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HomeBuildHow To Build A Raised Patio With Retaining Wall

How To Build A Raised Patio With Retaining Wall



If The Yard Slopes More Than 1 Inch Every 4 Feet A Wall Helps Contain The Patio When You Build It Up To The Recommended Slope

See more ideas about retaining wall, backyard, paver. A garden hose is an excellent tool for marking out curves. Homeowners, landscapers, builders, engineers, and municipalities have been using blocks to rearrange and repurpose land for years. Building a retaining wall is a straightforward project that offers many benefits and landscaping opportunities. In the event that you want the vibe of concrete, you can save money by picking.

If the yard slopes more than 1 inch every 4 feet, a wall helps contain the patio when you build it up to the recommended slope. Front entrance design and installation using unilock brussels pavers, quarrystone wall blocks, fullnose caps, and bluestone accents. The ab courtyard patio packages are predesigned simple layouts for a typical size patio using the ab courtyard products to create an outdoor room using walls and/or posts that becomes an extension of your home. Our wall blocks can also be used to wrap columns, hide utilities, build steps and more. All kinds including wood, rock, stone, brick, gabion, concrete, low, garden and more.


The goal is to achieve a natural looking effect. There are three basic styles in pool deck and patio design: A short wall can be designed to also be used as a bench. Gardens and landscaping / backyards, retaining walls. See more ideas about retaining wall, sloped garden, backyard landscaping.

Want The Look And Feel Of Natural Stone Without The Maintenance

An Allan Block raised patio may be just what your project needs. You can incorporate curves , corners or even stairs into your patio design. Building a raised patio is easy and can add more usable living space and lasting value to your landscape.


Place the blocks on the base material near the front of the trench

Fill the hollow cores and 12 in. behind the block with wall rock up to the height of the block

Use a compactable rock or sand behind the entire wall. This provides a fill that is less likely to settle over time

Allan Block’s raised front lip provides a perfect edge for AB capstones, or pavers

Choose a flooring option like concrete, pavers, brick or natural stones to fit the design and style of your landscape


Once you have determined the location and design of your raised patio, stake out the location and use a string line or paint to mark out the area. A garden hose is an excellent tool for marking out curves. Then excavate the area by removing all the surface vegetation and organic materials from the area. These cannot be used as backfill material.

  • Starting at the lowest point dig a base trench 24 in. wide by 6 in. deep plus 1 in deep for each 1 ft. of wall height.
  • Compact the base trench as well as the entire patio base area, making a minimum of 2 passes with a walk behind plate compactor. Compaction of these areas are very important as they make up the foundation of both your wall and raised patio.

Excerpt from Landscape Newsletter Issue #19

Steps And Ideas To Building Retaining Wall For Sloped Backyard

  • Plan Your Retaining Wall
  • Select the Type of Materials You Want to Use
  • Prepare Your Site Properly
  • Excavate the Area for Your Wall
  • Design and Build Your Wall
  • Build a Stairway in Your Wall
  • Install Windows in Your Retaining Wall
  • Build a Walkway on Top of Your Retaining Wall
  • Decorate the Top of Your Box Retaining Wall with Plants
  • Add a Frost Wall to Prevent Damage from Frost Heaves and Thawing Frozen Soil
  • Add a Drainage Channel at the Bottom of Your Retaining Wall to Keep Water at Bay and Out of Your Yard and Garden Bed or Vegetable Garden
  • Prevent Damage and Soil Erosion with a Snow Fence Retaining Wall
  • Use a Raised Water Garden to Incorporate a Retaining Wall and Water Garden
  • Use Edging for Your Lawn to Make it Easy to Maintain
  • Build an A-Frame Retaining Wall with Rebar and Concrete
  • Build an A-Frame Trellis with Rebar and Concrete
  • Build a Backyard Shed Out of a Retaining Wall
  • Build a Sizeable Rock Garden Retaining Wall with Concrete, Rocks, and Gravel
  • Use Commercial Hardware to Build Your Wall
  • Create a Log Retaining Wall with Logs Laid in the Bed of Landscape Fabric and Concrete
  • Use Large Paver Blocks to Create an Attractive Rock Paver Stone Retaining Wall That is Also Easy To Build
  • Build a Rock Retaining Wall in Your Yard or Garden Bed to Separate Gardens
  • Build a Stone Retaining Wall with Concrete Blocks and Crushed Gravel
  • Build a Concrete Block Retaining Wall with Blocks, Concrete, and Sand
  • Build a Stone Retaining Wall with Blocks and Paver Stone
  • Garden And Backyard Retaining Wall Ideas And Terraced Gardens

