small brick retaining wall

[chengdaddy]

Hi i am just putting up a small flower retaining wall in the front of my house. I live out in surrey and don't mind travelling
Just wondering if anyone has any experience on this ?is it difficult to do? or should i hire someone to do it?

Any idea where is a good place to purchase the blocks?

thanks guy in advance

[goofball]

how small is small? Height? and types of bricks you intend to use?

[chengdaddy]

how small is small? Height? and types of bricks you intend to use?

hi i was thinking about 20 inches high and the length is about 140 inches..
not really sure i was thinkin interlocking blocks with a cap on top..
does that make any sense..sorry i aint a handyman

[goofball]

hi i was thinking about 20 inches high and the length is about 140 inches..
not really sure i was thinkin interlocking blocks with a cap on top..
does that make any sense..sorry i aint a handyman

No need to be sorry. I'm not being very clear.
I guess more along the lines of are you going with brick, or do you mean stone?

When I think of retaining wall for garden, I think of these

http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/16159005_3.jpg

vs using a brick like this

http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/15698.01102-OSChar_3.jpg

It's not difficult to do. The most important is to lay it out beforehand, and prep your base. You'll need a level, whatever base material you want to use to prep, something to break the bricks (I use a angle grinder + chisel).
The stones can just be laid on top of each other. If you want the cap on top, then I would recommend you use an adhesive (PL) to attach it.
I just get my stones from home depot.

[Owbist]

Getting satisfaction from doing your own repairs or renovations is a great feeling. Plus the money saved. As Goofball notes, this is not difficult and I suspect your main concern is being in the front yard where neighbours might be watching. Been there and had the experience then I realised as I aged that those neighbours mostly are admiring not laughing at your attempts because they too are nervous about the others watching so go for it. :)

Lowes has a nice 6 minute Youtube video at the link below. Note early on how he shows you the lip on the bricks he chose to use which prevents the earth pushing your masterpiece out of alignment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJvmRfYZgMA

With today's variety of materials and those countless number of help videos on Youtube and elsewhere I would suggest most homeowners could do many of the jobs themselves saving thousands over the years.

[goofball]

Getting satisfaction from doing your own repairs or renovations is a great feeling. Plus the money saved. As Goofball notes, this is not difficult and I suspect your main concern is being in the front yard where neighbours might be watching. Been there and had the experience then I realised as I aged that those neighbours mostly are admiring not laughing at your attempts because they too are nervous about the others watching so go for it. :)

Lowes has a nice 6 minute Youtube video at the link below. Note early on how he shows you the lip on the bricks he chose to use which prevents the earth pushing your masterpiece out of alignment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJvmRfYZgMA

With today's variety of materials and those countless number of help videos on Youtube and elsewhere I would suggest most homeowners could do many of the jobs themselves saving thousands over the years.

So very true. My neighbours all watched me for a few minutes here and there when I did the bricks in front around the tree and the edging pavers as well. Then they watched as I sealed the driveway. And when I do oil changes on my car, or work on my brakes, or change my tires....:lol:

The hardest part to swallow may be that you don't have the tools you need to do it. I bought the angle grinder for $15 at canadian tire, the diamond blade set for $15, the chisel for $15 as well, and a rubber mallet is something that I had around for years. Glasses ($10), hearing protection ($4), dust mask ($10), it does add up but these are all things that can be used again. It's somewhat empowering to DIY and get results, along with the money saved.

[chengdaddy]

i was going with a stone look...thanks for everyones help and recommendation...the prices for stone would be cheaper at home depot than an independent company?

yeah i aint a fan if someone watches me do my work..especially my obnoxious neighbour!!haha


No need to be sorry. I'm not being very clear.
I guess more along the lines of are you going with brick, or do you mean stone?

When I think of retaining wall for garden, I think of these

http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/16159005_3.jpg

vs using a brick like this

http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/15698.01102-OSChar_3.jpg

It's not difficult to do. The most important is to lay it out beforehand, and prep your base. You'll need a level, whatever base material you want to use to prep, something to break the bricks (I use a angle grinder + chisel).
The stones can just be laid on top of each other. If you want the cap on top, then I would recommend you use an adhesive (PL) to attach it.
I just get my stones from home depot.

[TrevorK]

If you are looking to do the work yourself places like Home Depot and Rona typically have "do it yourself" courses that teach you how to do non-functional retaining walls and that. At least in my city they do, I assume all the major cities would.

We only have a single Lowes (which I've never been to) so I have no idea if they do these classes as well.


This might be a good introduction into how to do the install, what materials to use, etc. and at a minimum will show you whether you think you have the skill and patience to do it.

[goofball]

I don't know, I haven't gone to an independent company as the Home Depot is more convenient for me to go to. I was able to find the stone and match it, plus the small quantity that I needed. I didn't feel that it was worth driving all over to the different places to try to see if I could save, which I probably wouldn't have since I am terrible at estimating how many I need and the gas used up would have negated any savings.
The Lowes around here doesn't carry the beige that matches the brick on my house, they mostly carry shadow(grey) or red stones.

