Geogrid Retaining Wall Installation

Guide
Geogrid, Unit Installation

Geogrid Retaining Wall Installation

Below is a step-by-step Geogrid Retaining Wall Installation process. This is to be used as a guide and instruction manual of the proper procedures needed to safely install a MagnumStone project correctly and efficiently. All information provided is to be used at the discretion of the user.

Call before you dig. These are typically free services in most counties and jurisdictions. They will come to the site and mark out where all of the utilities are underground. 

Canada – digsafe.ca

USA – call811.com

Australia – byda.com.au

United Kingdom – national-one-call.co.uk

New Zealand – beforeudig.co.nz

STEP

01

01

Planning The Geogrid Retaining Wall

Quick Steps
  • Mark the bottom and top of the geogrid retaining wall excavation location with spray paint or stakes.

  • Establish proper elevation points for both the bottom and top of the wall before starting excavation.

  • Organic Materials should not be used in any Backfill Zones.

  • Store and protect good quality Backfill Materials from inclement weather during construction.

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STEP

02

02

Excavating The Geogrid Retaining Wall

Figure #1

Quick Steps
  • Excavate and prepare Sub Base Levelling Trench 6 to 8″ (150 to 200mm) below first course. This will be filled with a 3/4″ (20mm) road base material.

  • Figure 1 – The Leveling Pad Trench Depth should be cut out to approximately 6″ (15cm) from the back and the front of the total depth of the base course. For instance, MagnumStone Standard Unit 24″ + 6″(front) + 6″(back) = 36″ total (610mm + 150mm + 150mm = 910mm).

  • Typical retaining wall burial depth or embedment Depth is 6″ to 12″ (150 to 300mm) Or 10% of the total  height of the wall. Follow the engineer's cross section details or design parameters to ensure the correct embedment depth is being followed.

  • Excavate cut line to a 2 to 1 slope or greater. Check with local codes and regulations to ensure they are being followed correctly.

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STEP

03

03

Sub Base and Base Stabilization Fabrics

Quick Steps
  • Compact Sub Base to 95% Standard Proctor Density or greater.

  • Remove any Organic or poor soils in the Sub Base and replace with proper reinforced fill materials before compacting.

  • (Optional) place 5′ to 6′ (127 to 152mm) wide Base Stabilization Fabric on top of levelling pad trench.

  • Base Stabilization Fabrics will help prevent sub base materials from mixing with the gravel base leveling pad during compaction.

  • Fabric also provides extra Structural Bearing Stability to the base leveling pad.

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STEP

04

04

Compact Gravel Leveling Pad

Quick Steps
  • Typically a 3/4″ (20mm) road crush gravel or equivalent is used for the base leveling pad.

  • Compact Gravel Leveling Pad to 95% Standard Proctor Density or greater.

  • Correct Moisture Content in the gravel will help to reach proper compaction.

  • It is crucial that the base is level front-to-back and side-to-side. Any imperfections will be exaggerated as the wall is built taller.

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STEP

05

05

Laying First Course of MagnumStone Retaining Wall Blocks

Quick Steps
  • Place a steel stake at either end of the leveling pad to establish the back of the first course of units.

  • Secure a tight string line to the stakes at either end which will provide the guide to line up the back of each MagnumStone™ base block.

  • The distance of the string line between the steel stakes may vary due to heavy winds.

  • MagnumStone™ base blocks, placed on the leveling pad, are manufactured without SecureLugs.

  • Place each unit on top of the leveling pad in such a way as not to disturb the level gravel.

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STEP

06

06

Complete Base Row Installation

Quick Steps
  • Complete the first course of the MagnumStone geogrid retaining wall blocks.

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STEP

07

07

Backfill the Gravity Retaining Wall

Quick Steps
  • Backfill the MagnumStone blocks with an approved material. Run a plate vibratory compactor (for smaller lifts) or a roller / vibrating compactor over backfill materials with the proper moisture content.

  • Backfill lifts or layers that are acceptable to the soils conditions and size of the compaction equipment.

  • Proper compaction is crucial to the success of the finished product.

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STEP

08

08

Drain Pipe for Geogrid Retaining Wall

Quick Steps
  • Drain Pipe should have adequate slope to drain water in the right direction towards each Drain Pipe Outlet.

  • Drain Pipe Outlet can be every 30 to 50 ft (9 to 15 m).

  • Perforated Drain Pipe, laid in the Horizontal Cores, can be a Sock Wrapped system to help prevent fines from migrating into the pipe.