    Gardens and LandscapingBackyardsRetaining Walls


    A collection of backyard retaining wall ideas and terraced gardens. All kinds including wood, rock, stone, brick, gabion, concrete, low, garden and more.

    Welcome to our photo gallery featuring a selection of the most luxurious and beautiful terrace gardens with retaining walls.

    Terrace gardens date back to ancient times, and are still a beautiful but rarely seen luxury in modern times.

    Contemporary terrace gardens and retaining walls tend to be much smaller and modest in most residential , and while some are works of masonry, others are simply stacked stones or concrete steps. We set out the 10 retaining wall materials here.

    The majority of the terraces and retaining walls you’ll see in this collection can be found in nearly any suburban neighborhood. Many contemporary terrace gardens are also in urban areas, and use extensive container gardening to create these small gardens in the lack of a traditional planting bed.


    The above terrace is an expansive garden with a small pond, waterfall, and small evergreen bushes lining the larger terraces.

    We hope you’ll enjoy this unique collection and find inspiration for your own garden!

    Related: Different Types of Sheds | Backyard Hot Tub Ideas | Backyard Pergola Ideas

    Planning And Excavating A Raised Patio Construction Project

    Raised Paver Patio with Retaining Walls, Stairs, Deck, and ...


    If you are unable to build a patio following the existing grade, then you are likely looking at building a raised patio so that you can have a usable space. Planning the space for your raised patio involves first deciding the approximate measurements that you want your patio to be and what products you want to use to build that patio. By defining the measurements including the height from grade to top of patio, you can then narrow down decisions especially when it comes to retaining walls.

    Essentially a raised patio is a patio encapsulated by a retaining wall. The height of your raised patio may have to be taken into consideration as certain areas may have different building codes on having to build a railing if the patio is a certain height above finished grade. Knowing the height of your raised patio from grade depends on the slope of the yard and is essential to the build of the patio.

    Calculate the dimensions of your patio, add another minimum of 6? to each side, and spray paint your area that will be the area of excavation. Call your local utility marker which is generally free for them to come out and locate underground obstructions if any in your excavation area. From these, as well as the access available to the space, you can decide which equipment you can use to complete your excavation, what equipment you will need to rent, and if you need to have bins on site for excavated soil.

     


    Step 4: Relocate The Spike That Marks The Wall Center Point

    Relocate the spike that marks the wall center point; it may take a little trial and error. Spray-paint a new arc 6 in. shorter than the radius of the face of the wall. Then spread a 2-ft. wide swath of base material from this line to the back of the excavation. Start with two 2-in. thick layers, compacting each. Spread about 2 in. more and use your straight 10-ft. 2×4 and 4-ft. level to make it roughly level. Compact again.

    Install the gravel footing

    A wall is only as sturdy as the base you build it on-in this case, crushed gravel that ranges in size from 3/4 in. down to a powder. Suppliers may refer to this material as crushed Class II or any of a number of other names. Build a 6-in. deep layer by spreading 2 in. of base, dampening it, compacting it, and then repeating the process.

    Compact the gravel at least four times. The compactor’s tone will change from a dull thud to a sharp whack and the machine will start to hop when the surface is hard enough. If you’re unsure if it’s packed well enough, pass over it a few extra times. The gravel layer should be 3 in. or more below the sod on the ends of the arc and be within an inch of level all the way around.

    Step 14: Pull The Sand Away From The Perimeter Of The Patio

    Pull the sand away from the perimeter of the patio with a steel trowel until you reach the base material. Snip the backside of the edging with garden pruners to bend it to the arc of the patio. Hold the edge restraint tight to the pavers, then drive 10-in. long, 3/8-in. spikes every foot through holes in the edging. Connect the edging, leaving no gaps between the pieces.

