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Stesso

Construct Subsequent Courses and Backfill

8:57
15:42
214.8K views

At 8:57 in

Deck Inspection Brings Our Job to a DEAD stop.

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What happens here

Once the first course and any auxiliary lumber are installed, continue stacking the interlocking concrete blocks. For each subsequent course, ensure the blocks are offset from the course below (typically half a block) to create a stronger, more stable wall. After every one or two courses, backfill the area behind the blocks with approximately 6-8 inches of crushed rock or gravel. Spread the gravel evenly and then compact it using the vibratory plate compactor. For areas close to the wall where the compactor cannot reach, use a hand tamp to compact the gravel. Continue this process of laying courses, offsetting blocks, backfilling with gravel, and compacting until the desired height of the retaining wall is achieved. Periodically check for levelness and plumb as you build to prevent leaning.

Goal: Build the retaining wall to the desired height with proper drainage and stability.

Tools and materials

  • Gravel — Providing drainage and stability behind the retaining wall
  • Hand Tamp — Compacting gravel in tight spaces
  • Rakes — Spreading and leveling gravel backfill
  • Rubber Mallet — Adjusting blocks into position
  • Shovels — Spreading gravel backfill
  • Skid Steer Caterpillar — Delivering gravel backfill to the site
  • Spirit Level — Checking the level and plumb of blocks
  • Vibratory Plate Compactor Wacker Neuson — Compacting gravel backfill

What they say

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[Applause] [Music] so this is what's called a gravity wall and this is a wall that's under four foot tall that has good backfill conditions and no surcharge and what surcharge means is there's no load placed on the back side of the wall and a load does not necessarily just mean a structure behind the wall it could also mean a hill behind the wall now in this case this is a shorter wall and then the slope of the wall will actually be angling away from the retaining wall so this is a perfect example of where and when you can build a gravity retaining wall and you can get away without geogrid or engineering now this wall was over four foot tall had a surcharge placed on it that's be a load from a structure or a hill or even temporary surcharges here's where you got to be cautious if i was building a parking spot and the retaining wall was going to hold up a parking pad the weight the temporary weight of that car behind the retaining wall creates a surcharge and then therefore that wall regardless of what height it would be would then require engineering but these little tiny baby walls are just a beauty to build simple fast and easy [Music] [Applause] damn son if i hadn't met your wife i would have assumed you would be single with how fast you were swinging that thing so [Music] the gravel back there yeah [Music] i think i'd be able to kind of pack that better i think

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