Hi all,
I have been on this forum a few times but I thought it time I joined…. Of course spurred on by a project!
I am undertaking a project that will mean I have much more usable space in my garden and for this to work I need to create a new retaining wall above an existing retaining wall. For the use that I want it means I am breaking the rule that the distance the second higher wall should be from the first twice the height of the first wall. Its simply not practical.
The first wall is 3.5 feet high is brick built and built as part of the house 25 years ago. I plan on setting the second wall made from 4x4 timber posts spaced 1.2 meters apart using timber sleepers. And this will only be 1.5 to 2 feet high to allow the ground behind to be level.
I’m confident with the drainage and the construction of the timber wall. What I am unsure of is whether I need to reinforce the first original wall as I have broken the rule of thumb. I also have a query regarding the steps too.
Dont worry the posts arent cemented in and the will be cut once I have the height of the wall and appropriate height to stop the little nipper lemming diving off the walls.....
I have dug the posts in behind the first wall, but the posts behind the wall I needed to go through just over 1 ft thick concrete to get the post 2.5 feet down. Once concretes in the post will be very secure. The level of the concrete is about 5 inches below the top of the first lower wall. My question is…. Why? And if this has been done to reinforce the first wall will I need to do anything to it at all?
My second question is relating to the steps. Currently three very steep steps that my grandparents cannot get up, and I don’t plan moving anywhere and I will struggle with these steps when getting old. So I want to take them out and have the first step as a platform with the another 7 or 8 steps going behind the existing retaining wall to make the slope far more manageable.
If I’m digging in and make the steps made of brick (not timber in this case). The retaining wall at the back of the stair case will be the combination of both walls (ie 3.5 to 4 feet!). I would plan on making like described here:
http://www.pavingexpert.com/featur03.htm
at the retaining wall section and I can only assume this is how the original wall is built. However that doesn’t explain the foot thick concrete 4 foot back from the wall! Its old ground so its possible the concrete is an old path! It says 900mm max which is obviously under 4 feet…..
Any thoughts what are my options…. A few dead mans anchors at that part of the wall?
Cheers.
Mark.
I have been on this forum a few times but I thought it time I joined…. Of course spurred on by a project!
I am undertaking a project that will mean I have much more usable space in my garden and for this to work I need to create a new retaining wall above an existing retaining wall. For the use that I want it means I am breaking the rule that the distance the second higher wall should be from the first twice the height of the first wall. Its simply not practical.
The first wall is 3.5 feet high is brick built and built as part of the house 25 years ago. I plan on setting the second wall made from 4x4 timber posts spaced 1.2 meters apart using timber sleepers. And this will only be 1.5 to 2 feet high to allow the ground behind to be level.
I’m confident with the drainage and the construction of the timber wall. What I am unsure of is whether I need to reinforce the first original wall as I have broken the rule of thumb. I also have a query regarding the steps too.
Dont worry the posts arent cemented in and the will be cut once I have the height of the wall and appropriate height to stop the little nipper lemming diving off the walls.....
I have dug the posts in behind the first wall, but the posts behind the wall I needed to go through just over 1 ft thick concrete to get the post 2.5 feet down. Once concretes in the post will be very secure. The level of the concrete is about 5 inches below the top of the first lower wall. My question is…. Why? And if this has been done to reinforce the first wall will I need to do anything to it at all?
My second question is relating to the steps. Currently three very steep steps that my grandparents cannot get up, and I don’t plan moving anywhere and I will struggle with these steps when getting old. So I want to take them out and have the first step as a platform with the another 7 or 8 steps going behind the existing retaining wall to make the slope far more manageable.
If I’m digging in and make the steps made of brick (not timber in this case). The retaining wall at the back of the stair case will be the combination of both walls (ie 3.5 to 4 feet!). I would plan on making like described here:
http://www.pavingexpert.com/featur03.htm
at the retaining wall section and I can only assume this is how the original wall is built. However that doesn’t explain the foot thick concrete 4 foot back from the wall! Its old ground so its possible the concrete is an old path! It says 900mm max which is obviously under 4 feet…..
Any thoughts what are my options…. A few dead mans anchors at that part of the wall?
Cheers.
Mark.