Wall Installation Guide

Material Checklist

1. Base Material (Crushed Stone/Stone Dust)
2. Number Of Block Needed
3. Number Of Caps Needed
4. Amount Of Wall Adhesive
5. Accessories That Apply To Individual Styles Of Block
6. Amount Of Filter Fabric
7. Amount Of Geogrid Textile Reinforcement Material
8. Drainage Materials
9. Material Needed If Stairs Are Planned Into Your Design

1. Planning & Layout... the first thing you need to do is stake out your project and measure the linear footage, along with the desired height of your wall.

*Note... designing your wall with straight sides and square corners will simplify installation by minimizing the need to split pieces; but, it will restrict your design opportunities.

2. Prepare the base... excavate the marked out area and create a trench -- walls 4 feet or less will need a 6-inch deep base; walls over 4 feet will require a 12-inch deep base. The width of the base should be double the width of your unit. The base material should consist of fine crusher run topped with stone dust.

*Note... These dimensions may vary depending on application. Please contact one of Woodruff Block Company's sales representatives with any questions. Some walls require burying a full course; the first course is the most important!

3. Start block placement at the lowest elevation of the base; level the block side to side, and front to back as you build. Backfill as you go with a granular, well-draining stone. The stone should be about 12" behind the wall.

4. Place landscape fabric behind wall to prevent wash outs, then continue to backfill.

*Note... It is recommended to place landscape fabric between the drainage stone and the soil to prevent the drainage stone from becoming plugged with soils.

5. Apply geogrid between layers of block as specified by the wall manufacturer.

6. Begin next course by straddling two lower units and staggering the vertical joints.

*Note... Set back each course as specified; you may need to install pins into holes that are used as guides for setbacks.

7. When you have reached your desired height, you will need to fold forward your landscape fabric and fill over with top soil.

8. Install a cap unit if one is necessary, or if you wish to have one. The caps may be glued down using a retaining wall adhesive that will keep your caps in place and prevent them from being disarranged.

A tiered wall (The X Factor): It is important that the upper wall does not become a load on the lower wall. Set the upper wall's footing back (X Feet) from the top of the next lower wall.

*Note...The distance should be 2 times greater than the height (X Feet) of the lower wall. If the soil above your wall slopes upward, you may be overloading the retaining wall.

Additional notes... Drainage systems should be considered for all wall designs. Tiered wall designs can create greater stresses on the wall than equal height single tier designs. Tiered wall designs must be carefully considered and planned.