When a Retaining Wall Needs Reinforcement

Reinforced Retaining Wall

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To find out how many layers of AB Reinforcement Geogrid are required for your wall, assess the conditions listed below. You can calculate the number of rolls needed by taking the length of your wall (in feet), multiplying it by the necessary layers, and dividing the result by 50, which is the length of a roll of AB Reinforcement Geogrid. Most soils will typically fall into the clay category, while sandy conditions described in the chart require a clean, granular material. Unsure about the type of soil you have?

Soil Reinforcement Chart for Residential Retaining Walls

Example: If you use a block from the AB Collection, building a 5 ft high wall (1.5 m) on sandy soil with a level surface above it requires three layers of geogrid, each 3 ft wide (0.9 m). Consulting a local professional engineer is advisable.

AB Reinforcement Grid

Large Roll Grid

The AB Reinforcement Grid is biaxial, meaning it possesses equal strength in both directions and can be conveniently unrolled along the wall. Available in 3 ft. and 4 ft. rolls with a length of 50 ft. (0.9 m and 1.2 m by 15 m), it is optimal for residential retaining walls not exceeding 6 ft. (1.8 m) in height, as indicated in the above table.

Large roll geogrids are designed to be strongest along the direction of the roll or machine direction and are cut to the specified design length. They are best suited for retaining walls over 6 ft. (1.8 m) high.

Geogrid soil reinforcement should be installed behind walls that are taller than 4 feet or that face slopes or loads.

The number of geogrid layers required for a wall is dependent on soil conditions, wall height, and the loads or surcharges placed above the wall. This information should be provided by a licensed civil engineer.

Caution: It is your responsibility to verify site conditions, acquire necessary final designs from a qualified civil engineer, and adhere to local building codes and engineered plans. Any changes to an engineer's plan make you liable.

Geogrid installation should ensure that the strongest direction runs perpendicular to the wall face. Incorrect installation may lead to wall failure as the geogrid is typically strongest in the direction it is rolled.

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Position the end of the geogrid on top of the course of units about 1 inch from the wall face and roll it outward from the wall. You can either pre-cut the geogrid to the lengths required or cut it when rolling it away from the wall.

Adjacent sections of geogrid should be placed directly next to each other, ensuring no gaps along the length of the wall.

It is essential not to overlap geogrid layers directly on top of each other as the slick surfaces will not hold properly. Overlapping can create an uneven wall and visible ripples.

For curves and corners, special layout and overlap procedures are needed. See Technical Bulletin No. 3 for further details.

Once the geogrid is unrolled, secure it to the wall by installing and pinning the next course of VERSA-LOK Standard units.

To ensure effectiveness, there must be no slack in the geogrid. It should be taut and anchored, typically with stakes or backfill. Just enough tension is needed to eliminate slack; excessive pulling may displace the wall.

After securing the geogrid to the wall face with at least one pinned course, you can proceed with placing drainage aggregate, backfilling, and compacting over the geogrid.

Note: Before using tracked equipment on top of the geogrid, at least 6 inches of backfill should be placed.

Tip: If you're installing up to three courses before backfilling, you can pin the geogrid on the specified course and then flip the grid over the front of the wall. Compaction should be done in lifts of 6 inches or less. Once at the course with the geogrid, simply flip it back, secure it, and compact.

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