Cinder Block Retaining Wall Foundation
However for even the most modest block structure to have enough rigidity to bear pressure and weight it needs proper footing.
Cinder block retaining wall foundation. Nearly every house was built with a masonry foundation. A concrete block foundation can be stronger than a poured concrete foundation. Concrete blocks are concrete masonry units or cmus but we often refer to them as concrete blocks or cinder blocks learn more about concrete masonry units a wall typically requires 1 1 8 blocks per square foot. With a little engineering and a minimal amount of work and supplies you can build a retaining wall to suit your needs.
One of the best parts about this project is its simplicity. The last home i built for my family had a giant poured concrete foundation but in the backyard i used concrete block to build a magical serpentine retaining wall that looks as good today as the. Prior to the 1970s cinder block foundations were the norm. Concrete blocks are a common building material for a variety of outdoor projects such as retaining walls and out buildings like garages and tool sheds.
Reinforcing steel can be used to strengthen either material. Once you ve got your base set up it just takes some finesse in building the wall up and turning corners. Meaning it can hold more weight on top of the foundation. They differ in the size of gravel used and that concrete blocks are hollow while poured concrete is solid.
If you need to create a stable level ground from a grade or if you have a sheer section that is subject to erosion you can benefit from a cinder block retaining wall. Prepare the concrete footing where the cinder block wall will sit. Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones even bricks. Start the concrete footing by digging the area of the wall a few inches below the frost line the maximum depth in the ground below which the soil does not freeze during the winter consult a structural engineer to design the footing including where to install the vertical reinforcement which usually is placed.
Finding how many concrete blocks you need for your project can seem like a confusing and challenging task but it can be simplified using the calculator above.