Wood Retaining Wall Help

[Kenster67]

Last year I built a wood retaining wall roughly 70 foot long and 4 foot high that extended off of our garage. I bought 6x6 steel H-beam that was cut into approximately 7 foot lengths. I cemented these vertically in the ground every 6 feet with the open channels of the H-beam facing each other. I then had black locusts milled to 6x6 and cut to an approximate 7 foot length. I cut each locust post to fit between the channels horizontally and routed the outside corner edges with a roundover bit. I had to work a little bit to get the first course level but after that each successive post slid right down on top of the other. A French drain was put in behind the wall and I back filled with 2b stone. I don't know if locust is available in your area but it is the wood of choice for the Amish here in Central Pa when they put up fences as it just doesn't seem to rot. For less than $2000 I've got a 70 foot wall that won't push and will last for a long time. If you can't quite picture what I've tried to explain, I've got some pictures I could e-mail you.

Ken

 

[jinman]

Thanks for all the input everyone. Not sure now what direction I will go. A wood wall I could do but I'm not rock or brick man by any means. Received a bid for a cinder block wall wrapped on the none dirt side with rock. The bid is just beyond what I can afford.

Randy, I don't know where you are located in OK, but between Bowie and Sunset, TX on Rt. 101, there is a sawmill (Stice Sawmill) that cuts old telephone poles into perfect 6" x 6" timbers. The smell a little of creosote for the first few months, but they sure make perfect retainer walls. For wood, they are hard to beat.

I can get you their phone number if you are interested.

 

[CurlyDave]

I would price out the interlocking block wall before getting my heart set on wood.

I think you will find that it is more durable, easier to install, and less expensive.

You really don't need much rock or masonry skill. Just place the blocks, and the drain rock.

I saw interlocking blocks at Lowes about a month ago that were 16" long and 6" high for about $5 each. You would need 54 of them for a wall 12' long and 3' high.

 

[AchingBack]

Randy, I built a wall like the one in the picture, only much larger, and with a small hillside behind it. It is constructed of pressure treated 6"x9"x8' landscape timbers. This was over fifteen years ago and shows no signs of rotting. The reason being: behind the wall I installed landscape fabric, a 4" drain line, and drain rock on top. This kept all of the moisture away from the back side of the wall. On a wall the height of your, unless there will be a lot of hydraulic pressure, you can probably skip the deadmen. Just make sure each course of timbers is set back about and inch or two, and angled slightly toward the back side of the wall.

 

[rox]

Thanks for all the input everyone. Not sure now what direction I will go. A wood wall I could do but I'm not rock or brick man by any means. Received a bid for a cinder block wall wrapped on the none dirt side with rock. The bid is just beyond what I can afford.

Randy I never built a floor in a stone Borie before, using brick pavers but my husband and I did it! He did all the heavy lifting bringing me in the materials but I did all the leveling and placed all the pavers.

I know what you mean about never having worked with brick or rock. I felt the same way. But really it was pretty darn easy. You just get that 4ft level and off you go. The only thing that would hold me back form the interlocking block wall is the weight of the blocks. They are heavy. On our last house we contracted out a really big wall project. No way could I handle the weight of the blocks and my husband no way has the temperment to be that fussy and level.

The one real good tip we got from our current neighbor when laying the brick pavers in sand, is to take a plank and lay the plank across several of the briks and pound with a wood mallet. It kind of levels them all next to each other.

If you have the boy muscles to lift those heavy blocks I really would try it. Between the manufactures website and the iternet and your friends here on TBN you could get enough instructios on how to do it. 12 ft long is a real nice, first time, learn something new, sized project.

 

[Taxidermist]

I am building retaining walls for my walkout basement. I am using keystone block they weigh 78# ea and are 18"l 8"h 11"d they pin together. Water is the #1 reason walls fail so with good back fill and drains a block wall will last forever. I spent the extra money and plan to only do it once.

Rob

 

[Willy Victor]

Randy I never built a floor in a stone Borie before, using brick pavers but my husband and I did it! He did all the heavy lifting bringing me in the materials but I did all the leveling and placed all the pavers.

I know what you mean about never having worked with brick or rock. I felt the same way. But really it was pretty darn easy. You just get that 4ft level and off you go. The only thing that would hold me back form the interlocking block wall is the weight of the blocks. They are heavy. On our last house we contracted out a really big wall project. No way could I handle the weight of the blocks and my husband no way has the temperment to be that fussy and level.

The one real good tip we got from our current neighbor when laying the brick pavers in sand, is to take a plank and lay the plank across several of the briks and pound with a wood mallet. It kind of levels them all next to each other.

If you have the boy muscles to lift those heavy blocks I really would try it. Between the manufactures website and the iternet and your friends here on TBN you could get enough instructios on how to do it. 12 ft long is a real nice, first time, learn something new, sized project.

Bon Jour Rox

Dan

 

[rox]

Bon Jour Dan!

 

[Redneck_Randy]

Well, I saved my pennies and went with Versa-Lok retaining wall system. The blocks lock together with pins making the entire wall one piece so to say. Here are a few pics of the start of the project. I will post more when the project is finished.

 

[EddieWalker]

Glad to see you went with the block. It's gonna really look nice when you get it done, and the best thing is that it will never rot out on you!!!!

Thanks for the update and don't forget to post more pics as you progress and especially the finished shots.

Thanks,
Eddie