Dowelled Retaining Wall

[bank]

My client wants to avoid the cost of building a traditional cantilever retaining wall with a footing, etc. He is asking that we build it onto the edge of an existing concrete driveway. The wall will be 2.5 feet high at most if constructed in that manner.

The pavement is 6 inches thick, which doesn't provide much depth for the dowells. Is it possible and safe to construct a low retaining wall in that manner?

Has anyone done this before?

 

[Ron]

Use segmental block. You won't need much, if any, dowelling and the stresses behind the wall are not enough to worry about.

 

[bimr]

Allan Block has design information on the website:

http://www.allanblock.com/DLP/AllanBlockProducts.aspx?ta=4

 

[cvg]

most 2 1/2 foot high walls are not engineered. safety is probably not an issue. However that said - it does require a substantial footing and the footing should be reinforced. I would not recommend attaching to an un-reinforced slab.