How deep does a concrete retaining wall need to be?

The depth to the bottom of the base slab should be kept at a minimum of two feet. However, it should always be below the seasonal frost line, and that often is much deeper in northern climates.

What should be the thickness of a retaining wall?

Retaining walls can be tricky to build as they need to be strong enough to resist horizontal soil pressure where there are differing ground levels. One of the things you must get right is the thickness of the wall. It should be at least 215mm thick and bonded or made of two separate brick skins tied together.

How thick should a concrete wall be?

As a practical consideration, residential designers need to keep in mind that concrete foundation walls are typically 6, 8 or 10 inches thick (nominal). The typical concrete compressive strength used in residential construction is 2,500 or 3,000 psi, although other strengths are available.

Do concrete retaining walls need rebar?

A retaining wall must provide a way to release the water that builds up in the slope behind it. Retaining walls must be stronger than freestanding walls. Insert rebar in the footing when you pour it; this should be done at every three blocks or at intervals specified by your local codes.

Can you build a retaining wall on concrete?

While you can build a retaining wall on concrete, it isn’t that straightforward. If you have an existing concrete base, you cannot just build your wall on top of it. Without being secured into the concrete, your wall will slide due to the soil pressure against the wall.

How deep and wide do footings need to be for a retaining wall?

Footings for Dry-Stacked Wall To construct a footing for a dry-stacked retaining wall, excavate a trench that is 5 to 7 inches deep plus 1 inch for every 8 inches of planned wall height.

Do I need weep holes in retaining wall?

Retaining walls allow steep, unusable slopes to be avoided. There are several ways to prevent water from building up behind a retaining wall. Weep holes should be drilled through the wall. Weep holes allow water to escape from behind the wall.

How thick should a concrete retaining wall be?

The basic rules governing the building of a garden retaining walls are simple. Firstly the foundation you place should be a minimum of 150mm (6 inches) thick. For information on how to measure and place the foundation, see our foundations projects here. The mix should be a standard C20 mix.

How thick does a retaining wall have to be?

If your retaining wall is holding back a 1m depth of garden then it needs to be 225mm thick. The minimum thickness of a garden retaining wall should be the width of a standard brick @ 112mm.

What is the standard size for a retaining wall?

Soil is heavy, especially when soaking wet from a recent rainstorm, so a basic retaining wall (four feet tall and 15 feet long) potentially has to support up to 20 tons of soil pressure. With every additional foot of height, the pressure of the soil increases substantially.

What is considered a retaining wall?

Retaining Walls. Definition. A retaining wall is a structure that retains (holds back) any material (usually earth) and prevents it from sliding or eroding away. It is designed so that to resist the material pressure of the material that it is holding back.