Types of retaining walls used in landscape design: construction features, nuances of installation of structures. Construction of retaining walls: overview of types of structures and materials Reinforced soil retaining walls with geotextiles

Retaining walls fulfill not only their intended purpose, preventing the destruction of the slope and the washing out of the fertile layer.

Landscape designers use them to highlight different garden areas, create a multi-level relief with their help, and use them as decorative elements in flower beds.

Today there are many various options retaining walls, differing in the material used.

The simplest, not requiring special skills And inexpensive option- This is a wooden retaining wall.

What locations are suitable for wood retaining walls?

A wooden retaining wall can be installed anywhere, the main thing is that there is no dampness, because in damp places the wood quickly deteriorates. For wetlands it is better to use other materials.

If the slopes are very steep, it is preferable to make the retaining wall not from wood, but, for example, from stone or concrete due to their greater strength

Pros and cons of wooden retaining walls

The positive points include:

low cost;
beautiful appearance;
environmental safety;
opportunity self-execution all works.

The downside is the relatively short period of use caused by wood rotting in warm and humid climates.

Choosing a material for wooden retaining walls

A retaining wall can be made from logs or lumber. The most popular walls are made of solid wooden beam, large selection which every hardware store will provide.

From boards more than 45 mm thick you can make decorative walls of small height.

Using old cut trees and various wood scraps will help you save money.

Choosing a installation method

There are two types of installation - horizontal and vertical.

The type of installation is determined by the length of the purchased material and the presence of roundings at the future wall.

Long logs allow the use of horizontal laying, which will reduce the construction period and increase the durability of the building.

For walls with a semicircular or zigzag shape, it is best to use vertical type laying, allowing the use of material scraps different lengths and thickness.

How to extend the life of wooden material

Due to rotting and harmful insects wood material may become unusable, which will reduce the time of its use or make it impossible.

It will help prevent this antiseptic treatment wood, as well as coating it in hot bitumen or waste machine oil.

The use of creosote will save the wood from rotting and repel insects. You can impregnate the poles with various chemicals, for example, iron or copper sulfate.

Rules for self-construction of a retaining wall

When constructing wooden walls, a foundation is not required.
The first step is to compact the soil and add gravel to eliminate possible soil deformations that may occur in the future.
At each stage we use a level to check that the material is laid correctly.
To fasten the bottom row, we use reinforcing bars to prevent the wall from sliding down the slope.
A T-shaped beam, called an anchor, will prevent the wall from tilting and deflecting under the weight of the soil.
We make a retaining wall with horizontal laying.

To install a horizontal retaining wall you need to:

Mark the area;
Dig a trench thirty centimeters deep;
Fill it with 15 cm of gravel or pebbles and compact it;
Using reinforcement, lay the bottom beam;
Lay the first row;
Continue laying the timber in the second row of the wall;
Use geotextile to create drainage;
Lay the third row;
Install T-shaped anchors;
Following the technology, lay the subsequent rows;
After shrinking, decorate the wall.

Vertical retaining wall

If you want to make a retaining wall from vertical timber, then you need to:

Prepare the material you will use. Most often, logs with a diameter of no more than 20 cm are used. For increased strength, they are all buried at half their length.

When building a decorative wall of small height, only part of the logs are buried deeply;
Mark the area;
Prepare a trench, the depth of which should be 20 cm greater than the planned height of the wall;
Make a bed of gravel about 25 cm thick and compact it thoroughly;
Install the end beam. He will be the standard;
Subsequent beams are installed aligned with the last one;
Use horizontal planks to fasten the wall, giving strength to the entire structure;
Arrange drainage;
Only in cases high loads install T-shaped anchors.

In this article you learned about the construction of wooden retaining walls. We wish you success in applying the information received to create unique design your personal plot.

Photo of a wooden retaining wall

This issue is especially relevant in hilly areas. In this case, special reinforcements are used. Thanks to retaining walls, you can protect yourself from sliding and collapse of the soil on garden plot and in the yard. In this article you will learn how to make a retaining wall with your own hands. You will also learn about what materials and methods for construction should be used, which will be discussed in this article.

