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Building your own VERSA-LOK retaining wall can be a rewarding
experience. Below is a brief summary of installation steps
and additional resources to help you complete your VERSA-LOK landscaping project.
Important: Walls that
support heavy loads or exceed four feet in height require
special soil reinforcement and often professionally designed
plans. Please consult a qualified engineer if unsure about
any construction, site or soil conditions. Also, be sure to
check local building codes before wall construction or design.
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STEP-BY-STEP
INSTALLATION
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Step
1
Leveling Pad Preparation
VERSA-LOK
walls should be placed on a leveling pad of well-compacted
gravel, crushed stone or coarse sand approximately 6" thick
and 24" wide. The first course of VERSA-LOK units should be
embedded below grade approximately 1/10th of the exposed wall
height. Excavate to lines and grades you've established for
your wall, allowing for the leveling pad and unit embedment.
Place and compact leveling pad material. It may be helpful
to add a thin layer of sand to create a uniform, level pad.
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Step
2
Install
Base Course
Place
VERSA-LOK units on prepared leveling pad. As you proceed,
level each unit front to back, side to side, and with adjacent
units. Leveling is critical at this stage, so take your time!
Align straight wall sections using a string line or by sighting
down the grooves on unit tops. If your wall has a corner,
begin at the corner and work out from there.
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Step
3
Backfill
Using
native soil, backfill and compact behind and in front of the
base course to a level even with the grade in front of the
wall. Next, place and compact 12" of drainage aggregate behind
units.
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Step
4
Install
Successive Courses
Stack
units one course at a time. Set units back 3/4" and insert
two pins in front holes of units so they fall into the rear
slots of the units beneath. Tap pins with another pin and
a mallet to properly set them. Place and compact drainage
aggregate behind each course as it is completed.
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Step
5
Install
Caps
After
completing the top course of your wall, install VERSA-LOK
caps, either with a slight overhang (recommended), set back
or flush with the wall face. Use VERSA-LOK concrete adhesive
to secure cap units to the wall.
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In addition to the requirements shown above, many walls require horizontal layers of geogrid reinforcement for stability. The maximum, stable unreinforced wall height in the best conditions is 4 feet and will be lower, depending on soils, loading, slopes or terraces.
Retaining walls taller than 4 feet typically require a design prepared by a qualified professional engineer (P.E.). Be sure to check your local building code requirements.
Additional Installation Resources:
Online Retaining Wall Installation Videos
The videos we have posted on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/RetainingWallSystems provide
an introduction to proper retaining wall installation. These videos are available in English and Spanish and can also be
requested from VERSA-LOK on DVD for viewing on any DVD player.
VERSA-TECH Online Academy
The VERSA-Tech
Online Academy is a self-paced course on the VERSA-LOK web
site that provides a detailed overview of segmental retaining
walls, site planning, and installation steps.
Retaining Wall Design and Installation Guides
Our Design & Installation Guides for VERSA-LOK Standard and Mosaic® systems are available in downloadable PDF format and as printed
manuals.
Important: Walls that support heavy loads or exceed four feet in height require special soil reinforcement and often professionally engineered designs. Please consult a qualified engineer if unsure about any construction, site or soil conditions. Also be sure to check local building codes before designing or constructing a retaining wall.
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