Materials
We use Borgert, Belgard and Allan Block for walls. Borgert and Belgard have multiple great options for both free-standing and retaining wall materials in multiple different color schemes. Allan Block is a simple sturdy block that is designed specifically for retaining walls but it doesn’t offer many options for variety. All three of these do well in residential situations so if you want a stylish wall go with Borgert or Belgard, and if you are looking for the lowest price, then Allan Block is likely your best answer.
Image – Borgert Madera wall block
Construction Process
The first step in wall construction is the basework. Underneath the wall blocks there is always at least 4″ of compacted road base to ensure a strong steady foundation that is resistant to settling. From there building a free-standing wall is easy while a retaining wall requires another step. Because water is the largest factor in why retaining walls fail, it is very important to ensure proper drainage is happening behind the wall. Installing drain pipes with rock is the standard for ensuring the water moves correctly. Once that is all set and the wall is built then you can backfill behind it without worry.
Image – Allan Block in Tan Color
How Tall Can I Build a Retaining Wall?
In the Denver area 3′ is the maximum retaining wall height allowed without requiring an engineer to be involved. When you get into larger projects Allan Block is usually the one chosen and if you see a wall over 5′ tall out in the world then it is most likely Allan Block. However, at 3′ tall, any of the blocks mentioned above can handle the stress load when built correctly so choose the option you like best!
When we are confronted with a steep slope with more than 3′ of change then we use multiple tiers of retaining walls set 3′ apart to handle the change.
Image – Borgert Morteza wall block in Iron Range color