    The final details

    To contain the pavers and sand, install a paver edging around the perimeter . We used Snap-Edge. It costs a little more, but it installs easier and offers better support than less expensive alternatives. Before installing the edging, be sure to scrape the sand away to expose the base material. Conceal the edge with soil or mulch when you’re finished.

    Run the compactor over the patio to set the pavers, compact the sand and vibrate sand up into the joints, locking the pavers together . The steel plate won’t hurt the pavers, but it will make your ears ring. Wear hearing protection. Spread coarse, dry sand over the patio to fill the joints and repeat the compacting. The sand has to be thoroughly dry to jiggle into the joints. Don’t try to save money on a tamper rental by skipping this step. The last tamping will vibrate the sand into the joints, locking all the bricks together.

    What Are Some Retaining Wall Ideas For Sloped Front Yard

    Some retaining wall ideas for a sloped front yard are going to have to be creative. Things that will work are planters, tips, etc. You can also add plants to the top of the retaining wall so you can add food or flowers right into your front yard.

    These are some ideas:

    • Install a retaining wall to help keep the front yard level
    • Create a garden that slopes downward in an attractive way
    • Plant grasses or flowers on sloping ground for interest and color
    • Add boulders, rocks, or plants to add texture
    • Build steps up from the slope so you can still walk there comfortably
    • Use plants like ivy as climbing vines along your retaining wall to make it more natural looking
    • Consider a dry-stack stone wall
    • Reclaimed wood and metal panels are great for decorating the front of your home
    • A brick or stone veneer can be installed on an existing concrete slab to create a level surface
    • Stone steps leading up to the front door is another option for sloped yards

    Be creative and think outside the box – there may be something you haven’t considered that would work perfectly in your yard!

    Diy Advice: Should You Build A Raised Patio On Your Own

    Deb Goncalves

    A DIY raised patio is a highly customizable home improvement project that you can use year-round. You can host family lunches, enjoy nighttime outdoor movie screenings, and bask in your yard’s natural beauty throughout the year when you have your own patio. This renovation is absolutely doable on your own, but there are some important things to think through, like projected costs, permits, and safety.

    Allan Block suggests building a raised patio with a retaining wall stating, “You can incorporate curves , corners or even stairs into your patio design. Building a raised patio is easy and can add more usable living space and lasting value to your landscape.”

    Artazum/Shutterstock

    How To Build A Raised Patio With Retaining Wall Blocks

    Once you have determined the location and design of your raised patio, stake out the location and use a string line or paint to mark out the area. A garden hose is an excellent tool for marking out curves. Then excavate the area by removing all the surface vegetation and organic materials from the area. These cannot be used as backfill material.

    • Starting at the lowest point dig a base trench 24 in. wide by 6 in. deep plus 1 in deep for each 1 ft. of wall height.
    • Compact the base trench as well as the entire patio base area, making a minimum of 2 passes with a walk behind plate compactor. Compaction of these areas are very important as they make up the foundation of both your wall and raised patio.

    Like any other Allan Block retaining wall, your raised patio needs to have proper drainage. A drain pipe is used to prevent water pressure from building up behind the retaining wall. Place the drain pipe at the back of the trench and vent to daylight at the lowest point.

    In addition to managing the water the drain pipe, you will need to manage the water flow around the house foundation . To do this you will need to waterproof the foundation wall. Check with your local building officials or with the material manufacturer on recommended installation of this waterproofing material.

    To begin building the retaining wall that will make up your raised patio, start by preparing the base.

    Step 8: Reset A Spike At The Center Point Of The Patio

    Reset a spike at the center point of the patio and spray an arc 8 in. larger than the radius of the patio. Spread two 2-in. layers of base material over the stabilization fabric, compacting each layer with the plate compactor. Build up the perimeter with soil to keep the base material from spreading outward as you compact.

    Laying the base

    After excavating, we laid a special woven ‘ground stabilization fabric’ over the patio area. It’s cut off a roll from the landscape supplier. You don’t need it in stable sandy or gravelly soils, but in other soils it’s cheap insurance for a flat patio for years to come.

