How to Pour a Concrete Retaining Wall

How to Pour a Concrete Retaining Wall

December 7, 2020By Keith Eneix

Concrete retaining walls are a simple, aesthetically pleasing addition to any landscape. Due to their muted shades, they are able to match any landscape style and are one of the sturdiest retaining wall options.

This is an educational guide explaining how this type of project works. If you need professional installation in the greater Seattle area, concrete retaining wall contractors for pricing, photos, and a free estimate.

If you are wondering how to form and pour a concrete retaining wall, continue reading or give New Life Rockeries a call to speak with our expert

Tools Needed to Pour a Concrete Retaining Wall

  • Shovel
  • Tamper
  • Concrete mixer
  • Stakes
  • Wooden planks
  • Measuring tape
  • Post driver

Plan the Site –

Prepare the site where you plan on pouring your concrete retaining wall by marking out where the footings will be and measuring the area to ensure that you’ve purchased enough concrete and retaining wall materials.

Dig the Footing –

If you’re wondering how to pour a concrete footing for a retaining wall, this is where it starts. Using your shovel, dig the footing to the correct depth (the depth of your footing is determined by the chosen height of your concrete retaining wall).

Build the Forms –

When it comes to building the forms, the width of your concrete retaining wall as well as where you dug the footings will determine how to build the forms. Drive stakes into the ground using your footings as a guide, then use the stakes to build your forms.

Mix Your Concrete –

Now comes the fun part of pouring a concrete retaining wall — mixing the concrete.

Follow the directions detailed on the back of your cement bag to mix your concrete. Use a cement mixer to mix it thoroughly and then use your wheelbarrow to transfer your cement to the excavation site.

Pour Your Concrete Retaining Wall –

Pour your mixed concrete into the forms until they are filled with cement. Refer to the back of the cement bag to see how long you need to let the concrete dry for before removing the wooden forms (most cement will take about several days or even weeks to dry fully).

Need Help Pouring Your Concrete Retaining Wall?

We know that pouring a concrete retaining wall is a daunting task. If you want to eliminate the stress of pouring your own concrete retaining wall, work with a retaining wall contractor instead.

While DIY projects can be fun, they can also add large amounts of unnecessary stress and work. Rather than spending your next few weekends gathering the necessary materials and figuring out how to pour a curved small concrete retaining wall, why not give New Life Rockeries a call?

Here at New Life Rockeries we’ve been pouring concrete retaining walls and offering landscape services to homeowners for more than 35 years. Our team would be happy to help you design and pour a concrete retaining wall to make your landscape more practical and beautiful.

To learn more about our retaining wall services, give New Life Rockeries a contact us.

Concrete retaining walls are a simple, aesthetically pleasing addition to any landscape. Due to their muted shades, they are able to match any landscape style and are one of the sturdiest retaining wall options.

If you are wondering how to form and pour a concrete retaining wall, continue reading or give New Life Rockeries a call to speak with our expert

Tools Needed to Pour a Concrete Retaining Wall

  • Shovel
  • Tamper
  • Concrete mixer
  • Stakes
  • Wooden planks
  • Measuring tape
  • Post driver

Plan the Site –

Prepare the site where you plan on pouring your concrete retaining wall by marking out where the footings will be and measuring the area to ensure that you’ve purchased enough concrete and retaining wall materials.

Dig the Footing –

If you’re wondering how to pour a concrete footing for a retaining wall, this is where it starts. Using your shovel, dig the footing to the correct depth (the depth of your footing is determined by the chosen height of your concrete retaining wall).

Build the Forms –

When it comes to building the forms, the width of your concrete retaining wall as well as where you dug the footings will determine how to build the forms. Drive stakes into the ground using your footings as a guide, then use your footings to build your forms.

Mix Your Concrete –

Now comes the fun part of pouring a concrete retaining wall — mixing the concrete.

Follow the directions detailed on the back of your cement bag to mix your concrete. Use a cement mixer to mix it thoroughly and then use your wheelbarrow to transfer your cement to the excavation site.

Pour Your Concrete Retaining Wall –

Pour your mixed concrete into the forms until they are filled with cement. Refer to the back of the cement bag to see how long you need to let the concrete dry for before removing the wooden forms (most cement will take about several days or even weeks to dry fully).

Need Help Pouring Your Concrete Retaining Wall?

We know that pouring a concrete retaining wall is a daunting task. If you want to eliminate the stress of pouring your own concrete retaining wall, work with a retaining wall contractor instead.

While DIY projects can be fun, they can also add large amounts of unnecessary stress and work. Rather than spending your next few weekends gathering the necessary materials and figuring out how to pour a curved small concrete retaining wall, why not give New Life Rockeries a call?

Here at New Life Rockeries we’ve been pouring concrete retaining walls and offering landscape services to homeowners for more than 35 years. Our team would be happy to help you design and pour a concrete retaining wall to make your landscape more practical and beautiful.

To learn more about our retaining wall services, give New Life Rockeries a retaining wall contractors.

Need a Concrete Retaining Wall Installed?

New Life Rockeries has been serving the greater Seattle area since 1975. We provide free, no-obligation estimates for all projects.

See Our Concrete Retaining Wall Contractors Service →

If you'd rather leave the formwork and pouring to the pros, our concrete retaining wall contractors handle projects of all sizes.

Keith Eneix — Founder of New Life Rockeries

Written by

Keith Eneix

Co-Owner, New Life Rockeries

Keith Eneix is a co-owner of New Life Rockeries alongside his brother Neil Eneix. He began helping with operations in 2007 and has been involved ever since. He writes from nearly two decades of hands-on experience with retaining walls, rockeries, and hardscaping across the greater Seattle area.

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