At the very beginning, it is worth noting that any piece of land has its own individual shape, topography and size, which should be taken into account. In addition, it is necessary to take into account personal preferences, the style of the house and other buildings. Even the types of garden paths can affect the choice of material and shape of the retaining wall. If the garden area is small, the maximum height of the retaining wall should not exceed 60 cm.

Large walls will create a feeling of heaviness when viewing the entire area. Experts recommend adding various architectural elements to these:

niches;
steps;
benches;
tables.

In addition, the selected material will also influence general view landscape design. When considering options, it is necessary to take into account all design ideas that will be implemented on the territory. Thus, textured and relief materials, dimensional stones are used for monumental supports different forms or powerful logs. To create a sophisticated landscape design, plaster and small stones (gravel or crushed stones) are suitable.

A properly constructed retaining wall will simultaneously perform several functions:

zoning of the site;
transformation of landscape design;
strengthening;
protection;
solving the problem of uneven landscape.

If your area is too pronounced, then it is worth considering options with vertical layout. It consists in the fact that the entire site is divided into several sections, each of which has its own horizontal level and secured with support.

Each retaining wall that will be erected in landscape design, should consist of four main parts:

The foundation is located underground, which allows it to take on the entire load from soil pressure.
Body – the vertical part of the structure located above the ground (main part).
Drainage is necessary to remove water, as excess moisture will destroy the support.
Drainage - the remaining water will be absorbed into the layer and, during drought, release moisture to nourish the plants.

The wall can be made of almost any material that is suitable for local climate and the amount of precipitation. It can be installed almost anywhere, but regardless of the planned height, it must consist of all 4 components.

By carefully thinking through each stage, you can end up with a durable retaining wall. All you need to do is use your own strength and inexpensive materials.

At proper planning the wall will be as stable as possible. It can withstand any load and pressure. If this is not provided for, then soil sliding will be guaranteed, and decorative wall destroyed. To avoid this, it is necessary to take into account many factors that will directly affect the strength of the entire structure. First of all, physical forces will act on the retaining wall:

weight of the structure;
soil pressure;
friction force;
soil grip;
weight of decorative elements.

Other phenomena will also affect the retaining wall:

soil swelling in winter;
strong wind (for walls more than 2 m high);
vibration (in cases where there are railway tracks nearby);
seismic phenomena (regional characteristics are taken into account);
groundwater;
washing away rainwater.

To ensure maximum traction, the back wall should be rough.
Also, the rear part should be sloped towards the retained soil.
To reduce the pressure on the wall, it is necessary to lay hollow elements with low weight in the ground.
To reduce the likelihood of tipping over front side you need to indent - console.

In addition to the above factors, there is another one - the thickness of the retaining wall. To calculate it, it is necessary to take into account the type of soil and the height of the structure. For soft soil and high walls, choose wide protective shields.

Before making a wall, you need to select the material. Among the most common are:

brick;
tree;
stone;
concrete;

It is believed that the simplest and lightest material is wood. It will be much easier to build a wall from it than from stone or gabions. To create a wall, logs with a height of 1 to 1.5 m are selected. In this case, 50 cm should be in the ground, and 1 m will serve as a protective support.

The part of the logs that will sink into the ground requires special treatment in order to last longer. For this purpose special modern means or hot bitumen.

The dimensions of the trench should be 10-15 cm larger than the logs. The bottom is covered with a gravel cushion and compacted. When installing lumber, wire can be used to increase the density of the wall. You can also use nails as fasteners. After installation, the trench is filled with concrete.

This material is the most durable and practical. Such walls can withstand even high soil pressure. If you apply a little imagination, such a design can turn out to be very presentable. Also, in the case of concrete, you can use finishing materials for decoration:

stone;
tiles;
brick.

It is necessary to start construction from the foundation, namely from the trench. The maximum depth is 50 cm. The entire technology is identical, as is the case with any building or fence. The formwork and cushion and waterproofing layer are installed. The strength of the structure is ensured by the reinforcement mesh.

