Retaining Wall questions

EddieWalker · Oct 20, 2024

Thank you for the replies. The more I've looked into this, the more I'm rethinking it. This is going to be a very visible wall from our back porch. Kind of the main thing you will see, and we want it to have a wow factor to it.

I'm not getting that from any of the blocks I'm looking at. The original block that I linked to when posting this looked great in pictures, but didn't care for it in person. The more we looked at it, the more we hated it.

My current line of thought is building it out of cinder blocks, filling the blocks with rebar and concrete, and then installing tile on it to make it look nice. My wife thinks it's too much work, and I'll never finish it. I guess I need to finish a few things to change her mind!!!!

2manyrocks · Oct 20, 2024

Hard to beat the look of a real stone wall if you can find enough of them and have the patience to fit them together.

Split face or rough face blocks also look better than flat face blocks, IMO, if that might work. But if you want the refined look of tile, then why not?

EddieWalker · Oct 20, 2024

Rock would be the ultimate dream wall. It's just too expensive here. We don't have any rock, and it's all trucked in from Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Runner · Oct 20, 2024

EddieWalker said:
I guess I need to finish a few things to change her mind!!!!

Something tells me she knows you better than that.

Streetcar · Oct 20, 2024

Most retaining wall failures are related to poor drainage. Make sure to include drainage in wall.
Block wall should have concrete foundation.
I have never had good luck with exposed tile and freezing weather

D&D · Oct 20, 2024

EddieWalker said:
I need to build a retaining wall in my backyard so I can change my fencing around for my dogs. Phase one is about 3 feet tall, and probably 20 feet long. Nothing huge. Then Phase two will probably be about the same height, but closer to 50 feet long to create a flower bed.

I have some experience with retaining wall blocks with a lip on them, but I'm considering the type of blocks that are flat and require construction adhesive to hold them together.

As of right now, this is our top choice.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Belgard-Quarry-Goldrush-Retaining-wall-block-Common-12-inx-12-in-Actual-12-0-in-x-12-0-in/5001527669?store=1965

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Does anybody have any experience with a brand that worked out well when doing this? I prefer PL over Liquid Nails, but I'd love to learn about another brand that is better for this.

I do a lot of tile work and I'm wondering is something like Thinset Mortar would be better then Construction Adhesive?

On the walls that I've built before, I've always used about 6 inches of Road Base Gravel under the first block. I'm not really sure what this accomplishes, but it seems like the universal agreed upon way of doing it. Would concrete be better? I've also seen where they bury the first row and build up from there. Any thoughts on what works best?

I'm leaning towards just putting landscape fabric against the inside of the blocks and not using any gravel. For 3 feet, and with gaps in every block, I don't see how gravel will help with drainage. Each blocks is designed to drain water when stacked together. The landscape fabric will be more to keep the dirt behind the blocks, then dealing with water.

Thank you