How To Build It

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT DIY-ERS AND CRAFT ENTHUSIASTS

Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall

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Gather Your Tools! For this project you will need:

Shovel
Level
Rubber Mallet
Tape measure
Tamper
Torpedo Level
Circular saw
Small sledgehammer
Caulk Gun
Brick set
Drainpipe
Landscape fabric
Gravel
Construction adhesive
Landscape blocks

Dig out your wall. You’ll mark your wall using stakes and string to make sure it’s straight as you dig the trench.

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Lay landscape fabric over your excavated area and trench. Landscape fabric should stick out a foot above the top of your wall. If you have to overlap landscape fabric to cover your space, overlap by 6 inches. Landscape fabric should cover from the top of your wall (plus one foot) to the end of your trench. Place blocks on fabric to hold on place if necessary. Tamp 3 to 4 inches of gravel into the trench and back to the bottom of the excavation.

Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall| Retaining Wall Ideas, Retaining Wall Projects, Retaining Wall Ideas Hillside, Retaining Wall Ideas Cheap, Outdoor DIY, Landscape, Landscaping

Fill the trench with gravel and lay your first course of blocks. Make sure they are level with each other as you lay them by checking with a long level.

Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall| Retaining Wall Ideas, Retaining Wall Projects, Retaining Wall Ideas Hillside, Retaining Wall Ideas Cheap, Outdoor DIY, Landscape, Landscaping

Lay your first three rows of blocks. Once the first three rows have been placed, fill the gap between blocks and dirt with gravel. Then lay the drain pipe. Holes in the perforated plastic drain pipe should be facing down. The end of the pip should peak out just past the length of the wall for proper drainage. Once you’ve laid the drain pipe, lay the remaining rows of blocks and fill the rest of the space with gravel.

Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall| Retaining Wall Ideas, Retaining Wall Projects, Retaining Wall Ideas Hillside, Retaining Wall Ideas Cheap, Outdoor DIY, Landscape, Landscaping Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall| Retaining Wall Ideas, Retaining Wall Projects, Retaining Wall Ideas Hillside, Retaining Wall Ideas Cheap, Outdoor DIY, Landscape, Landscaping Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall| Retaining Wall Ideas, Retaining Wall Projects, Retaining Wall Ideas Hillside, Retaining Wall Ideas Cheap, Outdoor DIY, Landscape, Landscaping

As you near the end of building your block wall and have only one course remaining, fold the landscape fabric over the gravel and tuck it behind the blocks.

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Cover the landscaping fabric with top soil and sod that were previously removed. This may require purchasing new sod. Optional: fill with top soil and mulch, then plant flowers along the edge of your retaining wall.

Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall| Retaining Wall Ideas, Retaining Wall Projects, Retaining Wall Ideas Hillside, Retaining Wall Ideas Cheap, Outdoor DIY, Landscape, Landscaping

You can finish the last course of the wall with the same blocks, or use capstones. Capstone blocks are typically made to cover the gaps between the blocks in the previous course. Start by aplying  construction adhesive to the top of your last course. Then lay your final course of blocks or capstones across the top – cutting edge blocks to fit.

Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall| Retaining Wall Ideas, Retaining Wall Projects, Retaining Wall Ideas Hillside, Retaining Wall Ideas Cheap, Outdoor DIY, Landscape, Landscaping

Take your remaining soil that was removed during excavation and lay it beneath the block wall. Level it out to meet the ground below and tamp the soil. Replace the sod or reseed the area and water frequently until the grass is well established.

Build an EASY DIY Retaining Wall| Retaining Wall Ideas, Retaining Wall Projects, Retaining Wall Ideas Hillside, Retaining Wall Ideas Cheap, Outdoor DIY, Landscape, Landscaping

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