Foundations for garden retaining wall and should I use rebar? Drainage pipes, concrete, footings and foundations. Post your questions and find answers here

[BenD-IY]

Hi all,

I’m a novice DIY’er who is looking to learn. I have a terraced garden and have dug out the slope at the base and now need to build a 2ft retaining wall, 9m long. I was planning on a 35cm deep by 45cm wide foundation and poured concrete looks like a close first vs blocks but still undecided. If I go down the concrete route do I need rebar? If so what thickness? Where should I place it? Should it be 2 lengths in parallel tied to a bar at each end to form a rectangle? Should I put verticals thru the hollow block wall? Thanks in advance.

Ben

[stoneyboy]

Hi bend-iy
Your option to cast a wall will involve some fairly strong shuttering and rebar and expansion joints. Suggest you use solid 100mm concrete blocks laid on their side effectively giving you a 225mm thick wall with one central expansion joint.
Regards S

[BenD-IY]

Many thanks for the advice, I’ll go with that. Would you put rebar thru the footings or is that OTT?

[stoneyboy]

Hi bend-iy
Won't hurt to add some in the foundations, use a strong mortar mix for building the wall.
Regards S

[BenD-IY]

Many thanks