A retaining wall can transform your garden, creating an attractive and usable outdoor space. Whether you are creating a level lawn, supporting a raised patio or designing modern garden borders, a retaining wall is much more than just a decorative feature.
At Livella Construction, we’re a family-run construction and landscaping firm that regularly helps homeowners across Wolverhampton and the wider West Midlands choose the right retaining wall blocks, sleepers and landscaping materials for their project.
In this guide, we’ll explain not only how to build a garden wall, but also why each stage matters so you can make informed decisions.
What is the purpose of a garden retaining wall?
The main purpose of a retaining wall is to hold back soil at different ground levels. Without proper support, sloping ground can move, causing erosion, uneven lawns and damaged paving.
When constructed properly, a retaining wall can:
- Create flat, usable garden areas
- Prevent soil erosion and slippage
- Support patios, driveways and paths
- Improve drainage in a garden, reducing water damage
- Increase the functionality of a garden
Here in the UK, the biggest challenge is often water rather than the soil alone. Rainwater that becomes trapped behind a wall can create significant pressure, which is why drainage is just as important as the wall itself.
What’s the difference between a garden wall and retaining wall?
Many homeowners use these terms interchangeably, but garden walls and retaining walls are not the same.
- Garden wall: Primarily decorative, a garden wall might define boundaries or create raised beds, but it is not designed to resist significant soil pressure.
- Retaining wall: These are structural and specifically engineered to support soil at a higher level on one side.
Key differences
Some of the main differences include:
- Foundation depth: Retaining walls usually require much deeper foundations.
- Drainage: Retaining walls need to include drainage measures.
- Wall thickness: In most cases, retaining walls are thicker than standard garden walls.
As a rule of thumb, if the wall is holding back more than 600mm of soil, it should be treated as a retaining wall.
How to build garden retaining walls
The steps below are suitable for many garden retaining wall projects, but you should always seek professional advice, especially for taller or heavily loaded walls.
Dig a trench
Mark the line of the wall with string and stakes. Dig a trench that is about 200mm deep and 300mm wide.
The trench will create a stable foundation below the topsoil. Topsoil contains organic material that decomposes and moves over time, so it should never support a retaining wall itself.
Prepare the base
Fill your trench with a 100mm subbase. Hardcore is a good choice for this. You can use a plate compactor to make the base more compact if it is easier. This base will spread the load of the wall and reduce the risk of settlement. Skipping this step can cause the wall to lean or crack.
Build your first row of blocks
Lay the first row of blocks carefully, checking both level and alignment as you go. You should take your time here, as every course above this initial row will depend on the success of this one.
Install the rest of the blocks
Next, build your additional courses according to the manufacturer’s guidance, staggering vertical joints where applicable. Check each course is aligned as you progress. As the wall rises, place free-draining gravel behind it if the wall retains a significant amount of soil. The gravel will allow water to escape rather than build up behind the wall.
Finish the wall with coping
To finish, install coping stones, caps or finishing blocks to the top of the wall to protect from rainwater and create a neat appearance. Coping reduces water penetration into the wall, improves durability and gives the project a professional finish.
Get the right materials and support from Livella Construction
At Livella Construction, we combine a family-run service with years of industry expertise. We can supply our customers in Wolverhampton and across the West Midlands with high-quality retaining wall blocks, sleepers and landscaping products as well as leading installations for all types of projects. Large structural retaining walls should not be treated as a simple DIY job, and our Brickwork experts are on hand to help.
If you’re planning a garden transformation and want a retaining wall that is beautiful and built to last, get in touch with the team at Livelle Construction for friendly advice, reliable materials and workmanship you can trust.