Page 367 - Masonry and Concrete

Retaining Walls
366 CHAPTER TEN

GRAVEL BACKFILL

FILTER FABRIC

SAND LEVELING BED

GRAVEL DRAINAGE BED IF NEEDED
FIGURE 10-22

Gravel backfill.

keep each course approximately level. If a stone does not sit firmly in
place, use small pieces of broken stone to shim it. All of the stones
should be slightly inclined toward the soil embankment so that the
weight leans in on itself. After laying several courses of stone, fill in
the small spaces along the face of the wall by driving in small stones
with a hammer. This is called “chinking” and helps interlock the
wall and tilt the stones inward. Lay stones in successive courses so
that they overlap the stones above and below in a manner similar to
a running bond brick or block wall. Avoid creating continuous
straight vertical joints. The overlapping pattern will produce a
stronger wall.
Flat stones of roughly rectangular shape work best for cap stones.
The top course should be as level as possible for the full length of the
wall, and in cold climates, many masons like to set the wall cap in mor-

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