Looking into your backyard area and seeing soil mounding and spilling over broken old edging made from bricks or rotting logs is a bit of a downer.
But what if you could spend a weekend knocking together your own small retaining wall with an additional bench seat in the middle to enjoy the garden? You might think it’s challenging, but Charlie will show you how it can be super simple and easy to build a retaining wall yourself.
Why build a retaining wall
- A retaining wall can transform your outdoor space if your land is sloping or uneven.
- It helps create more usable level areas.
- It prevents soil erosion.
- It presents an opportunity to include built-in seating.
- It creates visual and textural interest, especially with your choice of material.
- You can incorporate garden beds to add colour and vibrancy.
- You can use nooks and crannies in the vertical area to add extra plants.
Gather your supplies
- 200 x 75mm 2.4m hardwood sleepers (9)
- 14G x 150mm galvanised bugle screws
- 20kg quick-set concrete (6)
- Drain matting
- 100mm x 8m ag-pipe
- 10mm Blue Metal aggregate
- Decking stain
You’ll also need:
- Wrecking bar
- Spade
- Mattock
- Tape measure
- Mallet
- Stakes
- String
- Marking spray
- Post hole digger
- Combination square
- Pencil
- Circular saw
- Drill
- 6mm drill bit
- Impact driver
- Level
- Scrap timber
- 50mm exterior screws
- Nap roller and tray
- Potting mix
- Plants
Safety notes
Wear safety glasses, a mask, and earmuffs when operating power tools, and tie your hair back. When appropriate, wear gloves and protective clothing.
Project notes
On the ends of the retaining wall, install Wall anchors flush to the end of the Wall panels. For connecting wall panels, install wall anchor with half of wall anchor on both connecting panels, secure 2 bugles into both panels. If you have corners, connect wall panels with mitre joint.
How to build a retaining wall instructions
STEP 1
Dig out and remove the old retaining wall. Turn over existing soil with a wrecking bar, spade and mattock.
STEP 2
Measure your area and adjust the Components (see box below) accordingly. Then, use a tape measure and a mallet to measure and hammer stakes into the ground at both ends of the garden (with an equal distance from the back wall). Run a string between the stakes and tie off at each end. Spray the ground under the line with marking spray, then mark a cross for 5 wall anchor hole positions every 1200mm (or to suit your garden).
STEP 3
Dig out and remove the old retaining wall. Turn over existing soil with a wrecking bar, spade and mattock.
STEP 4
Measure, mark, and cut all components (see list below) with a tape measure, combination square, pencil, and circular saw.
STEP 5
Lay a Wall panel flat, and connect a Wall anchor at a right angle, flush to left end of panel. Predrill 2 diagonal holes through anchor and into panel, insert bugles and screw tight with impact driver. Repeat for other end of Wall panel with a 100mm overlap, and a third anchor across centre of Wall panel. Repeat for a second bottom Wall panel; connect to first panel at the anchor with overlap.
STEP 6
With an extra pair of hands, lift assembled panels and anchors into anchor holes. Hammer anchors into holes with mallet. With bugle screws, attach remaining 2 top Wall panels flush to back of Wall anchors and on top of lower panels.
STEP 7
To temporarily brace the retaining wall, screw a brace (scrap timber) to side of all Wall anchors, then attach stakes to braces. Hammer wall until plumb with mallet and level, then hammer stakes into ground. Pour a bag of concrete into an anchor hole, add water with hose and mix with scrap timber. Repeat for all holes, allow to set. Remove all braces and stakes.
STEP 8
For drainage, install drain matting to bed base. Lay ag-pipe on top, with pipe leading surplus water to drain outside of bed, away from retaining wall. Cover pipe with aggregate, then a layer of soil.
STEP 9
Repeat Step 3 to dig out 2 Seat anchor holes to 200mm depth.
STEP 10
For the bench, put 2 Seat panels parallel with edges together on a flat surface. Put Struts across seat, 300mm in from both ends. Predrill 4 equally spaced holes through Struts and into Seat panels. Install Seat anchors to underside of Seat panel, flush with inner side of Struts and flush to back. Predrill 2 holes through Seat panels and into Seat anchors. Insert screws and tighten. Lower bench into holes and hammer in to secure. Pour half a bag of concrete into each hole, add water and mix. Allow to set.
STEP 11
To secure the bench to the wall, predrill 3 equally spaced holes through the front of the Wall panel and into the end of the Seat panel. Insert screws and tighten. Place Armrests across both edges of Seat panels and flush with the end of wall anchors. Predrill through armrest with 2 diagonal holes. Insert and tighten screws.
STEP 12
Attach the back component flush to the ends of both armrests. Predrill 2 holes through back and into both armrests. Insert screws and tighten.
STEP 13
Apply 2 coats of decking stain to all visible components with a nap roller. Allow each coat to dry. Fill the garden bed with potting mix and mix it in with the existing soil. Plant out plants and water in with a hose.
You might also like:
Retaining walls: how to choose the right material for the job
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