Retaining Wall Drainage Gravel Size

Gravel is necessary for many landscape projects and not just beautiful rock gardens.

Retaining wall drainage gravel size.

A wall that leans into the soil it retains is less likely to be pushed outward by soil pressure than a plain old vertical wall. For proper drainage the first 12 inches of space behind a retaining wall should be filled with crushed stone or gravel. Gravel labeled 411 is usually a mixture of 57 and stone dust and is particularly useful for patching potholes and sealing things like retaining walls. 4 tips to building the best retaining wall use crushed stone behind the wall.

It is also used for drainage or as driveway gravel. Estimating stone and gravel for a retaining wall. Retaining walls and other features that require drainage make great use of large gravel to allow water to drain away faster than soil would. Often retaining walls are used to terrace yards that originally had a steep slope additionally retaining walls can help create usable outdoor space as well as control erosion see landscaping a split level home low retaining walls are frequently used as planting beds and can add interest to an.

Gravel known as size 1 is relatively large. The wall gets its. 5 8 this is also commonly used to mix with asphalt or concrete. Loose gravel and stones don t hold water like soil does.

Soil holds water so the dirt will expand and contract during winter thus pushing on the wall and eventually toppling it over. We go about 6 8 deep behind the wall with loose rock usually crushed. 3 4 clean is used for drainage behind walls and is also used as fill and for drainage projects such as french drains. 3 4 there are two options at this size clean and dga.

The quantity of drainage gravel used will vary depending on the height of the wall and the amount of water runoff expected but as a general rule the more gravel used the better. Typically this gravel ranges in diameter from 2 5 inches 6 35 centimeters to 4 inches 10 16 centimeters. A retaining wall must have the strength to hold back the weight of the soil plants and sometimes small structures behind it. One thing to avoid at all costs is lining the back of the retaining wall with plastic.

When you re doing a diy landscape project it s important to choose the right type of gravel. This is so that when water gets into the space it does not become bogged down in soil but instead can flow down the wall to the drains or weep holes.