Small Retaining Wall question

[RonR]

I have a buddy who wants my help in building a small retaining wall to hold dirt in his yard. He wants to put 2 layers of railroad ties at the sidewalk, buried a coupla inches. The main reason for all this is to cover rampant maple roots throughout the yard.

I'm thinking of putting weed barrier on the dirt side of the wall to keep the dirt from washing through, but still allowing the water to escape.

The slope is probably 10" over 20 ft, which will require about 18" of fill at the sidewalk.

My concern is the weed barrier the way to go?

Also I'm concerned about having a better way for the water to run off--I'm fearful it will dam up at the wall (he wants to leave 2" below the top).

Personally, I think the landscape blocks (whatever they are called would look better, but I don't know how well they lock together and hold.

Thoughts please? THKS.

Ron

 

[wroughtn_harv]

In the eighties railroad tie retaining walls were the rage here in Texas. They're now being replaced with stone.

I wouldn't recommend the ties for many reasons.

The rock you're thinking about is reasonably priced and easy to install. It can be purchased at the box stores which is convenient.

They have instructions on the installation of the wall where it's sold. There's no concrete involved. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As for the roots, I'd recommend a geotextile cloth that allows moisture to pass but nothing else. You box store won't have the good stuff but a nursery or landscaper's supply will.

If you take your time and use a level you can have a wall that will make you proud for years.

 

[cantcitfromyhse]

I have used the Versa-lok blocks with great success. They come to about $7.00 per square foot of wall face. If you go to Versa-Lok they will give you the location of a local dealer. These blocks are much sturdier, and cheaper, than what you can get at the Home Depot.

The block are pinned together and each level is 3/4" recessed from the course below it. This keeps the wall from falling over. I think the finished look on these walls is pretty good.
[image]http://www.versa-lok.com/homeowner/hLandscaping.htm[/image]

I have finished about 150' X 8' tall wall using these blocks. The web site has instruction on how to install these. They only recommend 6" of 3/4" gravel fill behind the wall to allow the water to drain through. The part of the wall I put in 4 years ago is draining through just fine.

 

[dummy]

yea, what WHarv said. Landscape block shouldn't cost too much more to purchase and, to me, look oh so much better. This site allan block has some really good info. on installation, types, etc. A couple people on TBN also have talked about this, such as Tbn search

 

[rambler]

To each their own, but I would _much_ prefer the landscape locking rocks to old rr ties. They look bad in just a few years, and generally like to move on a person.

--->Paul

 

[v8dave]

I built a long 3' wall, one part with block and the other part with stacked boulders. The block for alongside the shop, the boulders in front of the house.

The attached pix shows how the Keystone interlocking blocks go together. It was a fairly straight forward project. As noted by the previous posters, just follow the manufacturer's on-line guides.

 

[v8dave]

The boulder wall was merged with the block wall. You can just see the merge here. This shows the general order of the stacked boulders. The pipe sticking up is for irrigation of the hillside--needs to be cut and boxed.

 

[v8dave]

Five months later here is the almost finished project--concrete work is still waiting. The wall protects the driveway going to the new shop.

 

[jinman]

Ron, I agree with everyone that stone or some type of masonry retaining wall is much more attractive and will last much longer if installed properly.

If your friend is sure he wants railroad ties or something similar, maybe he can find a better type of material that will have a lot of the properties of ties, but last a lot longer. There is a sawmill close to me that buys old telephone poles and then cuts perfect 6"x6" timbers. These are easily cut with a chainsaw and they stack perfectly. They are much easier to work with than railroad ties and don't have nearly as much toxic creosote in them.

I'm attaching a couple of pictures of my wall. the first is in progress and the second is complete. The cost of these timbers was $1.25 per linear ft. You might be able to find someone in your area who does the same thing.

 

[jinman]

Completed wall.