To build retaining walls made of stone, dry masonry can be used or cement mortar. Huge range of natural and artificial stone allows you to select suitable option for arranging landscape design in a garden plot made in any style. Most often used:

granite;
basalt;
quartzite;
diabase;
shellfish

The foundation for a stone retaining wall is made of concrete. The width should be 2 times the wall itself. If voids form during laying, they are rubbed with a special mixture. When laying dry stones in the joints, use garden soil, into which plants are then planted.

Quite often, after repair and construction work, bricks remain, both solid and chipped. You should not throw it away or sell it, as you can build a beautiful, but quite durable retaining wall from it. Masonry differs little from the technology of building a house. The only difference is the thickness. For a wall 60 cm high, half a brick can be laid; the width of one brick should be intended for support of 1 m or more.

IN lately gabion structures are often used to fence private areas or to create architectural and decorative elements. The design is based on wire blocks filled with stones. It is worth noting that in this case there is no need to equip the foundation, but for large structures additional fastening is necessary. All blocks are fastened together with galvanized wire. When laying stones, decorative and beautiful elements are laid on the front side. The rest of the volume can be filled with simpler stones:

crushed stone;
cobblestone;
pebbles.

The technology for constructing a retaining wall on a relief site will directly depend on the material from which it will be made. When forming a retaining wall, it is not necessary to use a straight, horizontal line. It can be a wave or arbitrary patterns.

When erecting a retaining wall, it is necessary to take care not only of strength and high quality, but also about the organization of drainage. It is necessary for protection reverse side walls from excess moisture. To organize such protection, you will need high-quality drainage - a drainage system. Today professional landscape designers They offer 3 options for organizing water drainage:

Underground drainage. The system is presented in the form of a special perforated drainage pipe, which is installed at the base of the wall. For reliability and protection, the pipe is wrapped in geotextile. With its help, water will not accumulate, but will go down the drain along the laid route.
Ground drainage. When building a wall, a layer of loose material (gravel or brick) is laid on the back side. It will not allow excess moisture to destroy the structure of the base of the retaining wall. Water will naturally go far into the soil.
Filter. The drainage can be equipped with special filtration holes. They are made in a wall made of stone or concrete. To do this, when laying across a row, it is necessary to leave one vertical seam without mortar. Excess moisture will escape through these seams.

Every territory needs a high-quality drainage system, but special attention must be paid to regions with constant precipitation. Large quantity groundwater may have a detrimental effect on the structure.

In order for the retaining wall to not only perform protective functions, but also decorative ones, it is necessary to consider the finishing. It's better to plan and design everything in advance. The wall should fit harmoniously into the landscape design of the site. The most common method of decorative finishing today is planting. The best option There will be a choice among ground cover species that will successfully highlight any element of the landscape area.

Among the common options, it is worth highlighting several design options. One of these is an artificial pond or fountain. An alpine slide will look no less attractive. Climbing plants will tangle all over the retaining wall. Also interesting option there will be moss. To do this, you can pour kefir on the wall - this will speed up the growth of plants and also age the structure.

Prevent possible errors will help smart combination colors and materials used. For example, if the buildings on the territory are made of wood, then the wall should also be made of lumber.

A retaining wall can be both an excellent addition to a planned landscape project and perform protective functions. Since she is under open air, it is constantly exposed to atmospheric influences. To protect the interior of the structure, it is necessary to carefully process the masonry seams. Use special sealants; they help protect the support from destruction or deformation. Various experiments with decoration will allow you to get original and unusual results.

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The area allocated for the garden does not always have a smooth topography. Areas with hills are very common. Many people believe that they need to be leveled as much as possible, but in fact, this is an excellent option for introducing various original ideas. One of these is a self-made retaining wall. You can make it from the most different materials any design. This article will provide general recommendations and advice from experts on arranging a high-quality wall in the garden.

Let's get acquainted with the design

Before starting construction, you should carefully study the design. This will allow you to properly plan all the work and get good result. So, any retaining wall consists of three main parts:

Foundation. As with the construction of a house, this part is almost entirely underground, which allows it to bear the entire load of the structure.
Body. The main part is a vertical wall.
Drainage. Artificial drainage reduces the likelihood of destruction from moisture.

