Footing for low retaining wall

[MartinB85]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking to build a low retaining wall, roughly 4 meters long and 1.5/2 foot high. It won't have a great deal of weight behind it, just the same depth of soil sloping away.

I'm looking for advice on how deep and wide the footing should be assuming it should be a concrete mix, it will be yorkshire stone i'll be reusing from the garden, and is the concrete fine to go straight onto the soil which is very clay like.

Also would I need to plan in any sort of drainage for a wall this low?

Thanks in advance.

 

[k13ran]

Martin,
I would connect the retaining wall to the footing using starter bars, so as to prevent forward movement.
As a standard I would expect the footing to be between 400 and 600mm.
However if I was constructing this wall I would construct a toe returning the same height as the rise.
I would pour a toe with a kicker and water bar, installing L shaped rebar, then on a second pour place a concrete wall behind York stone cladding.
Drainage, is not a bad idea as this would reduce Hydoststic pressure behind and would be a French drain design.