Base Prep & Leveling Pad Installation

Base Prep & Leveling Pad

Base Prep & Leveling Pad Installation

Call Before You Dig websites and toll free numbers can be found around the world. Their purpose is to prevent someone from digging up dangerous gas lines or power lines and are highly recommended before beginning any retaining wall project.

Call before you dig

STEP

Planning Your MagnumStone Retaining Wall

Quick Steps

Mark the bottom and top of the wall excavation location with spray paint or stakes.
Establish proper elevation at the bottom and top of wall before excavating.
Organic materials should not be used in Reinforced Backfill Zone.
Store and protect Backfill Materials from inclement weather during construction.
Mark the bottom and top of the wall excavation location with spray paint or stakes.
Establish proper elevation bottom and top of wall before excavating
Organic materials should not be used in Reinforced Backfill Zone
Store and protect Reinforced Backfill Materials from inclement weather during construction

STEP

Excavation of Subbase & Leveling Pad Trench

Quick Steps

Excavate and prepare Subbase Leveling Trench 6” (15.25 cm) below first course.
For the Leveling Pad Trench, excavate approximately 3.5’ to 4’ wide (106.7 cm to 122 cm).
To achieve a normal retaining wall burial depth or embedment depth, excavate 6” to 12” (15.25 cm to 30.5 cm).
Base leveling pad trench should extend a minimum of 6” (15.24 cm) in front of where the MagnumStone base block’s face will be located and should also include 6” (15.24 cm) behind the block (or last extender unit of the base course if gravity extender units are being used).
Excavate cut line behind the retaining wall leveling pad trench to a 2:1 slope ratio or greater *Ensure you follow local OHS | Occupational Health and safety standard in your region*.
Excavate and prepare Sub Base Leveling Trench 6” below first course.
Normal wall Burial Depth or Embedment Depth is 6” to 12”.
Excavate cut line to a 2 to 1 slope or greater.
Back of wall excavation depth into the bank should be 12” beyond the back of the Sub Base Leveling Trench.

STEP

Subbase Compaction

Quick Steps

Compact subbase to 95% SPD Standard Proctor Density or greater.
For the Leveling Pad Trench, excavate approximately 3.5’ to 4’ wide Remove any organic or poor soils in the subbase and replace with proper Reinforced Fill Materials before compacting.

STEP

Base Stabilization (optional)

Quick Steps

Base stabilization fabric is optional but will help separate subbase materials from leveling pad materials and provide extra structural bearing capacity to the base leveling pad.
Recommended to place base stabilization fabric on top of leveling pad trench overlapping the back and front for the length of the trench.
Ensure base stabilization fabric covers the leveling base trench, as well as the embedment area in front and behind the trench. This will prevent sub base materials from mixing with gravel base leveling pad during compaction.

STEP

Rough Leveling Pad

Quick Steps

Place well-graded gravel on top of fabric (if fabric is used) in the leveling pad trench approximately 6” (15.25 cm) deep.
Roughly grade gravel with a rake until it’s close to the finished base elevation.
Base leveling pad should extend 6” (15.25 cm) on both sides of the blocks. This includes beyond the back of the MagnumStone block or the back of gravity extender units, and a minimum 6” (15.25 cm) in front of the MagnumStone block’s facing.

STEP

Compact Gravel Leveling Pad

Quick Steps

Compact the gravel leveling pad to 95% Standard Proctor Density or greater.
Correct Moisture Content in the gravel will help in reaching proper compaction.

STEP

Finished Leveling Pad

Quick Steps

Compact the gravel leveling pad front to back and side to side to the best and most level capability and to 95% Standard Proctor Density or greater.
Using tools and various methods is acceptable.