Do-it-yourself retaining walls: step-by-step instructions for creating

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Irregularities at the summer cottage are quite common. In such an area it is difficult to create flower beds and other decorative elements. But don’t be upset, as retaining walls can help in such a situation. This is an excellent element that can become a decoration for a garden and a division into zones. But how to build retaining walls with your own hands?

Content:

What are retaining walls?

A retaining wall is usually called a kind of barrier. In addition, it becomes an excellent decoration for a summer cottage. The popularity of such an emphasis has increased a long time ago, but to this day many people build it in their summer cottage. For such a wall it is not necessary to buy expensive materials. You can even use what you have on hand.

You can construct a retaining wall yourself, taking into account some rules and recommendations. This does not require spending a lot of money. Such an element will support the soil and perform a decorative function.

Why is a retaining wall needed?

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The dacha plot is not always completely level. It often has a lot of hills. If you want, for example, to make on it flower garden, then a retaining wall will be required.After all, it is worth knowing that after some time the top layer of earth on such a hump will begin to slide.

This will lead to the flower garden being disturbed and all efforts will be wasted. But if you design a support, you can avoid such consequences.

In addition to the fact that the retaining wall performs the function of support, it also perfectly decorates the area. With its help, emphasis is placed on specific elements. Flower beds with such a wall look much more impressive and attractive.

What materials and tools are needed for the job?

To build a retaining wall, a variety of materials are used. Many people make it from logs. But you should understand that such a support will not last long. Therefore, if a person wants to construct a reliable structure, he should lean towards a stone wall. For making, you can take different stones. Their length and width do not have to be the same.

For a retaining wall, you need to make a lime mortar. To do this, mix water, sand and quicklime. For 300 ml of liquid you will need 1 kg of the remaining components. There should be 3-5 times more sand than lime. Mix everything thoroughly so that there are no lumps. You will also need concrete and gravel to build the wall.

In addition, you need to acquire the following tools:

  • Pick
  • Ruler
  • Master OK
  • Lace
  • Gardening knife
  • Wood planks to create a template
  • Wooden wedges
  • Shovel

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions

Building a retaining wall is not difficult. To do this, you should adhere to the following sequence:

  1. First you need to make a foundation. A suitable place is selected where the future wall will be located. The size of the foundation directly depends on the size of the supporting wall itself.It can be made to any height. But it is worth following some rules regarding width. It must be at least 30 cm. Otherwise, the wall will not be strong.
  2. It is necessary to design the future wall. At the corners, it is worth deepening the pegs into the ground, and stretch a cord between them.
  3. A hole is made for the foundation. It is worth considering the height of the future structure. If there is a meter-long wall above the ground, then there should be a 0.5 meter depression in the ground.
  4. It is also necessary to take into account how much it freezes the soil in winter. In harsh areas, it is better to make the foundation deeper. The density of the soil should also be taken into account. Experienced gardeners advise making the foundation deeper if the soil is too loose.
  5. Taking these factors into account, you can begin cleaning the pit.
  6. The result is a trench into which the concrete mixture must be poured.
  7. It is recommended to do this procedure in dry weather. Then the mixture will harden in 4-5 days.

After this, the construction of the foundation can be considered complete. Next, you should proceed to the wall itself. Initially, it is recommended to wet the stones with water and arrange them into groups. It is worth sorting them by size and color. Lime mortar is applied to the prepared foundation. The application layer should not be less than 2 cm.

Next, large stones are laid on the lime mortar. It is recommended to try to ensure that the stones lie tightly to each other. Following the same principle, it is necessary to continue laying stones. It is recommended to make a template from wood before this procedure. This will allow you to design the ideal masonry.

Retaining wall

To be sure that the stone will fit well in a particular place, it is recommended to initially apply it without using mortar.A situation occurs when the stones do not fit well together. In such a situation, it is worth using wooden wedges that are driven into the resulting holes. They will then be filled with mortar when the structure dries.

Features of application

Not only stone can be used for construction. Brick, concrete, wood and other materials are used for this. But it is the stone wall that is considered the strongest. Not all people can boast of a flat plot. Therefore, a retaining wall is a great help in such a situation.

But it is worth understanding that such a structure can create the heaviness of the entire design. For this reason, when using a retaining wall, experts advise adding other elements to it. Namely:

  • Steps
  • Rocks
  • Tables
  • Nishami

To prevent the wall from spoiling the appearance of the summer cottage, it is worth taking into account the entire landscape design. After this, proceed to choosing a stone. Then the structure will only bring benefits. So, a retaining wall is an excellent element with which you can support priming and decorate the area. At the same time, each person can independently design this element.

Video on how retaining walls are created:

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