Lay out the wall and excavate the slope and the footing trench.
Mortar concrete block retaining wall.
How to do it build and prep footing.
Before you set a block or stone spread a layer of mortar that is about inch thick along the top surface of the retaining wall.
Likewise if a wall is over three feet you should seriously consider using only mortar for work on brick or stone.
Position the caps or blocks so that they are evenly aligned with the wall or slightly offset to create a more pleasing appearance.
Fixing structural walls or pillars should be done with mortar every time.
Mortar will stand the test of time and support the weight of brick and stone more effectively.
Press stones firmly into the mortar on the block wall enough so that the stone is embedded into the mortar.
Interlocking concrete block is a way to build a strong wall without mortar.
Spread mortar in short runs.
While type m mortar provides at least 2 500 psi of compressive strength it offers relatively poor adhesion and sealing properties making it unsuitable for many exposed applications.
The dry stack construction technique allows the incidental water to escape by flowing around the blocks and out the retaining wall face.
Type m mortar mix.
Segmental retaining walls are modular block retaining walls used for vertical grade change applications.
The system consists of dry cast concrete blocks that are placed without mortar dry stacked and rely on their keyed interface and mass to resist overturning and sliding.
Build the footing and insert.
Run an entire row across the bottom first then another row on top of that and so on.
The hollow core design combines with mortarless construction to allow water to drain freely from behind the segmental retaining wall.
Incidental water moves easily through a vertical drain that is formed by the layer of wall rock placed behind the block and in the block cores.
A well built cinder block retaining wall can add a sense of a separate secure space within a wider space turn a slope into a garden and add living space by holding back a hillside.
Some such blocks are made with flanges that slip over the rear edge of the preceding course.
Type m mortar mix has the highest amount of portland cement and is recommended for heavy loads and below grade applications including foundations retaining walls and driveways.
Others rely on a system of pins.
Scrape off excess mortar.
As you lay the second course of block insert weep holes 3 4 inch pipe into the mortar every third.