Retaining Wall

LNG24

Hey Guys,

Let me start off by stating... I am not a mason. I am a carpenter, an excavator and a cabinet maker. I have done my fair share of small slabs, sidewalks and a couple of 8" block retaining walls, but this is not my area of expertise. I typically sub out masonary work, but this is my own project.

I need to build a Hot Tub pad. I can either pour a 12 x 12 x 4" pad but I would rather put down pavers and make an entire patio area 12 x 20.

I have 12 pallets of 4 x 8 x 12 split faced block. So i am trying to figure out how I can utilize these blocks to make a wall. 20' long rising from grade to 3' then turning 90 degrees and running another 12' at 3' high.

Most of this will be under a deck. Only about 12' will be exposed.

So I know if we did a stacked stone Morterless wall, we simply imbed the stone into cement on the back. Could this technique be used in this case? Use a lath behind the block. Backbutter the blocks and press them into the lath? I am also thinking of placing a sheet of 3/4" ply behind the lath to act as a temp. form. Once the cement is dry, I pull the board and fill in the gap with pea gravel.

OK, Long post. Sorry about that. Just trying to get some ideas bounced off you.

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concretemasonry

Digger -

If you have block that are really 4x8x12 (the first number in the thickness of the wall or unit), do not bother. If they are made for a retaining wall and have a 4"x12" slpit face, then it is possible. Unfortunately, because if the versitility and the number of ways you can use a block, it becomes confusion when it comes to quickly describing the units.

Everyone has finally discovered that a rigid retaining wall with mortar does not work, especially in your location. If you had 8" or 12" thick block and used a footing (below frost) and reinforcement, you could build a long term wall.

I would suggest using segemental retaining wall block (technical term) laid without mortar or a concrete footing. This is a gravity retaining wall. A concrete footing is not allowed and you do not have to be below frost. They are actually more durable and can be much stronger. - Biggest I've seen was 44' high and about 900' long. Also saw one from 5 to 35' high that was about 5 miles long - all 12" thick!

For such a low wall you could possibly use the smaller "garden block" that are usually 8" thick. You can also get the caps units to finish off the wall.

I think concrete block with mortar is a great building material, but your application could be built better with a product designed for that use.

__________________
Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

LNG24

Thanks Dick,

So by segemental retaining wall block you are referring to a Unilock (brand name) type of wall? I will just have to find another use for that bock I guess.

Larry

ruskent

unilock, tech bloc, ep henry, versa lok, keystone, grinnell, anchor, etc