    Reestablish the patio’s center point. Keep the spike in until you start laying the pavers; it’ll mark the starting point for the paver circle. Mark out the patio perimeter plus an extra 8 in. with marking paint. Add and compact two layers of base material in 2-in. layers. Position and slope the screed pipes so the patio will drain water away from the wall .

    The third layer should be no more than 3 in. below the sod at any point. A few inches higher than the sod is better. Add more base material to raise the entire patio if necessary. Slide the 2×4 side to side along the pipes to distribute the base material and create a flat surface. Compact this final layer four times, changing direction each time-north to south, then east to west .

    Step 15: Run The Plate Compactor On Top Of The Pavers

    Run the plate compactor on top of the pavers. Pass over the patio four times, switching direction after each pass. Compact around the outer edge after each pass.

    No maintenance!

    This type of patio and wall requires little to no maintenance. Don’t let dirt build up on them or you’ll provide a home for weeds, and be sure to wash the patio down periodically. Sealers are available for enhancing the paver color, but once you apply them, you need to repeat the process every few years.

    What Are Some Ideas For Covering A Sloped Backyard

    Raised Paver Patio with Retaining Walls, Stairs, Deck, and ...

    A sloped backyard is going to require some creative solutions to cover it up. The usual answer in this situation is to use a thick mesh material so that your plants don’t fall out of the pots and onto the ground. You can also add more plants on top of the retaining walls, there is always something that can be used for cover.

    How Can I Properly Support A Raised Concrete Patio

    I am planning on building a raised concrete patio. I would like to build the perimeter of block and fill it with stone and then cap it in concrete to be finished with blue stone later. The patio will be about 3 ft off the ground and jogs in and out but basically 40 ft long and about 12 ft wide.

    I plan to hook #2 re bar into the top of the block and fill the blocks with concrete. Is the stone fill enough support for the concrete ? If not how far can I span it before I need another block wall for support.

    I built a home once that had a 10 ft x 10 ft sun room filled with stone from the basement footings to the main floor and capped in concrete. It seemed to work well. Does anyone see a problem with this?

    Active Oldest Votes

    FWIW, that’s technically called a “raised patio” rather than a deck. At 40′ long, your challenge will be to prevent cracking…so I’d count on putting in expansion joints.

    If you want to ensure a solid base, you need to use crushed rock and add it layer-by-layer mechanically compacting each layer before adding the next. That’s going to be some work to get up to 12″, but certainly doable. You’ll likely raise it in 3-4 layers.

    At that point, you’re essentially building a slab-on-grade foundation. So you shouldn’t need any actual foundation walls.

    All that said, check with local code first!

    Sorry, I have to disagree here.

    personal privacy advocate

    Building A Raised Patio With Retaining Wall Block

    A wooden deck… or a raised patio?

    A picture is worth a thousand words… But we just need three: Raised. Patio. Please!

    We all can dream a little. But a raised patio with retaining wall block has several advantages over a simple wooden deck. First and foremost, the creativity is limitless because a raised patio can be designed with a personal touch. The possibilities are endless… from corners, curves, stairs, angles, slopes and levels. If you can envision it, you can create a raised patio with retaining wall block. It doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. Two other advantages of having a raised patio are:

    • Lower maintenance costs and effort
    • The occasional squirrel, raccoon or opossum won’t be nesting or marauding underneath

    There are several ways to construct a raised patio with retaining wall blocks, but it really depends on the design style and contours of the site. Therefore, construction is best done by professionals. That said, below is a very general outline of things to consider when building a raised patio with retaining wall block.

    How Much Did It Cost To Build Our Raised Patio

    Our large raised patio, which is circular in shape, turned out to be about 250 square feet. It has a partial retaining wall on both sides, as well as two pillars.

    In the end, we spent about $1,200 on materials for the blocks, concrete, and the stone veneer.

    We live in southern California so pricing may be different where you live, but here’s a chart below that Matt put together to give you an idea on material costs .

    Looking for how to calculate the cost of your own raised patio project? This should help!

    So glad I married an engineer who enjoys pulling together all these numbers!

    Next, we’re sharing our 10 favorite tricks for edging a raised patio! Or, take the full tour of our backyard!

    To see our home, click HERE!

