A strong house or building must be supported by strong walls. To do that, several things come into play. If you’re the owner of a construction firm, you know that having strong walls in construction makes the whole structure sturdy. Get your masonry walls ready and prepare to build strong walls for your construction.
Retaining Wall
A retaining wall must be able to handle pressure and not be susceptible to gravity. It needs to be able to stand for many years. Have a professional place a retaining wall to make sure it will work properly.
Making a Trench
When making one, it has to be wide and deep. It has to have enough space for the blocks you’re using. The excavation must be at least a full course and six to eight inches of space for base material. Make sure that the trench you dig is levelled. It also must have an even layer of base material to help prevent tipping when a freeze is over. You can use a story pole or a laser level to know how deep the trench is.
The soil must also be compacted using a vibrating plate compactor to make it even and firm. For this process, you can also use a hand tamper. Don’t neglect this part because it’s important. The reason for this is because an excavator and hand shovels are capable of disturbing the topsoil. You don’t want that to happen because the wall will settle and that is a bad thing.
Crushed Stone Base
Though more expensive, crushed stone features have better drainage compared to using gravel as a base. Crushed stone is better because it has sharper angles and doesn’t need too much compacting. Also, it remains the same even after compacting. The good thing about this stone is that once you lay it on the trench, it becomes 100% compacted. It can also be used for backfilling so there is no need to use different materials anymore.
First Course and Sweeping
Getting the first right should be on your agenda. Use a torpedo level to even out the blocks. Use a heavy rubber or a plastic mallet for setting the blocks, too. You might need to take your time for this since you’ll want the first course to be flat.
Don’t let pieces of pebbles stay on the blocks you’re using. This will hinder alignment. You need even blocks for an even wall. It will also create a hump which you wouldn’t like because it’s an eyesore.
Saw and Soapstone Pencil
You need a gas-powered saw to make an even and smooth cut. This kind will cut even without water. Just make sure that the dust won’t go anywhere else other than where it should be.
When it comes to lines, using a soapstone pencil is better because it doesn’t stay visible for a long time compared to regular pencils and markers. The soapstone pencil’s mark will be washed off by the rain. The only downside to soapstone pencil is that it’s hard to use it with wet blocks.
Having strong walls is part of a good foundation. As a business owner, you want your structures to be sturdy and withstand the test of time. Follow these ideas to build strong walls.
