The interlocking retaining wall block can be used to build walls up to 24 to 36 inches high depending on the size of the block.
How to lay out a concrete block wall.
But if you do need to cut a block place the block on sand or loose soil and use a brick set and small sledgehammer to score both sides of the block.
Lay out your blocks along the dried footing and see how many you ll need for the first layer.
Use corner blocks where they are needed and cut blocks as required to make it all fit.
Before you start lay out and pour footing lay out your concrete block in a dry run spacing it with 3 8 inch plywood spacers mark all the edges of the course.
Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits.
Use a 5x8 to separate the blocks to account for the mortar.
Use a piece of scrap 3 8 inch plywood to fill in the mortar joint between each block.
Do not use mortar for this test run since you re only trying to get an idea of what you need.
Use corner blocks on the corners if available.
Push the first block into the mortar until it s 3 8 inch above the footing.
The depth and size of the foundation will vary depending on the size of the concrete block wall and the weight it must support but a typical freestanding wall requires a foundation that is about twice as wide as the wall itself and which extends about 1 foot down below the frost line.
Take up the block and spread mortar on the footing.
To determine the width of your future wall decide how many cinder blocks you want to use for the wall width then calculate the width using the block s measurements.
Lay out a course of concrete block on the dry footing.
Don t seal these down.
For ways to reinforce a wall of concrete blocks keep reading.
Foundation all concrete block walls must rest on a sturdy foundation of poured concrete.
For example if your cinder blocks are 8x8 in 20x20 cm and you want to use 2 blocks to make up the wall s width your total wall width would be 16 in 40 cm.
Avoid having downspouts pointed at the retaining wall and if it s against the house keep soil and mulch well below the siding.
Then set the block with its web up and place the brick set on the scored line.