    What Is The Overall Cost Of A Diy Raised Patio

    A 300-square-foot patio with no lighting, heating, or other accessories will cost around $3,000, including the cost of stone pavers. The cost varies depending on the paver material, patio size, and equipment costs.

    If you can borrow or rent equipment for this project, then the cost will be a little lower. Keep in mind that concrete costs less than stone or brick pavers. Each paver costs anywhere between $8 to $25, depending on the company and whether or not you’re importing luxury pavers, states Fixr.com. You’ll also need to consider the cost of the base material, which is typically sand or stone. The great thing about a DIY raised patio is you’ll completely eliminate the costs of hired labor, which is often about one-third of the total bill.

    Randy Fath/Unsplash

    How To Build A Raised Garden Bed Around Patio

    For the garden design, It first took deciding on the size, marking it, and trenching out the edges where the treated boards were going to go. Making sure each board was level once into the dug place.

    In order to secure & attach the wood post to the foundation of the house, we used a hammer drill to drill holes with a concrete drill bit then swapped to our drill to screw in the screws along with using concrete anchors with corner braces.

    For rest the wood posts we just mounted to the treated boards using exterior screws.

    Then we put some middle support extras once the top board was on.

    In order to finish up our raised garden bed, we filled it up with dirt, planted that purple grass I mentioned earlier, topped it with mulch and added some wood sides and corners to cover where the wood ends met and to give it a fancier look. I think this side of the patio looks so much better!

    Will you be doing any gardening this summer or adding any raised flower beds?

    Want more gardening ideas? Don’t forget to check out the raised bed we did in our front yard and you can always Pin this Easy guide for a raised garden bed around patio for later!

    Genius Hacks: 3 Ways To Build A Raised Patio

    We’re sharing all the tips, tricks & details of building a raised patio with retaining wall—along with our raised stone patio design and cost!

    Do you have a sloped area in your yard that seems unusable? Or perhaps you want to avoid a deck off the back of your house and have started envisioning your own way of building a raised patio with retaining walls?

    Whatever your need, you’re in the right place, my friend!

    We’re big believers in the power of a raised patio! Sure, a deck could be built to try to utilize a sloped area, but we’ll take a good raised patio on a slope over a deck any day.

    Would you like to take a slope where no one could previously sit , and turn that slope into seating for 10, 15, 20…or more?

    Then read on!

    Building A Raised Patio With Retaining Wall

    Building retaining walls for a raised patio begins with knowing the dimensions of your patio and where exactly your retaining wall should land to provide the layout for your pavers. If you are unconcerned about the final look in terms of cuts for your raised patio pavers, then you do not need to be as concerned about this. However, we measure the exact dimensions of our raised patio based on the pavers we are laying and where our final caps of our retaining wall will land and ensure our retaining wall is built according to this. You also want to ensure that you are hitting the exact elevation of the raised patio. We measure where we want that to be and prepare our first block course from this, understanding the height of our blocks, how many courses of block there will be, and the height of our caps as these are usually a different height compared to the wall blocks.

    We use a string line to map this out and ensure our retaining wall is level and begin to screed and lay our base course. As we build up our retaining wall, we will add geogrid every 4? to 8?. Uniaxial is a typical geogrid that is installed in our retaining walls. This provides strength in one direction. However, in a raised patio we want strength in both directions so we opt for a biaxial geogrid and install it throughout the entire raised patio. This helps to tie everything in together and stabilize the base material of our raised patio.

     

    Can I Complete The Project Safely On My Own

    This is a raised paver patio we built in 2017. Main patio ...

    President of Stonehenge BPL, Jeff Pozniak, stated, “The problem I’ve so often seen in my 30+ years in the industry is a fundamental lack of understanding of engineering principles and proper construction methods.” With that being said, make sure to carefully review your area, draw out a plan and figure out what you need first.

    Since raised patios typically require just a few layers of materials without building a whole structure, you can safely build it on your own. The process is relatively simple and does not require handling dangerous tools.

    As the easiest and most durable option, choose concrete pavers or bricks to skip the extra step of cutting out each individual paver. Other popular choices include stone, graphite, and other materials that come in pre-cut shapes like squares and rectangles.