[Rockymountain]

I don't know, I haven't gone to an independent company as the Home Depot is more convenient for me to go to. I was able to find the stone and match it, plus the small quantity that I needed. I didn't feel that it was worth driving all over to the different places to try to see if I could save, which I probably wouldn't have since I am terrible at estimating how many I need and the gas used up would have negated any savings.
The Lowes around here doesn't carry the beige that matches the brick on my house, they mostly carry shadow(grey) or red stones.

Hello Goofball: So nice to see your posting here. There is a huge landscape material supply store on Inns Road in Ottawa. It is just at the same entrance to Ritchie Garden Supplies.

OP: Sorry for the highjack.

[chengdaddy]

thanks goofball for the feedback i have a good idea i will do it myself i just need to be patient with it as i tend to rush

i will check out home depot and rona

thanks everyone for the suggestions

[goofball]

Hello Goofball: So nice to see your posting here. There is a huge landscape material supply store on Inns Road in Ottawa. It is just at the same entrance to Ritchie Garden Supplies.

OP: Sorry for the highjack.

Thanks for the info. Living in Kanata, would be quite the jaunt for me to just get a few stones here and there (remember, I am a terrible estimater!). I just had to go to home depot this weekend to get 2 stones to finish the work around the tree. There are a few places around here as well but the convenience of a home depot or other large store (open 14+ hrs, weekends, no hassle returns) is well worth the few extra $$$ to me.


thanks goofball for the feedback i have a good idea i will do it myself i just need to be patient with it as i tend to rush

i will check out home depot and rona

thanks everyone for the suggestions

As mentioned, it's not a race, take your time, do it at your pace. The most important things to do are to trace out (use spraypaint,marker, string, wood, whatever) the area first. Create your base and get it level. Once the base is level, the rest will fly as it is just putting the stones down on top. You may want to play around to see how they will fit together to minimize any cuts you have to do, cuts are messy. If you want to get creative, you don't have to do a perfect brick pattern, you can offset by going 1/3 overlay, and using a 1/3 brick in between, so it's sort of mosaic looking (though a bit more work to cut all these bricks).
I'm going to do the same as you next year, a small brick garden against the front porch, so I may get ideas by how you do it. Post some pictures when you're done!

[chengdaddy]

As mentioned, it's not a race, take your time, do it at your pace. The most important things to do are to trace out (use spraypaint,marker, string, wood, whatever) the area first. Create your base and get it level. Once the base is level, the rest will fly as it is just putting the stones down on top. You may want to play around to see how they will fit together to minimize any cuts you have to do, cuts are messy. If you want to get creative, you don't have to do a perfect brick pattern, you can offset by going 1/3 overlay, and using a 1/3 brick in between, so it's sort of mosaic looking (though a bit more work to cut all these bricks).
I'm going to do the same as you next year, a small brick garden against the front porch, so I may get ideas by how you do it. Post some pictures when you're done![/QUOTE]

I plan to do it set by step and take my time...if its turns out good i will post a pic...if its sucks then maybe not :)

[M1K3Z0R]

May not apply to your situation, but be careful not to change the grade so much as to interfere with drainage around the house. You project doesn't seem all that extreme, but it's good to keep it in mind :)

[Mr Nobody]

FYI,

The big box do not have corner pieces for their retaining stones. They have caps (coping pieces) though. You'll need to buy one of the branded stones (Unilock, Oaks, BWS, etc) from a stone/landscape place if you need corner pieces.

Here's Unilock's technical guide. A very good read: http://www.unilock.com/default/linkservid/56EA14E6-1C25-1A51-FAE2B534A21FE2EC/showMeta/0/

Combine this with some Youtube videos and you should have a good idea of what you want and need to do.

(I'm currently building a raised patio myself)

[chengdaddy]

hi everyone..just an update..wall and first couple of levels are up..seems pretty easy once first level of crushed fine was levelled good..i just put two huge nails and levels a 2x4 across them and filled it up to the bottom with gravel

only questions i have is i noticed on the second and third level as i build the stones on a curve to match the lower levels there is a gap at the back of the wall(triangle shaped) should i be filing this gap or will it be okay?

[imnew]

LOL - I just tell/ask my neighbour to help me instead of watching me every time... LOL

[Mr Nobody]

hi everyone..just an update..wall and first couple of levels are up..seems pretty easy once first level of crushed fine was levelled good..i just put two huge nails and levels a 2x4 across them and filled it up to the bottom with gravel

only questions i have is i noticed on the second and third level as i build the stones on a curve to match the lower levels there is a gap at the back of the wall(triangle shaped) should i be filing this gap or will it be okay?

What type of stones are you using? Do they have a lip that locks the levels together? Or are they smooth and you are applying adhesive between the levels?

You should be back filling with aggregate and fabric. Refer to the Unilock tech guide I posted earlier.

[chengdaddy]

they have a lip in the middle that locks together..i just noticed on some areas where they touch side by side...the front area touches side by side...but a small area wont be touching..

[chengdaddy]

project done..pictures will be up shortly

[Owbist]

Well done! Hopefully this will give you the confidence to do other tasks around the home in the coming years and save thousands of dollars :)

[chengdaddy]

Well done! Hopefully this will give you the confidence to do other tasks around the home in the coming years and save thousands of dollars :)

thanks...sounds dumb..but i feel not so useless with home projects now...i do love saving money!!