Incorporating Curves and Radius

What happens here

This section explains how to incorporate curves and radii into retaining walls. The general rule is to aim for long, sweeping curves, as short, choppy curves tend to look less aesthetically pleasing. For an outside radius, the setback for each block is three-quarters of an inch per course. This means that a wall with an 8-foot-2-inch outside radius will perfectly close without needing to cut or modify any blocks. For an inside radius, the blocks can be pinned into the slots below without needing to cut them until the curve becomes very tight (e.g., 6-foot radius). The important thing is that the blocks connect tightly and avoid any gaps, as gaps can become a tripping hazard or create weak points in the wall.

Goal: Understand and apply techniques for building curved retaining walls with proper radius and tight connections.