Building Wooden and Limestone Retaining Walls...

Building wooden retaining walls... as easy as 1...2...3... or is it? Find out below. Also, further down the page is information on how to build a limestone retaining wall.

During our first gardening and landscaping makeover, Jim and I were fortunate to have had a decent slope in the backyard so when we decided to build a pool, the natural choice was to build an aboveground pool into the yard slope.

Step by Step Retaining Wall Instructions

In this section I explain how to build a wooden retaining wall for an aboveground pool application, however the instructions can be modified for any application such as a retaining wall to help against soil erosion.

1. We first measured the diameter to make sure that a 16 ft. round aboveground pool would fit in the space. Sadly, we had to cut down a beautiful Manitoba Maple tree. Digging out the roots was another big problem. This took quite some effort.

2. Using a rented bobcat, we excavated the side of our yard slope, approximately 1/2 of the aboveground pool diameter...the part that would be built into the slope. We added another 30 inches onto the excavation measurement in order to give the space needed to build the wooden retaining wall.

3. Next we poured an 18 inch x 1 foot thick grade beam of concrete to help support the wooden retaining wall circular structure. It is important not to disturb the base ground too much.


4. On the outside of the grade beam we dug a trench to incorporate a weeping tile (see the black tubing in the image) all around the poured concrete grade beam and topped it with a 3/4 inch down gravel. While very few people would do this, we thought it was important to have a way for the water to evacuate in case of a drastic water leak/break.

5. On the inside of the grade beam we dug holes approximately 3 ft. deep in the ground at 5 ft. on center. In the holes we placed 6 inch x 8 inch preserved wood 8 ft. poles. These were held in place by 1/4 down gravel. We selected 1/4 inch down over concrete because 1/4 inch down over time becomes as hard as concrete, yet it affords the water the opportunity to drain.



6. We then applied, on the outside of the buried 8 ft. poles, 2 x 6 preserved wood stringers (see the image to the right). Once this was complete the entire circular wooden retaining wall structure became very strong and protected the aboveground pool or on-ground pool from any exterior damage.

7. The other 50% of the circular structure (when completed) was covered by large boulders (cemented), giving a very rustic look. Prior to cementing the boulders, we placed a black protective water barrier to the outside of the wooden retaining wall to add longevity to the 2 x 6 preserved wood stringers.

Over-ill? Maybe...but the pool still stands today as when it was first built with no leaks or mishaps. (the aboveground pool was built in 2001)

Once the boulders were in place we created the aboveground pool landscaping. We planted various shrubs like the Butterfly Bush, Dwarf Blue Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, Ninebark Shrub, Dogwood Shrub, various Lilies, Meadow Rue and tall Brandon Cedars.

The image above looks up toward the house. It shows the burnt red painted cement stairs. To the right in the image is the aboveground pool. To the left, we built a small waterfall and pond.

We planted various shrubs alongside the stairs such as the nesting Blue Spruce, Mugo Pines, Junipers and the Ninebark shrub. At the base of the stairs and to the right, I planted my favorite, the Siberian Larch Tree.

The image above shows another view of the completed aboveground pool. Jim also installed all of the interlocking bricks and the cedar deck surrounding the aboveground pool.

Creating a Limestone Retaining Wall

The video below shows how Jim is creating our front retaining wall with the limestone from the Quarry.

Please see My Stones and Boulders Page to view images and videos from the Mariash Quarry.

Placing the limestone

Placed limestone

As you can see in this image, (click to enlarge) Jim has placed the limestone in perfect order layering.

He filled in the back with gravel. This will become like concrete after a few rains and the limestones will not shift.

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