Retaining wall advice

[pettsy]

I’m looking to extend the boundary retaining wall between us and next door to make some parking space, I’m just a bit unsure what spec of wall I’d need. I was thinking 4” solid blocks, clad either with brick to match existing house or maybe some gritstone as that’s what I’ve been pulling out of the ground when levelling the rest. Approx height will be 1200mm from footing. Does that sound about right?

 

[Smiffy]

I think 1mis the boundary of what can be done without an engineer. I'm not sure at what point building control has to be involved but I seem to remember 300mm is when planning permission is needed

 

[pettsy]

Only over 1m from ground level requires planning, the ground rises towards the road so can work with that. Owner above us has no issues, would actually make their front garden better rather than the crap sleepers previous owner put down. I guess using a structural engineer would tick the boxes.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Sounds a bit thin. I thought in my head head the base should be half as wide as it is high ?

 

[Smiffy]

Only over 1m from ground level requires planning, the ground rises towards the road so can work with that. Owner above us has no issues, would actually make their front garden better rather than the crap sleepers previous owner put down. I guess using a structural engineer would tick the boxes.

Sorry just refreshed my memory and it's ground level change that is 300mm.
Have a look at stepok blocks for ease of installation. For 1m I don't think 4in solid is enough 9in hollow would be better but the stepoks are quicker and pre cut for horizontal reinforcement

 

[Silversabre]

Sorry just refreshed my memory and it's ground level change that is 300mm.
Have a look at stepok blocks for ease of installation. For 1m I don't think 4in solid is enough 9in hollow would be better but the stepoks are quicker and pre cut for horizontal reinforcement

Stepoc,

That the one with the reinforced concrete footing, you lay your first course on a mortar bed to level and have vertical reinforcement through each cell (two per block) and then a horizontal through each bed joint?

Easiest wall I ever worked on was a tobermore, laid on a 300mm dp mesh reinforced footing, have to chip the toe off the first course and bed on mortar, then dry after that, they naturally rake back and if I remember correctly you could have 900mm retained without needing a design using the standard details, but that was probably 10 years ago

 

[CPS]

@Anthony holmes might help avise as he uses a specialist block for this

 

[Smiffy]

Stepoc,

That the one with the reinforced concrete footing, you lay your first course on a mortar bed to level and have vertical reinforcement through each cell (two per block) and then a horizontal through each bed joint?

Yeah tongue and groove kind of thing so only mortar on the first level. Then fill with concrete.

 

[V8Druid]

I'd certainly not go less than 9" hollows and fill 'em ... some bars every other or so would help too .... not sure blocks on the flat'd be up to it? ... some drainage behind the tall side'd also be advisable

 

[DaveDCB]

Another vote for stepoc blocks, pretty sure if you tell them the height etc you won’t need a structural engineer.. we’ve used them for walls over 3 meters high, but used starter bars tied into a big raft.

 

[DaveDCB]

Or if you want an instant wall get some of these….

Pardon our interruption...

 

[6feetdown]

If in block 2/3 of the height at the bottom reducing by a 1/3 in width by a 1/3 high as rule of thumb iirc.
So 1200 high 800 base come up 400 reduce again to 400 then up again to say 215 block

 

[6feetdown]

I'm probably going with these

Retaining Wall Blocks for Gardens

Build wonderful looking retaining walls in your garden using Secura Grand wall blocks for building retaining walls up to 9m high.

www.tobermore.co.uk

Helpful have standard drawing and will design if req

 

[diggerjones]

Gabion walls

Anyone got any knowledge of these. Customer is thinking about it. Thanks

www.planttalk.co.uk

 

[hiluxman]

Is that not already a 9inch wall retaining the rest of it anyway?

 

[Giles]

Or if you want an instant wall get some of these….

Pardon our interruption...

Might struggle to stack them with e10 etc

 

[pettsy]

I haven’t exposed the end, maybe that’s my next job and copy it! From what I can see of the existing wall It only appears to be two blocks wide for at least 6 courses down from the top. From the current ground level my side there are at least 4 courses below ground, haven’t found the bottom yet or seen any step. I was aiming to keep the new build roughly in line with existing to keep as much space as possible hence trying to avoid hollows. Maybe there is a step on the back side?

 

[V8Druid]

I haven’t exposed the end, maybe that’s my next job and copy it! From what I can see of the existing wall It only appears to be two blocks wide for at least 6 courses down from the top. From the current ground level my side there are at least 4 courses below ground, haven’t found the bottom yet or seen any step. I was aiming to keep the new build roughly in line with existing to keep as much space as possible hence trying to avoid hollows. Maybe there is a step on the back side?

View attachment 63693

existing wall looks to be 9" wide, so hollows'd be your friends, surely .... sods to lay though, 'til you get your eye in and some practice with the trowel ... have it like butter and be quick and decisive ... I had the drop on it after 1200 of the buggers .. first 100 or so were slow going

 

[bobthebuilder]

always belived in thirds .first third of the height a third of the height thick ,

 

[pettsy]

So had a bit of time today to revisit this. It’s looking like the stepoc might be the way to go. Whilst normal 9” hollows are cheaper, there’s the cost of paying someone to lay them, sand/cement etc. I’ve done the online calculator and I need about 4 packs. I’ll ring a few local builders merchants in the morning and see if they can get them in, could only find one price online