Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Retaining wall questions???

We are in a very shallow cove with little wind and wave action. There’s also a lot of vegetation that calms the water and prevents erosion.

I’ve made a few calls about retaining walls and got a few estimates on a vinyl retaining wall. Do we need that type of wall?

The lake usually doesn’t fluctuate over a foot or so throughout the year. I was wondering if we could use these fitted stones sold at Home Depot. They have a lip on the back that overlaps the stone below and uses the pressure of the soil behind the stones to keep them in place.



Are these stones a possible solution? Do y’all have any suggestions?

The wall doesn't have to be over about 2 feet high and will span about 250' of shoreline.

Those should work, we used Versa-lok blocks and pinned the blocks down with rebar. We also dug a trench when the water was low and put pea gravel down to set the blocks on. You should be far enough south that you don't have to worry about ice moving the blocks.

I was considering rebar to anchor the bottom row. Ice shouldn't be a problem.

What about some type of concrete foundation? Necessary or not?

On the rebar, I was thinking about 4 or so foot pieces with one drove down in front of every base stone - maybe 2 in front of every base stone is better.

The problem you might have with retaining wall block is the footing under them. Normally you set the first row on a layer of rock or road base. The thickness should be at least four inches, but if you are going more then four feet, then the base should be deeper. Four feet is sort of a magic number for blocks and when you need to engineer the soil behind the block.

The other problem would be with keeping material behind them. I'd wonder what you could use that wouldn't wash away or erode over time? Gravel is the only thing that comes to mind, but I don't know how it will work with the soil behind it.

Has anybody else done this in your area? It might be worth your time to go for a boat ride and see what's been used. Maybe go visit those people and get some first hand information from them on whether it works or if they'd do it again.

Eddie

JP, Eddie is right. A retaining wall is a structure. It must sit on a foundation that has some strength. Wet soils, with weight on top, will shift. Also, if a retaining wall is tied well back into the shore with some type of anchor, it stands a better chance to stay put laterally. I've seen lots of retaining walls. Each one that didn't have a good footing AND was anchored into solid soils behind it, shifted. Every one.

I once built a real dandy out of railroad ties. I tied it every 10 ft back into the soil (dead man). I understand that it is still there 25+ years later. When I finished, I swore to never do it again. However, J. P., I think you ought to do one. I'll bring a lawn chair and give advice. You buy the beer.

Your best bet is to sketch out what you want and send it to the manufacturer...or maybe a couple different manufacturers. There are many types on the market, some better than others and there are lots of design considerations but they all require a solid footing and possibly multiple courses below grade. Drainage behind the wall is also very important since hydraulic pressure is a retaining walls worst enemy next to a poor foundation.

Personally, I think the flat face style looks much more professional than the castle wall style pictured above.

Does anyone have any experience with retaining walls around trees on the shore line???? New 6ac lake with old 50 year old trees around shore line that the water is up around and need to keep water off from trucks. thank you

Welcome to the forum.

You have trucks in your pond?

Tom, trees with constantly wet roots seldom have a long life span.

Dave is right. I've seen lots of hardwood trees with their feet wet. They die. It isn't enough just to keep water off their trunks. You must keep water away from the drip line.