A retaining wall is a good way to avoid erosion, create usable space or add aesthetic appeal to the landscape. However, for you to start your project, you must know the number of retaining wall blocks you will need. Read on to find out the steps to calculate the retaining wall blocks and how easy it is to do by using a simple calculator provided.
Steps to Calculate Retaining Wall Blocks
Steps to Calculate Retaining Wall Blocks:
1. Measure the Length of the Wall
Start measuring by calculating the length. This should be done by determining the length of the wall in feet. On the other hand, measure along the curve to achieve a length in a curvaceous wall.
2. Determine the Height of the Wall
Determine how tall you want your retaining wall to be. Measure the height from the base to the top of the wall in feet. Remember that some part of the wall may be buried below ground for stability.
3. Find the Block Dimensions
Determine the size of the retaining wall blocks you will work with. You will have the length, height and depth of each block as needed. These are most likely provided by the producer. For most standard size retaining wall blocks, your height will be between 6 and 8 inches or 0.5 to 0.66 feet, and your length will be about 12 inches or 1 foot.
4. Calculate the Number of Blocks per Row
Determine the number of blocks that would be required for a row. This can be done by dividing the length of the wall with the length of one block. The formula is given below:
Blocks per row = Total wall length (in feet) ÷ Block length (in feet)
5. Calculate the Number of Rows
To find the number of rows you will need, divide the height of the wall with the height of one block. The formula is as follows:
Number of rows = Total wall height (in feet) ÷ Block height (in feet)
6. Calculate the Total Number of Blocks
To find the total number of retaining wall blocks you'll need, multiply the blocks per row by the number of rows:
Total blocks = Blocks per row × Number of rows
Simple Retaining Wall Block Calculator
Use the following simple calculator to estimate the number of blocks you need for your retaining wall project:
Following the above procedures will enable you to determine easily how many retaining wall blocks you will need for your project. Remember that when you are rounding up, you will have sufficient numbers to cover any error in your calculations or an uneven terrain. With this, your retaining wall project will go well, and you will have a very sturdy structure to enhance your landscape.