The next step will be to calculate the retaining wall, since it will opposite side soil pressure will act. Because of this, care must be taken in its design to ensure that barriers to pressure resistance are created. Based on average statistical data, walls with a height of 30 cm to 1.5 m are most often erected in a dacha. They are small, so you can easily carry out all the calculations yourself, without involving specialists.

The best way to handle the task is to use a special computer program For landscape design. If the difference is more than 1.5 m, professional advice will be required, as well as engineering and geological surveys.

Pay attention! If you do incorrect calculations, then already next spring, it is likely that the soil along with the wall will collapse and everything will have to be done from the very beginning.

It is necessary to choose the material not at random, but in a planned manner. The choice will be influenced not only by the size of the planned budget, but also by the existing style of the site and landscape design. By using your imagination, you can quickly come up with everything and be sure to sketch it in order to then make a calculation required quantity material. Let's look at the most common options.

Tree

In this case, not any lumber will be suitable, since we are talking about thick and durable logs. They are installed both vertically and horizontally, depending on the project. When creating a retaining wall from logs, there are several key points to consider:

the diameter of the logs must be at least 25–30 cm;
each must be dug into the ground to a depth of at least 40 cm (the parameter is determined depending on the height of the structure);
installed as closely as possible to each other to obtain reliable support;
The reinforcement or clamps used for fastening will also add reliability.

First comes the foundation, and then the drainage layer. It is also possible to create a simple gravel cushion, but the wood should be treated protective equipment from insects and moisture. These include:

professional (can be purchased in the store);
machine oil;
roofing felt

A layer of any material is poured on the reverse side to form a drainage system.

Pay attention! To make it easier to fix the logs, a trench is dug in the ground.

Stone

Due to the high labor intensity and cost, many refuse to create retaining walls from stone. However, if you decide to do this complex process, then you should start forming the drainage and foundation. These layers must be laid in a pre-dug trench. The foundation needs to be strengthened. Suitable for these purposes:

wire;
fittings;
bent electrodes, etc.

After the foundation has completely hardened, you can proceed to laying natural stone:

granite;
diabase;
quartzite and other rocks.

The type of masonry is chosen absolutely individually: dry masonry or classic masonry. Many people prefer the first option, since in this case the voids can be filled with soil mixed with seeds of flowers, herbs and even moss.

Pay attention! Avoid cross-shaped joints when laying stone, as they will affect the strength of the entire retaining wall. It is best to use a chess pattern.

Gabions

This innovative solution appeared not so long ago. Modern designers quickly found use for gabions not only in the construction of fences and fences, but also in the creation of retaining walls. The design is made of metal mesh various forms which are filled with stones.

The prepared containers are placed in a row and tied together with wire. All elements are placed sequentially and covered with material. When using simple gravel, you don’t have to bother, but with decorative stone you will have to do everything carefully and carefully. The result will be an original design.

Pay attention! If the planned wall is of small height, then you can do without a foundation, but if the height is 1 m or more, preliminary pouring with a gravel-sand cushion will be required.

Brick

Making a retaining wall from brick will not be difficult, since the design and technology are identical to building a house. The requirements are practically no different, the only nuances are rigidity and pressure from the inside:

for a low wall 50 cm high, a half-brick wall will be enough;
a wall up to 1 m high requires a width of one brick;
if the structure is more than 1 m, reinforced masonry of one and a half bricks will be required.

A drainage system must be installed between the wall and the foundation to protect the material.

Pay attention! The foundation of the wall implies the presence of ligation and drainage, especially for tall structures.

Concrete

Also simple and affordable way create a strong and reliable wall. Especially the process will not cause difficulties for men who have at least once encountered this building material. So, in order to create a strong concrete retaining wall it will be enough:

perform a high-quality dressing;
lay drainage;
create formwork;
provide waterproofing and drainage system;
knead the solution in the correct proportion.

