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Air Conditioning
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Choosing A Retaining
Wall To Build
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Using stone to build a retaining wall Stonewalls may be the best choice for a natural-looking landscape. Natural stone offers limitless design possibilities, including curves, and they can be built to follow a sloping grade. Steps can be incorporated into stone, though stone treads often are too heavy to handle without a machine. The price, type, and availability of stone vary from one area to the next, but natural stone is almost always one of the more expensive retaining-wall materials. Along with pricey material costs, stonewalls bring high labor costs. It takes practice to learn to build with the irregularities of natural stone, and even for an experienced mason, building a stone wall takes longer than building the same wall with another material. Still, building with stone can be a rewarding project for patient first-timers. |
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In most areas, you can have pallets of stone
delivered. And a few inexpensive tools, such as a mason's hammer, will make the
work go more smoothly. Stonewalls can be stacked dry using stone and rubble for
backfill. Dry walls are built on a base of compacted gravel. It's important for
hidden backfill stones to be stacked just as securely as visible "face" stones.
All voids inside the wall should be filled with rubble. Another option is to stack the face stones dry, then backfill with stone and mortar. This type of construction requires a deeper (24 in.) compacted-gravel base. Finally, you can mortar the joints between stones. These walls should be built on a poured-concrete footing with rebar placed horizontally in the footing and vertically to extend through the wall as it is built up. All "wet" walls need a drain in the backfill or weep holes to relieve pressure from water that seeps behind the wall. If you want the look of a natural-stone wall but lack the skill to build one, a modular-block wall might be the answer These retaining walls come in a variety of styles, patterns, and colors. There are tumbled blocks of uniform size that simulate the look of quarried granite; blocks of varying sizes that form patterns to look like natural stone; and split-faced blocks that look like what they are: concrete. In fact, these blocks are made from really strong concrete; most have a compressive strength of 5000 psi. Block retaining-wall systems are available from a number of manufacturers. Prices vary between manufactures styles. Each company sometimes each style has its own interlocking system. Allan blocks are probable the most widely used. Most systems are comprised of a few different components, including the basic wall blocks, corner blocks, and cap pieces. The good news is that neither of these walls are so complicated, that you can't do it yourself. The trick is to get the first course level. Then it is mostly a matter of stacking blocks and backfilling. Many systems even incorporate a setback into the design so that as you build up, the wall automatically pitches back into the retained earth behind. It is hard to avoid cutting blocks, but the only specialty tools you'll need are a masonry or diamond blade for your circular saw and a mason's chisel. These interlocking systems are versatile enough for most designs. Curved walls can be built, and matching steps and walks can be incorporated. Some manufacturers will send a representative to help you figure out just what you need for your project. After you build your retaining walls you are going to want to get ideas on lawn and garden ornaments to make things look really nice. Go to our main garden décor are of our site to get more information. If you plan on an elaborate landscape theme you should read this article about landscape design first. Chris Dodd is the editor of http://www.decormotif.com a home and garden decor site. New for the summer is our garden decor section for designing and decorating your outdoor living space. You can get more tips and ideas for your yard here. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
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Related Tips and Advice:
The Appeal of a Wood Retaining
Wall
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