School me on tie walls

[hodag]

I am building a new garage on my property. To do so, I need to bring more of my back yard up to level. I need to put in a retaining wall on the back corner of my property, approx, 5'-6' high and 25 feet long.

Im planning on using railroad ties, and not the decorative timbers. Im on a tight budget, so T-block is out of the question. I have a connection for rr ties, so I can get them for $5 apiece.

How do you guys like to build them? Do you use dead-men or wall ties? How far apart, and how many courses in between do you put the dead-men?

Thanks for the help.

Hodag

 

[titanpat57]

How long are the ties you are planning on using?....that would be very helpful.

 

[hodag]

The ties are 8' long.

Hodag

 

[titanpat57]

I would put the dead man every 4 -5 courses, and at least 3 per row. If you can start your first row with some gravel under it, that would be a big help. Let the deadmen go back a min. 5' with a "tee" nailed on the end. Also I would only backfill with at least a foot of 3/4" stone behind the wall for added drainage. I also always liked to step each tie back a 1/2" as the courses progressed. A landscape fabric filter cloth is also nice, installed between the gravel and dirt, to keep dirt from infiltrating into the gravel. It's a huge pain in the you know what, coz everyone, including me, likes to dig the least amount as possible, but the gravel will extend the life of the wall dramaticly. I always liked to pre-drill the holes for the spikes (1/4 or so) as to not blow out the wood with the spike. I also always liked a 10" vs 12" because if you use a 6"x6" (actual size 51/2" x 51/2") it will go thru both ties and sometimes cause a gap going into the third

Just my 2 cents....good luck

 

[osagecruiser]

hodag
to add to titans post....i would dig a footing just like you are gonna install concrete...fill it with ab3...or crusher run and rent a compactor and compact it...i would also recommend if at all possible you not build the wall in a straight line....a curve or corner would help with the stability of the wall...i understand the tight budget but if this dude will affect the stability of the structure by all means do it right and do it once....as you contruct the wall i would also use a #4 rebar "pin" to add stability to the wall....another good option would be to split the height...example....say build 2' of the wall as discussed...step back 3' and construct the balance of the height...you can always use that 3' area as a planting bed...or if it were at my house a weed bed. good luck

osagecruiser

 

[3_puppies]

just a few problems from using "used" RR ties:
some look good on the outside but, rotten and fall apart
they are not all the same size, close but not the same
nasty to cut with chainsaw
wear clothes, you almost want to throw away

when I used to build tie walls, we used green treated 6x6's, when you used to be able to get them. we ran a dead man at every joint, then as you went up a course put the next joint halfway, then the next joint on top of the first, then I was able to put a 1 foot spacer piece spiked to the first deadman, then laid the next deadman on top of the spacer, and was able to tie all the deadman together behind the wall and all the joints lined up nice and pretty.

 

[agomez]

railroad ties will not last they will still rot....

 

[EricG]

Depending on codes where you are, you'll need plans signed off by an engineer and a permit for a wall that size. Just FYI.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

railroad ties will not last they will still rot....

Depending on codes where you are, you'll need plans signed off by an engineer and a permit for a wall that size. Just FYI.

Some jurisdictions will not allow railroad tie walls anymore. Mine lasted about 2.5 years and I replaced it with concrete block. No dead mans. It is 5 feet tall at its tallest. There is a french drain behind it. I went ahead and had it done by professionals simply because the amount of money was worth the time it would have taken me. I figure it would have taken me several months of Sundays. It was done for me in 2 days. $4500.

Can't seem to find the finished pi





They did a great job.

 

[Weedhopper]

Nice looking wall.

I think your wife has eyes on the guy with the white hat...

Those big block are nice. Lotsa more stable.