To make a gray wall attractive, you should decorative finishing at your own discretion.

Pay attention! It should be noted that the wall will be several times heavier than brick or stone.

Step by step instructions

Now let's look at detailed example How to make a retaining wall for your garden with your own hands. Let's focus on brick, since this material is quite common and does not require much effort and time during arrangement. It will act as a separator and separate one zone from another.

The preparatory work is quite simple:

pick up the remains of bricks after construction in the amount of 120 pieces;
set the dimensions: length – 150 cm, width – 50 cm and height 50 cm;
applying markings to the selected area;
preparation of tools: trowel, hammer, jointer, cord and plumb line.

We dig a pit for drainage along the outlined perimeter with a depth of no more than 20 cm. We form a sand cushion, compact it well and water it with water for maximum shrinkage.
A sheet of roofing material, which must correspond to the size of the retaining wall, will be sufficient as a waterproofing material.
Prepare the solution: the proportion of cement to sand is 1:3. Add water until the required consistency is obtained.
We place the first row directly on the roofing felt. First, to make everything smooth, install the outermost bricks and stretch the thread between them. The entire bottom row should consist of 24 bricks: 6 in length and 4 in width. If there are chipped bricks, it is best to lay them damaged part to the middle.
The second row also begins to be built from the corners using the technology of the first, but the masonry seams should not coincide. Be guided by “chess” technology. For convenience, whole bricks are split into two even halves using a hammer that has a tapered end. Leveling should be done with a plumb line.
We repeat the subsequent rows similarly to the technology described above. The remainder of the protruding solution is immediately removed from the wall with a trowel.

A small retaining wall can serve not only as a flower stand, but also act as a bench.

Pay attention! By choosing old brick for construction, you can give it an antique effect, which is very popular in modern design.

When planning to build a retaining wall on a garden plot, you should take into account that it will perform not only a practical, but also a decorative function. With careful planning and careful construction, the structure will become a real highlight of the entire landscape design. There are a huge number of materials and technologies for decorating and finishing walls, so everyone can choose the best and most suitable option for themselves.

Front garden with retaining walls

The area that we get to plant a garden does not always have a flat topography. Sometimes you have to deal with areas on a slope that are not very convenient for landscaping and use. In this case, steep slopes are replaced by a system of terraces - straight wide ledges-steps, the vertical slopes of which are secured with retaining walls that prevent soil collapse. In our article we will tell you how to make a retaining wall with your own hands and what materials can be used.

What does a retaining wall consist of?

Any retaining wall consists of the following parts:

The foundation is the part of the wall that is located underground and takes the main load from soil pressure.
The body is the vertical part of the structure (the wall itself).
Drainage is a drainage system necessary to strengthen the strength of the wall.

a - retaining wall; b - structure of the retaining wall: 1 - foundation of the wall, 2 - body, 3 - hole for water drainage, 4 - drainage pipe, 5 - crushed stone.

Retaining wall calculation

A retaining wall is subject to soil pressure, so it must be designed to resist that pressure. If you do not pay attention to the correct calculation, then there is a high probability of tilting and collapse of the soil along with the wall.

Most often, supporting walls with a height of 0.3 - 1.5 m are erected on sites. Such structures can be calculated independently, without the help of specialists. This is easy to do using special programs, which will calculate the wall proportions automatically. If the difference in ground on the terraces, and, accordingly, the height of the wall is more than 1.5 m, then it is impossible to do without geotechnical surveys and the involvement of professionals in the work. Below are approximate numerical values for calculating a concrete retaining wall.

Construction of retaining walls from various materials

Regarding appearance retaining walls, they can be made of various materials, for example, from wood, concrete, natural stone, brick, gabions. The choice of these materials will determine the amount of work that needs to be done to construct the wall.

