Can You Use Concrete Blocks For A Retaining Wall?

Can You Use Concrete Blocks For A Retaining Wall?

Yes, you can use concrete blocks for a retaining wall. You can make a beautiful retaining wall using just simple concrete blocks.

Concrete blocks are great for constructing walls to keep back soil after excavating a slope for a sidewalk, patio, or another landscaping project. Block retaining walls are similar to freestanding block walls in most ways, but there are a few key distinctions.

A retaining wall must have a mechanism to drain the water that accumulates on the slope behind it. Without a pressure-relief mechanism, the weight of the water in the soil would cause the wall to break or buckle.

Some water is escorted out by weep holes, lengths of 34-inch pipe installed along the top of the first course. The other component of the system is a gravel-covered plastic drainpipe.

As water collects behind the wall, it percolates through the gravel into the drainpipe, where it is securely sent away.

How Do You Install A Cap On A Curved Retaining Wall?

Curved retaining walls add an appealing addition to a home’s outside landscape. A well-built retaining wall is meant to have a cap at the top edge so that people may sit on it.

The cap also adds a final touch to the wall, making it seem finished. Masonry wall tops are available in the same lengths as blocks. The caps will need to be trimmed to fit the curvature of the wall.

• Put on your protective goggles and gloves.
• Lift and position your initial cap such that it overhangs the side and face of your retaining wall. Between the edge of your first cap and the edge of your next cap, leave a space 3 inches thinner than your cap.

Center the second cap with the same amount of face overhang. The cap will often overhang the front and rear of the block beneath.

• Put your third hat on top of your second cap. With the exception of tight curves, you should be able to utilize two uncut caps for every cut cap.
• Place the fourth cap on top of the first and second. Align the borders of the face. Draw cut lines on the underside of the fourth cap with your pencil, using the sides of the first and second caps as guides.
• Take off the fourth cap. Using a masonry saw with a diamond-tipped blade, cut the fourth cap. You can usually rent this type of saw from your home improvement store because this may be a wet saw cut away from the wall.
• Fit all of your capstones dry. Lift each stone one at a time and liberally apply external concrete construction glue to the top of the block wall. Replace the capstone in its original location. Rep with the remaining stones.

How Long Should I Wait For The Concrete Footings Retaining Wall To Cure?

When pouring concrete footings for a retaining wall, it is critical to allow the concrete to dry completely. You don’t want to start constructing the wall too soon since the weight may cause the footing to break.

Wait at least a few days after laying a footing before beginning to build the retaining wall. Fresh concrete takes around 28 days to cure fully, although it’s generally strong enough to sustain the wall after 2-3 days.

Also, because it takes a long time to create a massive retaining wall, the footing is still drying while I work on the wall. It may be cured by the time you reach the top of the wall.

When pouring and curing concrete, it is critical to keep meteorological conditions in mind. Never pour concrete in the rain or on the same day rain is forecast.

Cover the footing with a tarp if you pour it in the morning and it begins to rain before the concrete has hardened. Extra water will deteriorate the concrete.

When the concrete hardens and settles, it might get moist. Concrete must not be completely cured before it can be rained on.

In cold weather, never pour a footing. Concrete holds a lot of water, which must evaporate. If the water freezes before it evaporates, it will expand and perhaps break or degrade the concrete.

Concrete should be robust enough to withstand internal pressure caused by freezing after a few days of hardening. You can then remove the blankets.