First Course on Retaining Wall
Hi Rusty,
I purchased your retaining wall e-book a couple years ago. I’ve read it two or three times and I’m now building some cmu retaining walls. I’ve pre-poured the footings instead of first coursing. I just didn’t have enough help to first course.
Since I’m laying block on a cured concrete footing, I’m wondering if I use a full mortar bed for the first course or if I only mortar the “face shell” profile so that later, when I pour grout into the grout cells of the blocks the grout can contact the concrete footing and not just rest on top of a mortar bed. Hopefully my question makes sense.
Thanks for writing a great book.
Best Regards,
Steve
Hi Steve,
It all makes sence mate. Lay the first course with mortar!
Yours,
Rusty
Thanks, Rusty. One more question:
I used mortar for the first course and I got some cracks in the mortar as it cured since it was 100 degrees Ferenheit while I was laying block.
I sprayed the block and footing with a little water before I began working and the mortar still cracked. Any suggestions? I’m assuming you’ve had to deal with this since you build walls in Arizona where it get’s even hotter.
Hi Steve,
Sound your mortar to see if it has good adhesion.
1st: Lift on the block to see if they are stuck to the footing.
2cnd: Tap with the side of your fist lightly against the side of the block, if it comes loose, re-lay it, if it is stable worry not!
A thick piece of mortar will shrink crack when it dries quickly, but this is not always a sign there is something wrong, it is just the water escaping too rapidly. So long as you have good adhesion you will be fine.
A question on the contractors test in Arizona is: What is the most important quality of mortar?
a. PSI
b. Tinsel Strength
c. Adhesion
Correct answer: c. Adhesion!
Thanks for letting me help!
Gratefully Yours,
Rusty
Thanks Rusty. That is very helpful information. I’ll check those things as I just finally finished up the first course of the first of three walls and now is the time to take action if there is a problem. I tugged on some blocks last week and they felt like they had a reasonable bond but I’ll try tapping on the side lightly as well.
I’m having a great time building my walls. Thanks again for your great book. I wouldn’t have been able to build them properly without the great info that your book provided me.
Thanks,
Steve
People who looked at this item also looked at...
Related items