The easiest to construct is a wooden retaining wall. Logs are selected for it, the diameter and height of which are related to the ground drop on the terraces as follows: if the height of the wall does not exceed 1 m, then the length of the selected logs should not be less than 1.5 m (where 1 m will rise above the ground, and 0. 5 – be in the ground). Wooden parts that will be immersed in the ground should be impregnated with special water-repellent compounds that will prevent them from rotting. You can also apply a hot bitumen coating or burn it bottom part logs on the fire - this will also protect the wood. To install a wooden wall, dig a trench along the intended line. Its depth is calculated to be 5-10 cm greater than the length of the dug-in lower part of the log, and its width is 20 cm greater than the log diameter.

A gravel cushion 5-10 cm thick is laid at the bottom of the trench, which is carefully compacted. The logs are placed on the gravel strictly vertically, tying them with wire on top for density or nailing them to each other. This ensures maximum stability of the wall, even taking into account possible soil movement. From the back of the logs, where they come into contact with the ground, a sheet of roofing felt or roofing felt is laid. Next, fill the trench with concrete. If the retaining wall is very small and serves more of a decorative function, then you can simply fill the trench with stones and compact them thoroughly.

Concrete retaining wall

Concrete walls are very durable, strong and can withstand high soil pressure. They do not look very presentable, but this drawback can easily be turned into an advantage if you decorate the concrete with a successful cladding made of brick, stone, tile or other materials.

The construction of a concrete retaining wall begins with digging a trench that follows the trajectory of the future structure. The depth of a trench for a wall of no more than 1 m will be about 30-40 cm; if the height is greater, then, accordingly, the depth will be greater. Next, they put up formwork made of dense, thick boards fastened together. A crushed stone or gravel cushion is laid at the bottom of the pit, and a reinforcing mesh is placed on top. Now in already ready-made form concrete is poured.

After the concrete has set (about 5 days), you can remove the formwork and smooth out defects on the wall surface using cement mortar. After this you can start decorative cladding the resulting wall.

When constructing stone walls, dry masonry or cement mortar masonry is used. Most often, chipped or sawn durable stone is used, for example, basalt, granite, quartzite, diabase and others. A stone retaining wall needs concrete foundation(if the wall is not high, then you can replace the foundation with a foundation made of large stones), the width of which should be approximately 3 times the width of the wall.

Work on the construction of a retaining wall begins with digging a trench, the width of which is 5-10 cm greater than the width of the future foundation. A gravel-sand cushion 20-30 cm thick is poured onto the bottom of the resulting ditch and compacted thoroughly. Fill the trench with concrete, making sure that the height of the finished foundation is 15 cm below ground level. After the foundation hardens, they begin to lay out stones. If cement mortar is used to hold the stones together, then the resulting voids are filled with a grout mixture; if the masonry is done using a dry method, then garden soil is placed in the seams and plants are planted there.

In order to lay a brick retaining wall, a foundation is first built, the parameters of which are calculated in the same way as a foundation for masonry. Special attention it is necessary to pay attention to the thickness of the brick wall. Half-brick masonry (120 mm thick) is used if the wall height does not exceed 60 cm or 8 rows of bricks. If the height of the retaining wall reaches 1 m, then it is better to use brickwork (thickness 250 mm). Large walls, more than 1 m high, that can withstand high soil pressure, require one and a half bricks (thickness 370 mm).

Currently, retaining walls made of gabions - containers for their metal mesh, filled with stone material. Installation of such a wall is very easy. If the wall is small, then a foundation for it is not needed, but if the height of the ground drop exceeds 1 m, then it is required strip foundation, which is erected in the same way as with brick or stone masonry. After the base is ready, containers are placed on it and tied together with galvanized wire. After this, along the front side of the retaining wall, the most decorative stones(granite, flagstone), and the rest of the volume, which will not be visible, is covered with crushed stone, cobblestones, pebbles.

When creating a retaining wall on your site, you should remember that it will perform not only a practical, but also a decorative function, that is, it can become a real highlight of your site. There can be many options for decorating a retaining wall - from cladding interesting material, before decorating climbing plants or alpine flowers. If you want to give the wall an aged look, you can cover it with kefir, then it will quickly become overgrown with moss and become like a hundred-year-old hedge. Experiment! And we will help you with this by selecting a few for inspiration. beautiful photos.