Wood Retaining Wall Help

[Redneck_Randy]

I need to build a retaining wall about 12 foot long and 3 feet in height. I would like to used wood but not sure what type of wood I need to us. Don't want somethhing that will rot in just a few years. I will coat the dirt side of the wall with a tar type of coating to prevent wood rot from the inside out. I don't want to us RR ties. What type of wood should I us? Below are a couple pics of what I would like for it to look like and the style of wall I will build.

Thanks

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Randy,
If your set on using wood, it needs to be pressure treated or it will rot rather quickly

It does sound that its not very large, so Im wondering if you considered using the new interlocking blocks to build it with instead ? They have all types and colors to choose from and it should last forever

 

[WhyNot]

Randy,
When I worked for a landscaper we would use pressure treated 6x6's rated for ground contact. We did not do anything special with the post except paint the cut end's with some sort of water proofer the name escapes me right now but I believe it was the same thing they use to pressure treat the lumber. I do know it is green.

 

[goaliedad]

If cedar is available at a decent price it may be a good option. Of course QUALITY pressure treated is one way to go. I say quality because so much PT will twist and bend as it dries. If you go with PT I would not have it on the job site any earlier than needed- get it delivered and installed before it has a chance to warp. That's me 2 pennies!

 

[Bird]

If you're sure you want to use wood, then the other guys have given you good advice. And I'm sure there are people who would disagree, but there's no way I'd build a retaining wall with wood unless I intended to sell the place to an enemy within the next 10 years.

 

[turnkey4099]

If you're sure you want to use wood, then the other guys have given you good advice. And I'm sure there are people who would disagree, but there's no way I'd build a retaining wall with wood unless I intended to sell the place to an enemy within the next 10 years.

Amen to that. I have almost 300' x 5' tall retaining wall built using RR ties. Posts were #1. Wall was whatever I could find, mostly 3s and culls. Been there since late 70s with no signs of failue (yet) but a fence I built many, many years later using the same quality posts and removed last year had over half of the posts rotted off at ground level. I can only assume my retaining wall is in the same condition.

Harry K

 

[mathey]

Pressure treated lumber exposed to the elements rots, the stuff below grade won't be affected much...we tore down a retaining wall that had been installed more than 15 years ago...everything NOT exposed was fine even to the point of still having the new greenish tinge, including the "dirt side", but the outer surfaces were pretty well gone.

 

[Redneck_Randy]

Thanks for all the input everyone. Not sure now what direction I will go. A wood wall I could do but I'm not rock or brick man by any means. Received a bid for a cinder block wall wrapped on the none dirt side with rock. The bid is just beyond what I can afford.

 

[tlbuser]

as Scott Vt suggested. The interlocking blocks are rather easy to install ( no mortar) and look, IMO, so much better. As long as the first course is set flat and level, no problems from there up. For the size you're considering, this should work well. http://www.rockwoodwalls.com/subcat...=false&by_title=true&category=1&subcategory=9

 

[IH3444]

Another advantage to the interlocking block wall, is that it will allow water to pass through. You may or may not be concerned with hydrostatic pressure. Solid cinderblock wall, with mortor will seal the water behind it. Wood may or may not do the same thing. Wood gets wet and swells, sealing itself. Just thoughts.......