Retaining wall foundations - again - Have i gone over the top...

[Damian_30]

Hi,

I have a fairly square garden which slopes into one corner and though I would put a small right angled retaining wall into the corner to improve the level.

At its highest point in the corner, the wall will only be 500mm and this reduces down to pretty much ground level after about 4 metres in each direction.

Having asked for some views on other forums (before I found this one), I have dug a trench 600mm deep (450mm width) for 2 metres either side of the highest point of the wall and intended to install a 450mm deep footing. For the remainder of the wall, I've gone 450mm deep with the trench for a 300mm footing.

Having looked at some of the other jobs on the site, I wonder whether I have gone completely OTT witht eh trench/footing for such a small wall. I need 1 cubic metre of C20 to fill these trenches! Does anyone have any views and do I need to re-think what I have done so far?

Finally, both sides of the wall will not be seen becuase they run parallel with the boundary fence - is it best to use engineering bricks for the outside skin and concrete blocks (or concrete commons?) for the inside skin?

Any views would be much appreciated as it is the first time I've done anything like this.

Many thanks,

Damian

[Mark B]

the foundations for a job like this would only need to be around 200mm deep in concrete but could vary depending on ground conditions. you coukd use commons or concrete blocks where the brick wont be seen in order to keep down the cost