Segmental Retaining Walls

mad_footer

I need to build a fairly large retaining wall - it will be 12' (tall) x 48'. I have never used any of the segmental retaining wall products like the following:

Cornerstone (http://www.cornerstonewallsolutions.com/)
Keystone (http://www.keystonewalls.com/)
Rockwood (http://www.rockwoodwalls.com/)

Does anyone have experience with any of these retaining wall products? Will they work for a wall of this size? Are there any benefits to one of these manufacturers over the others?

K2

I've seen engineering on the above products and I believe I would want a soils report and engineering on a 12 ft. high wall. My area requires it over 4 ft.

PipeGuy

I've worked around a lot of Keystone walls with heights ranging from 3' to above 25' and lengths ranging from 20' to several hundred feet. I've also bid a couple jobs to build them up to 14' high. I believe the manufacturer will do the engineering for you. Contact a supplier.

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Fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for...for just such an emergency. -Foghorn Leghorn

Tscarborough

The supplier may design them, but you will still need an engineer's stamp on the plans, and that the supplier does NOT provide. Figure 1500 bucks or so for that alone. Any decent Segmental system can handle those dimensions, provided it is engineered and constructed properly.

rikanit

We use Versa Lok almost exclusively but about any SRW manufacturer will have a block more than adequate for those dimensions. Your supplier can help with the choice of block, but as stated above, a wall that tall will have to be engineered and stamped by a qualified engineer.

You may also need some type of protective railing or fence along the top of the wall depending upon location, local codes etc...

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Rick Hayden
www.haydenlandscaping.com

tgeb

Not only that, but you also should have independent inspections, as the work progresses, in order to have a third party verify that the work is being done as prescribed by the engineer, or as per design. That keeps you honest, and relives you of a great deal of responsibility in the event of failure.

We have engineers that will design and stamp around here for about $600. They will also do the follow up inspections for a fee.

A wall of that size you do not want to take chances with.

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Tom

www.gebcon.com

MasterScapes

MAKE SURE YOU USE GEO-GRID! Every third couse, three times. The bottom course should be the longest. Use number 4 geo grid. This is the best method with out getting into specifics. It will make the wall. The 90% is whats behind the wall. The other 10% is what you or your client sees. But most importantly, if not in your yard get a engineer. to sign off on design. Most suppliers will help with the figures.

terrysway

We like to use Allan Block 12 degree with geogrid for a project like that. It's a relatively easy product to handle & is affordable.

ruskent

Just make sure you have it engineered. Most of the time, the manufacture will give you a preliminary drawing so you have something to estimate the job with. Then if you get the job you will need a engineer to stamp it.

Most of the time the manufacture will do the preliminary drawing for the worse soil conditions possible.

Be careful, retaining walls are not something to mess with. They can be dangerous!!!!

SmithBuilt

Be prepared for poor soil conditions if that may be a problem. I just finished a wall recently. The soil on site was terrible. Had to use washed stone for the whole wall. Very expensive. The other alternative was to haul good soil in, but it would still have to be packed to 95%. The rock does not need to be packed.

Be sure you cover yourself. Packing soil behind the wall is very time consuming. If you do not have a tamp you'll need to rent one. 95% compaction is very tight. You will have to do it in lifts about 6" depending on soil. A compaction test will also have to be done by an engineer for the footing, undisturbed material behind the wall, and fill behind the wall.