Retaining Wall FAQ

If we haven’t met before allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Back 40 Landscaping and our expertise is in retaining walls and hardscaping. We also like to bring education to those looking for retaining wall solutions.

Frequently asked questions about retaining walls 

How Far Apart Should Retaining Walls Be If They Are Terraced?

 Terraced retaining walls are a series of smaller walls that are often used when you don’t want the look of a large single wall. So, for instance instead of a single 8’ high wall that would look quite daunting. 2 - 4’ high walls are built with a space in between to help soften the look.

They are also most commonly used to avoid needing a permit or engineer as most cities allow retaining wall under 4’ to built without any oversight.

This space in between should be a minimum of double the lower wall height. In this example because the lower wall is 4’ high, the space in between these 2 walls would be 8’.

If the wall is designed by an engineer there may be additional support installed to lessen this distance, but without an engineer its best to stay at least double the height away from the lower wall.

Should I Use Filter Fabric Vertically Behind My Wall?

Filter fabric behind a wall is not recommended by Allan Block in most cases. The exception would be in a waterfront application where you would use the fabric to control erosion from the waves.

Filter fabric behind a normal wall in your yard is not recommended as it doesn’t provide any additional benefits, and in some cases can trap water which will create a weight surcharge behind your wall.

Should I Use Filter Fabric Horizontally On Top of My Wall?

Yes, you should use filter fabric at the 2^nd row from the top. This helps prevent soil from working its way downwards into the clean free draining gravel behind your wall.

Should I Use Filter Fabric Vertically Behind My Wall?

Filter fabric behind a wall is not recommended by Allan Block in most cases. The exception would be in a waterfront application where you would use the fabric to control erosion from the waves.

Filter fabric behind a normal wall in your yard is not recommended as it doesn’t provide any additional benefits, and in some cases can trap water which will create a weight surcharge behind your wall.