is it to build a retaining wall. In my backyard there is a spot that we are thinking about building one. Is it something that I could do, or would I be better off getting a bigger landscape company? I guess I am wondering how tough of a task it would be. Am I biting off more than I can chew?

[stuvecorp]

Doing a wall isn't rocket science. It is pretty much follow manufactures guidelines and some common sense. Sometimes people will want to do it them self but want a 'material package' and help getting started so you probably can talk to a local block yard or if you know a wall guy.

[Bleed Green]

would you say to use gravel as a base in the trench?

[stuvecorp]

I do an 6" of base course or class 5 that the block sits on. I shouldv'e asked too, what kind of scope are you thinking? You can look online at some of the block companies also. I like Versa-Lok but check some other brands for the look you want.

[Bleed Green]

scope? Do you mean how big it will be?

[stuvecorp]

Yeah, are you talking a ten foot tall or complicated tiered wall or just something to extend a patio/lawn area?

[Bleed Green]

no just a small wall, maybe 4-5 courses. Nothing tiered, just a standard wall. I would say about 10-15 foot long. It is going along some landscaping right next to a small ditch, would that make any difference?

[Scag48]

Built many a wall, we usually did 4 footers and under as they don't need to be engineered. Have done one 10 foot tall engineered, that was good times.

For most retaining walls, a 6" base of whatever you guys call 5/8" gravel with fines will do just fine. Make sure you bury one block completely. Best way to get the base level is to actually not worry about it too much. Get it close, compact the crap out of it, then redress in the low spots, rake just a little to level it up and hammer it again with a plate compactor. Once you start laying blocks, if you end up with blocks that have the little nubs on the bottom, take a hammer and bust them off for the base course blocks. Lay the locks and use a bullet level to level them up. Usually on the 50 pound manor stone blocks, we hit on them with a 2 pound hand sledge and it won't break them. Just enough to level them up. You can also take a 4 foot level and make sure they're all the same height and level up to go along with using the bullet level with each block.

[Gravel Rat]

What are you thinking about ?

If its landscape block its not that hard you just need to get your base course level and sitting on good compacted soil. It is just hard back breaking work handling the blocks.

One thing you need to know is what the rules and regulations are on how tall of a wall you can make make without it being engineered.

How much soil is this going to be holding back.

[Bleed Green]

thanks for the responses, any other info is appreciated. I have put in a small pond, mulched, and put in french drains, but I have never done a retaining wall. Need all the guidance that I can get so I can learn and do this thing up right.