How to Build a Wall on Sloping Ground

The steeper a slope, the greater the need to construct a retaining wall. A wall will help to curb erosion and make the space more usable to landscape. Walls can also be a focal point unto themselves. When considering a retaining wall for sloped ground, consider the severity of the slope. For walls that will need to be greater than 3 feet, it is better to do a series of shorter, terraced walls than one tall one. Always consult local building codes to see if there is any permitting required for such construction.

String and stakes (for marking) or spray paint
Tape measure
Level
Shovel or backhoe
Tamper
Hammer/ sledgehammer
Rubber mallet (optional for nudging stone material into place)
Safety goggles
Gloves
Crushed gravel ( for base)
Round or washed gravel (for back-fill)
Perforated or solid drainpipe

Instructions

Site Preparation
- 1
  
  Measure twice, cut once.
  
  Measure the site where the wall is to go and mark with paint or stakes and string.
- 2
  
  Larger walls require heavy machinery to excavate.
  
  Dig a trench for the foundation of the wall. Make sure that the bottom of the trench is level, and not parallel with the slope. This trench should be excavated to be at least 1-foot wider on all sides, and the front and back of the wall. Dig the trench's depth deep enough to allow for 5 to 6 inches of compacted base material and for the depth of up to two courses of wall material to be fully buried.
- 3
  
  Limestone is a common stone type for course gravel.
  
  Fill trench with course gravel. Tamp and level. It is better to do so in stages to reduce settling instead of adding all of the base material and just tamping the top.
Constructing the Wall
- 4
  
  Use a long-level to get a truer sense of the wall's levelness.
  
  Lay the first course of wall onto the compacted base. Make sure it is completely level. Lay the second course in the same fashion.
- 5
  
  Flexible drain pipe is easier to work with than rigid PVC type pipe.
  
  Install drain pipe behind the wall. The pipe should be long enough to run the full length of the wall and beyond to carry excess water away from the wall.
- 6
  
  Pebbles or pea gravel make for effective drainage behind walls.
  
  Backfill the pipe with round or washed gravel.
- 7
  
  The top course of a wall can be different than the body of the wall.
  
  Continue laying each successive course of the wall. Level as you go. Backfill with gravel as you go. The top course, called the coping course, can be of a different material, or the same. It can be glued with a construction adhesive if desired.
- 8
  
  Mulch can help absorb surface moisture and wick it away from the wall.
  
  Tamp the gravel down when at the top of the wall. This can be left as gravel or other material, such as soil or mulch, can be placed over the top.

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Fences & Walls

How to Build a Wall on Sloping Ground

Instructions

Site Preparation

Constructing the Wall