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STEP

09

09

Installing Drain Gravel

Quick Steps
  • Clear Crush Drain Gravel is placement in the vertical and horizontal hollow cores after placing and compaction of the backfill materials.

  • The Clear Crush Drain Gravel should be 2″ (50mm) below the top of units to allow for SecureLug connection.

  • Clear Crush Drain Gravel does not need to be compacted.

  • Sweep the top of the MagnumStone™ Blocks clean of all rock and dirt before placing second course of MagnumStone™ Blocks.

  • Make sure the Backfill Materials directly behind the wall are placed flush to the top of the units.

  • Make sure the Backfill Materials are well compacted and level.

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STEP

10

10

Installing Geogrids to Retaining Walls

Follow geogrid manufacturers guidelines and installation details for proper use.

Quick Steps
  • Cut Geogrid Reinforcement to the length specified in the design. Each project has specific cross sections with lengths of geogrid shown.

  • Geogrids are manufactured in two directions, Uni-axial or Bi-axial. Uni-axial grid has one direction of strength and that direction needs to be oriented perpendicularly to the face of the wall during installation. Bi-axial grid can be laid in two directions, perpendicular and lengthwise to the face of wall (ensure that the lengthwise direction is still in accordance to the length specified by the engineer’s design).

  • Correct geogrid orientation, strength and length is crucial to the success of the wall project.

  • Each Geogrid length should be laid parallel and adjacent to each other but never overlapping.

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STEP

11

11

Geogrid and Connection with Second Layer

Quick Steps
  • Place the Geogrid as far forward on the MagnumStone™ units as possible without revealing it on the face.

  • Place the next course of MagnumStone™ units on top of the lower units and Geogrid at a half bond to the lower units.

  • The two SecureLugs will fit securely into the hollow cores of the two units below and lock the Geogrid into the gravel core.

  • The gravel in the lower units will be recessed 2″ (50mm) or more to allow for the SecureLugs connection.

  • Complete the installation of units on the Geogrid Reinforced courses.

  • Make sure each unit is installed against the unit next to it leaving no gaps between unit joints.

  • Use stakes or backfill materials to maintain the tension of the Geogrid during backfilling.

  • Do not drive equipment directly on top of Geogrid.

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STEP

12

12

Backfill Reinforced Geogrid Layers

Second Row Compaction for Retaining Wall
Second Row Drainage Gravel Installation for Retaining Wall
Second Row Geogrid Installation for Retaining Wall
Quick Steps
  • Backfill the Reinforced Zone by placing materials from the back of the wall towards the end of the Geogrid.

  • Install drainage gravel in the cores after placing and compacting backfill materials.

  • Install and compact backfill materials in Lifts no greater than 8″ (203mm). Check with the compaction equipment for maximum lift details. Wrapped system to help prevent fines from migrating into the pipe.

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STEP

13

13

Backfill & Building your Geogrid Retaining Wall

Installing 3rd Row of MagnumStone retaining Wall Blocks
Compaction on 3rd Row of MagnumStone Blocks
Installed Geogrid on 3rd row of MagnumStone Blocks
Quick Steps
  • Install 3rd row of blocks following the same guidelines as previous steps.

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STEP

14

14

Backfill & Building your Geogrid Retaining Wall

Quick Steps
  • Install 4th row of MagnumStone Retaining Wall blocks following the same guidelines as previous steps.

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STEP

15

15

Backfill & Building your Geogrid Retaining Wall

Quick Steps
  • Install next rows of blocks following the same guidelines as previous steps, in accordance with the engineer's design.

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STEP

16

16

Top of Wall Units

Quick Steps
  • Complete the top of the wall with MagnumStone™ Top Units.

  • MagnumStone™ Top Units are manufactured with the back panel 8″ lower than the front face panel.

  • The Clear Crush Drain Gravel and backfill materials will be placed flush to the top of lowered back panel. There are times when more than 8″ (203mm) of top soils may be required.

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STEP

17

17

Soil Separating Filter Fabrics

Quick Steps
  • Place a 6 ft (1.8m) wide Soil Separating Filter Fabric on top of the backfill and drainage gravel and against the back of the last units before placing the planting soils.

  • The fabric will prevent planting soil fines from staining the face of the wall and migrating into the Clear Crush Drainage Gravel (Angular Aggregate free of fines).

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STEP

18

18

Final Grading of Geogrid Retaining Wall Installation

Quick Steps
  • Ensure that final grading is done on top and bottom of the retaining wall.

  • Make sure to protect newly placed planting soil from erosion during heavy rains or surface runoff.

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