Framing Concrete Retaining Wall

A concrete wall needs to be built on top of a concrete footer in order to be stable.
Framing concrete retaining wall. Concrete blocks are ideal for building walls to hold back the soil after you dig into a slope for a pathway patio or another landscaping project block retaining walls are generally the same as freestanding block walls but with a few important differences. If the form is constructed incorrectly the concrete can blow out the form breaking it apart and creating an enormous mess while wasting much of your money. These systems are easy to install durable reasonably priced and available in a variety of colors and textures. Afterward place the forms and pour the concrete to shape your wall.
If you want to build a concrete retaining wall you should consider pouring the wall rather than making it out of concrete blocks. The interlocking retaining wall block can be used to build walls up to 24 to 36 inches high depending on the size of the block. Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding. Here are the steps tom ralston owner of tom ralston concrete in santa cruz ca follows when pouring a retaining wall.
A concrete block retaining wall is the perfect solution to control erosion to eliminate a hard to mow slope to add a planting bed or to level an ideal patio area. A poured wall is much stronger and generally last many more years than a block wall. With simple materials and readily available tools the novice carpenter can lay out build and anchor walls on concrete. Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits.
Walls are built from the ground up. Use an impact driver to drive a 3 tapcon screw through the wood and into the floor. Repeat at the other end of the board. When doing your own concrete work knowing how to form a homemade concrete wall is an essential skill.
Poured concrete retaining walls can be colored textured accented with embedded objects and much more. Pouring a concrete retaining wall is not that difficult and this easy to follow how to guide will show you just what to do. Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones even bricks. Whether you need a wall as a property marker a support structure or to hold back soil or water you can make one by building wood frames called forms.
Cut pressure treated 2 x 4 boards to length and lay them along the chalk line. Use a hammer drill with 3 16 masonry bit to drill a hole through the wood and into the concrete floor. Concrete may be tough as rock but with the right tools securing walls to slabs is a smooth process.