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Porches & Decks

Can i still build a deck even though there is a retaining wall?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

My backyard has a very unique setup. There is a retaining wall around the entire back of the house...right as you step outside! I really would like to have a deck built, but I’m afraid it may not be possible. I realize I could not just open my patio doors or back door and step right onto a deck. But could two or three steps be built so I could step up to a deck? I would like the deck to start at my patio doors (see pic) and wrap around to the back door. I’d like to know if someone with experience knows if building a deck is possible, and if so would I be charged extra for having this unique situation? Any advice is appreciated!

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Comments (9)

millworkman
5 years ago
"and if so would I be charged extra for having this unique situation"

Every situation and level of detail effects pricing. There is no standard pricing structure despite what anyone tells you. The best way to get any advice here is to start with pictures, inspration, and an idea of a budget. Without any of that info no one can even begin to offer advice.
Megan Lowe
Original Author
5 years ago
Sorry I was having trouble with photos.
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We do a lot of curved walls, so that's a big part of why we do CMU. That, and we can do them in house- we have to sub concrete walls. Although, we just did a garage and had the walls poured- awesome. Erighter, a six foot wall is a big wall! You need to consider that soil, especially when wet, will be exerting a lateral force on the wall and attempting to push it over. The taller the wall, the more force being exerted. That's why a footer is critical. It's called a cantilevered footer because you're basically using the footer to counteract the force on the wall. The footer's much more than just a level foundation. You may want to consult with a pro, even if you're set on doing it yourself. I totally agree with Roger- I can't imagine that wall would be legal without being engineered. Based on the dimensions you gave, your wall will be coming within about 6' of your home? Be really, really careful. Also, how deep are the uphill posts on your deck- will this undermine those posts? Dave
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The first thing I'm wondering is why you want to do this...? It's pretty much the case that where landscape structures are built that cut corners in their design and construction, it's a downgrade. It is far better to scale back the project and do something lesser, but that is nice and well done. Not sure what your objectives are here. If it's to level the area, you need a real retaining wall whose taller end returns back into the hill at 90*. It could not be dry-stacked with thin material like what you are showing. It would need to be 8" thick if you're using mortar. Thicker if you're not. So much bother! Seems like you'd be much better off with the brick edge that flows with the grade, if you must have edging. If it were in my yard, I'd scrap it all and plant this sloped area solid with whatever lovely groundcover I thought would look best. As the groundcover knit together, there would come an end to adding mulch, and mulch washing. Also, I'd limb up the tree a little so the stuff beneath could get light and grow.
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I do some work with limestone around here (kentucky, US) for fencing/walls and other things and usually use temp logs or pvc pipe in the wall that I pull out after done to allow water to drain -drain holes. I especially would consider that if you are building the wall on bedrock. Don't just pile the rocks though unless you plan on using concrete as well. You want to simply stack them but stack one side behind the other and use smaller filler rocks pushed in the middle to tie them together. Since you don't have experience I'd build the wall with a cut away view like this: / ......| / ......| --------- with the front tapered and the flat back leaned slightly back toward the hill kind of laying against the dirt that will be pushing against it. Do the corners first then occasionally in the middle build up and then go back and do the in between parts and occasionally use a larger rock that can go across both front and back and over filler middle rocks to tie everything together
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I'm sure any analytical lab could test a small piece of the wood for creosote. The ties could also have some other form of preservative in them. However, I don't want to make too big a deal of this. It looks like a great place for a raised bed, and separating the bed from the ties may be enough to alleviate concerns. If you make the bed two blocks high, and run the visqueen down the face of the tie wall and under the bottom of the bed, you should have enough depth to grow well and the planter soil will be separated from any contamination of the soll, if there is any, by the ties. And the visqueen can be fully hidden in the soil.
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Megan Lowe
Original Author
5 years ago
Megan Lowe
Original Author
5 years ago
Megan Lowe
Original Author
5 years ago
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago
Instead of a deck, why not a patio? What I think of as a deck would be raised above your window sills -- and is usually used when ground is lower than the door sills or slopes away from the house -- is there something we aren't seeing here that would call for a deck?
Megan Lowe
Original Author
5 years ago
Maybe I’m using the terms interchangeably? I would like to walk outside to a wooden deck/patio. Something to put a grill and a table/chairs. I just think with that wall I would have to build steps and step up to a patio/deck. Am I correct? or is neither possible due to that wall being so close to the house?
biondanonima (Zone 7a Hudson Valley)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
It looks to me like you need to get rid of that small "wall" (it's more of a curb) and then install a new retaining wall set further away from the house, so that you can extend the existing hard surface into an actual patio.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago
^ Good idea. It would be nice to see all that cement re-done, if you can afford it.

Or maybe just put some pavers or a concrete slab from the doorsill to the wall (it looks like at least one sill is a few inches above the concrete) which would create the first step. The wall itself doesn't look so tall as to need more than one step -- although pics can be deceiving.

It just doesn't look like a good area for a wooden deck, unless you particularly want something raised above the ground on posts. A paver/block/stone patio would work and be pretty uncomplicated to install.

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