Installation Instructions

CRESTONE
®
BEVELED
Segmental Retaining Walls that rely on their own weight, core fill, friction between units and setback are
called gravity walls. Conventional segmental retaining walls are generally effective as gravity structures for
most non-critical wall applications. Don’t assume shorter walls never require the services of a soils engineer.
The heights listed by the manufacturer
are used as a rule of thumb when ideal wall conditions are present.
Walls that exceed the heights listed by the manufacturer require additional construction techniques such as
terracing or the use of geogrid reinforcement. These types of walls are known as reinforced or engineered
wall structures. They are also referred to as Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls.
The performance and construction of most retaining walls is highly dependent on the type and condition of
the on-site soils and the contractor’s placement and compaction of the soils behind and under the walls. It is
important to know the properties of various types of soils and understand how they might affect your estimate.
To get a better understanding about soils, a brief review of soil types and properties is shown below.
BASIC INSTALLATION - GRAVITY WALLS
Step 1
- Base Course Preparation
Beginning at a point of the wall’s lowest ele-
vation, excavate a trench down the length of
the wall that will accommodate at least 6" of
compacted base material. We suggest bury-
ing 10% of your wall height below grade
with a minimum of 6" even on short walls.
Step the trench up or down with respect to
adjacent grade. The width of the trench for
both the Denver and Clifton Walls should
be a minimum of 24". Based on the type of
application and what is retained, the depth
of the leveling pad may vary. If necessary,
consult with an engineer. After excavating
the native soil and prior to adding base
material, remove loose material from the
trench
and compact.
Upper Grade
12" Min. Backfill
SRW Block
Lower Grade
6" Min. Block
Embedment
24" × 6 Min.
Compacted Granular
Base Leveling Pad
24"
Min. Base
Fill Width
6" Min.
Base Fill
Thickness
24" × 6 Min. Com-
pacted Granular Base
Leveling Pad
6" Min. Base
Fill Thickness
Native Soil
24"
Oversize
Area
Approximate Limits of Excavation
Leveling Pad Trench
Please note: If you are unsure of your soil condition, consult a soils engineer.
Soils are divided into three groups:
Granular - sands and gravel
consisting of grains down to
.002" - Best for strength and
support
Clay - very fine particles,
> 50% passing #200 sieve
-May cause settlement
Organic - loam, peat that
is made up of moss, leaves
and vegetable matter, and
topsoil - Should be removed