Retaining Wall and Paver Accessories

Paver Accessories and Retaining Wall Blocks in Madison, WI

How to Build a Retaining Wall

Step 1 – Leveling Pad Preparation

A retaining wall should be placed on a leveling pad of well-compacted gravel, crushed stone, or coarse sand approximately 6″ thick and 24″ wide. Excavate to lines and grades you’ve established for your wall, allowing for the leveling pad and unit embedment. Place and compact leveling pad material. A thin layer of sand may be added to create a uniform, level pad.

Step 2 – Install Base Course

Place the units on your prepared leveling pad. Carefully level each unit front to back, side to side, and with adjacent units. Align straight wall sections using a string line or by sighting down the grooves on unit tops. If your wall has a corner, begin at the corner, and work out from there.

Step 3 – Drainage, Aggregate and Backfill

Place drainage aggregate (3/4" clear, free-draining, angular gravel) between and directly behind the units at a minimum thickness of 12". Drainage aggregate keeps water pressure from building up behind the face of the wall.

Next, place soil backfills directly behind drainage aggregate in layers no thicker than 6". Compact the backfill, making sure it is neither too wet nor too dry.

Step 4 – Install Successive Courses

Stack units one course at a time, set them back 3/4″ and insert two VERSA-TUFF pins per unit in front holes of units so they fall into the rear slots of the units beneath. Tap pins with another pin and a mallet to properly set them. Place and compact drainage aggregate behind each course as it is completed.

If your wall is higher than 4' or shoulders significant loads, you will need to install geosynthetic soil reinforcement. Geosynthetic layers should be placed about 1" from the front of wall units.

Step 5 – Install Wall Caps

After completing the top course of your wall, install manufacturer’s caps, either with a slight overhang (recommended), set back or flush with the wall face.

How to Build a Paver Patio

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Step 1 – Site Preparation and Excavation

Spray paint a line 8" outside the outline of your walkway to act as a line for excavating. Strip away the sod, so grass doesn’t get in the way of the guide strings you’ll be setting up. Use the bottom of a door or a set of stairs abutting the area as the starting point for establishing the final height and slope. Your entire slab should slope away from the foundation at a rate of 1" every 4-8 feet.

Step 2 – Leveling for Drainage

Use stakes and guide strings to achieve the finished height and slope to maintain adequate rain runoff. Excavate 7 1/2" below these lines to provide for a 4" sub-base, 1" sand base and 2-1/2" pavers.

The first level (subbase) of material will bring the area up to a height 3 1/2" inches below your strings. It should be at least 4" deep in all places and extend 8" beyond the edge.

Step 3 – Provide Weed Barrier

By replacing the loose soils now, you’ll be less apt to have uneven settling once the pavers are in place. Compact the subbase using a hand tamper or vibratory-plate compactor. Go over the area at least twice or until you are satisfied with subbase firmness.

Step 4 – Spreading and Leveling

Ideally, the sand should be about 1″ inch thick, but it’s okay to be a bit thicker or thinner in spots. Try to maintain a firm, flat surface for laying pavers.

Next, use a 2x4 screed board or other straight-edged piece to carefully level the sand over the compacted subbase material. Fill in low spaces and rake away excess sand as you drag your 2x4 board over the area. Shuffling the screed lightly from side to side as you move from the starting point to the end of the project area.

Step 5 – Install The Pavers

Take down the guide strings used to determine height and slope and put-up new stakes and strings to mark lines for your pavers' pattern.

Start along your house or other long straight edge and begin laying down the border (pavers). Continue laying the rest of your pavers stopping to measure over to your string every few rows. This will help to keep your rows straight and even.

With all pavers cut and in place, vibrate the entire patio or walkway. Start at the outer edge and work inward using a circular motion. The vibrator will lock the pavers into the sand and help even up the surface.