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29-04-2021, 06:21 AM #1
Any builders / landscapers out there?
Desperate for some advice please
We decided to build our own patio after most of the old one was demolished to have the new conservatory built. The trouble is the land is not even and it slopes away from the house in places. This would mean that we will have to build a small retaining wall approximately 200- 300 mm to keep the new patio at the required fall.
My question is what sort of foundation would the retaining wall need? Can I just build up on a layer of MOT after digging to subgrade? Do we need to dig a trench and fill it with concrete? Do we need to use rebar?
Of note, this area of the garden can get quite sodden in heavy rain. We are not worried about run off from the surface of the patio though as there would be a linear drain connected io surface water pipes before the edge of the patio.
Advice is greatly appreciated as always.
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29-04-2021, 08:09 AM #2
No you can't just build of type 1. For a retaining wall 300mm highx215mm wide a footing of 150 mm deep X 350mm (minimum) will be enough.
You don't need rebar but you will need to leave open perp joints ( the vertical ones) every 900mm along the base of the wall at lowest ground level to allow any water behind the wall to escape.
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29-04-2021, 02:13 PM #3
Thank you. So I suppose it would be easier to dig the foundation trench before removing the turf from the remaining area of the patio? Do I need to have a layer of gravel at the bottom of the trench?
Also I have a load or engineering bricks lying around. Am I ok to use those or does it have to be concrete blocks? And if so will it need to be single or double skinned?
Sorry about all the questions. I want to do this right the first time.
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29-04-2021, 03:45 PM #4
Questions not a problem, no gravel in base of trench but a firm natural base is needed, so if you can walk in the trench leaving slight footprints is ok. yes engineering bricks are good and yes it needs to be double skin. English or Flemish bond is best ( Google those bonds) but if you are doing it yourself and don't feel confident with either bond you could just build 2 skins back to back using wall ties to link together 1 row on top of first course of bricks at 900mm spacing and 1 row under the last course of bricks. The important thing with retaining walls is to make sure your perp joints are full to give wall strength, other than the weep holes left empty to allow water to escape
Sent from my moto e6 play using TapatalkLast edited by Big nige; 29-04-2021 at 03:54 PM.
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29-04-2021, 04:07 PM #5
Really can't thank you enough. After a quick Google search, I discovered that the bricks I have are only facing bricks. I had those for many years stored at the side of the garage and it would be great if I could use them. Would they be any good or do I still have to buy engineering bricks?
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29-04-2021, 04:49 PM #6
Face bricks are absolutely fine to use.
No thanks needed it's a case of each to their own, 40 years in the building but crap at other stuff lol
Sent from my moto e6 play using TapatalkLast edited by Big nige; 29-04-2021 at 04:52 PM.
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29-04-2021, 04:53 PM #7Freddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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29-04-2021, 04:57 PM #8
Last edited by Big nige; 29-04-2021 at 05:02 PM.
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29-04-2021, 05:44 PM #9Freddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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29-04-2021, 09:22 PM #10
How about levels? The bit of land that the retaining wall will go on has different levels and is uneven. Any tips on how to make the final footings level throughout?
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30-04-2021, 07:36 AM #11
You can put steps in the footing 75mm high or 150mm high which is 1 or 2 courses of brick, where the step is the concrete will obviously be double depth to maintain its linear strength and tie the whole footing as a mass
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30-04-2021, 07:44 AM #12
Ignore the actual dimensions on the drawing but this should explain it betterelevation-stepped-foundation-diagram.jpg
Sent from my moto e6 play using TapatalkLast edited by Big nige; 30-04-2021 at 07:46 AM.
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30-04-2021, 07:42 PM #13
This is really useful. But how do you decide where to place the step when digging? Sorry if this is a stupid question.
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08-05-2021, 02:23 PM #14
I need some more help please. We have now dug the trench as big nige kindly advised but it has not stopped raining now for days. The ground is clay and the foundation being at the lower end of the patio is now becoming a moat. It is full of water in some sections. The delivery for cement and sand is not coming until middle of next week. WHAT DO WE DO???
Any help will be much appreciated.
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08-05-2021, 02:27 PM #15
Sump pit at lowest point and a puddle pump dropped in and a pipe to drain.
Maybe a channel to flow the water from the trench
Sent from my F5121 using TapatalkFreddyboy the legend
"we are water keepers first"
Johnathan
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08-05-2021, 02:33 PM #16
I can use my pond vac as I don't have a sump pump. How dry should the ground be though before we pour the concrete? Do we need to scrape the slush? How deep should we go?
Last edited by Gnmm; 08-05-2021 at 02:38 PM. Reason: Error
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09-05-2021, 08:43 AM #17
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09-05-2021, 08:49 AM #18
Best plants to remove Nitrate
pug has a very impressive veg filter on his pond, have a look at some of his his youtube videos....