We have produced a simple design guide for retaining walls.
Block retaining wall design guide.
Corners curves steps terraces and free standing walls in addition to sections on design considerations and design charts.
Gravity walls rely on their own weight and setback to hold up the soil behind them.
Although they are most common for homes built on hills or sloping properties retaining wall blocks also provide creative design options for planter areas elevated landscapes and other more visual applications.
Retaining walls are required for slopes and structural purposes as they use footings to hold a wall in place and better retain soil.
The material being retained the height of the water table the general geographical form of the location the bearing capacity of the earth the wall is going be sitting on and the height of the wall.
Please note that the gravity wall chart provided has specific heights for specific site and soil conditions.
Soil bearing and stability 8.
Building codes and retaining walls 5.
Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding.
Contents include design details such as.
Forces on retaining walls 6.
The main considerations are.
Earthquake seismic design 7.
Keystone design manual keywallpro operating guide.
A simple retaining wall design and build guide.
Soil mechanics simplified 4.
If you are not sure of your site conditions we recommend being conservative with your retaining wall heights or use geogrid in your retaining wall.
Learn more about gravity wall construction.
Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits.
Retaining wall design 10 editionth a design guide for earth retaining structures contents at a glance.