    Other tools you might need in addition to your building materials are a rubber mallet, metal spikes to mark your patio outline, a trowel, metal pipes, a rake, a shovel, a plate compactor, and a level.

    Brick Patio Step #1: Build A Retaining Wall

    This is the step that sets a raised brick patio apart from one flat to the ground as it provides the area in which you can add the fill materials that will create the patio’s base. Start by marking off the boundaries of your patio with stakes. Using a string, line level, and a tape measure, mark the stakes at the height at which you plan your finished wall to reach. 

    From there, determine how many rows of bricks you are going to need to reach your desired height. Bear in mind that you will end up completely burying the first row of bricks in order to give the retaining wall its stability. 

    Dig out a 12-inch wide, 6-inch deep trench for your first row and compact the ground firmly in the trench. Add 2 inches of finely crushed gravel and even out the surface. You should also have a string line that serves as a guide for the top of your first row. 

    What Is The Cheapest Type Of Retaining Wall

    The cheapest type of retaining wall is going to be masonry or wooden one. It will need to be framed with treated lumber and then finished with stain, paint, etc.

    You may not even need to build it at all and you can just use bricks or rocks to build your retaining wall.

  • What is the easiest retaining wall to build?
  • The easiest retaining wall to build is going to be a retaining wall made out of stones. You can buy stone walls at many home stores and then just knock them into a retaining wall. It won’t take much to make a retaining wall for your sloped yard.

    It Is Balanced But Does Not Rely On Perfect

    Unilock brussels block patio with old quarrystone firepit, sitting. We’re adding a low retaining wall along a hill at the edge of the layout. Block walls are very versatile. A gorgeous boulder retaining wall connects the upper and lower patios in this outdoor space by @newnature93. However, it is additionally one of the most costly retaining wall ideas. A wall made from natural stone has an organic look that makes it feel like it was always meant to be part of your yard. This patio is surrounded by an allan block old country courtyard seating wall and tumbled pavers were used for the patio surface. 3108 4th st nw austin, mn 55912 Premium bluestone patio with a custom built unilock kitchen, 2 tier bar, water feature, sitting walls, and pillars. Browse 9,958 backyard retaining wall ideas on houzz. In particular, poured concrete is the most costly choice, and it can cost around $30 to $40 per square foot. Retaining walls keep landscape soil from eroding, but they also make a beautiful landscaping feature. View images of patios, walkways and retaining walls here.

    Our New Raised Patio With Retaining Wall:

    I’ve never shared this before but do you want to know the #1 thing I would do differently in this raised stone patio now? Because it’s on a slope that continues even “behind” the patio, I would have done another stone retaining wall along the back edge to keep the dirt and other debris from falling onto the concrete patio surface.

    Brick Patio Step #6: Work From The Corner

    Work outward from that corner and use the pavers you’ve already laid as a guide. Make sure that when you’re laying the bricks, you are not dragging them into place or disturbing the sand you’ve already leveled. 

    Use a rubber mallet to tap them securely into place. Continue this process of leveling the sand and laying the brick pavers until you have the entire space completed. 

    Step 2: Dig Into Hill To Create Flat Area

    Dig into the hill to create a flat area for the patio and wall. Dig 9 in. below the sod, using a point 3 ft. in from the lowest edge of the patio as a reference point. Hire or rent a skidsteer loader to make quick work of removing the bulk of the material. Clean up the perimeter and flatten the bottom with a shovel.

    Tools

    You’ll need several heavy-duty tools to do the job right. You’ll have to rent a plate compactor. This 200-lb. beast is the secret of a long-lasting patio. Rent it and move it around with a dolly. You’ll need it for two days: one day to pack the gravel footing for the retaining wall and a second day for the patio.

    For excavating, you’ve got two choices: a good shovel and strong back, or a skid-steer loader . If you’re just doing the patio, dig it by hand. But for cutting into a hill like we did, a skid-steer is the only way to go. If you’re a tool junkie, you can rent one. Bear in mind, though—by the time you’re done hauling it, learning how to operate it, using it and replacing the neighbor’s hedge you destroyed, you can probably get the job done cheaper and faster by hiring a contractor. A skid-steer loader will rut your lawn, so plan on filling in the path with topsoil and grass seed when you’re done.



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