Concrete Block Retaining Walls

A retaining wall is used for many different tasks such as preventing soil erosion, creating tree borders, leveling patios, giving steep hills a terraced form, etc. The advantages of using concrete blocks is that they are long lasting, easy to install, widely available, reasonably priced, and available in different patterns and colors. You just make sure your building materials are of good quality.

Getting Started
One should first decide how many blocks would be sufficient for building a wall. It should be kept in mind that the curved walls require more blocks than the straighter ones. In order to cut the blocks accurately, a line needs to be marked around them with the help of a 3½ inch brick chisel and a sledgehammer. The chisel should be placed exactly at the center of the marked line and the sledgehammer should be struck sharply.

Concrete Block Retaining Walls
To build a retaining wall that is 4 feet in height, a trench accommodating a 4 - 6 inch compacted base and 1 inch leveling sand should be dug. A shovel should be used to dig the trench. The leveling sand and the compacted base covers the first layer of concrete blocks to the half of its height. The next step of concrete blocks, i.e. the one which is placed above the basal layer should course back about ¾ inch. The vertical joints should overlap at least 4 inches. The rows of concrete blocks should be secured to each other with the help of pins. The back portion of the wall should be filled with crushed rock. The top portion (6 inches) should be filled with a 'cap' of native soil. It keeps the surface water from entering the trench.

Working of Concrete Block Systems
The concrete blocks used to build retaining walls have a lip on the bottom. These lips help in locking the blocks together; which further results into the formation of a step-like structure. The cavity between the blocks is filled with soil. It pushes the blocks forward, and in turn strengthens the joints between the lips and the blocks that lie below them.

Qualities of Good Retaining Wall Blocks
The retaining wall blocks should be strong enough to meet the demands of difficult terrains. The retaining walls constructed from the blocks should be flexible, versatile, and must cater to the unique needs of every new project site.

Advantages of Using Concrete Blocks
The concrete blocks used in retaining wall construction interlock with each other and do not require mortar. These blocks are easy to assemble and could be dismantled easily if the need arises. The walls built using concrete blocks help in creating a system of terraces which is also pleasant in its appearance. The concrete block retaining walls provide an opportunity to create landscapes.

The different types of retaining walls use different materials for their construction. Building retaining walls with the help of concrete blocks is a better option over using other materials. The concrete block retaining walls are thus a good choice to create a pleasant landscape and a strong construction.