Lehi Block Inc.

Lehi Block Concrete Block Pavers landscaping

ARTSTONE RETAINING WALL
Preparation and Installation Guide

Planning your ArtStone Wall:
For a visually pleasing and long lasting ArtStone wall,
plan the installation.
Layout the intended location using a string line, which will allow easy measurement of the wall size and assist in estimating material requirements. The string line also helps in establishing the tip and bottom wall elevations, as well as visualizing the finish grades above and below the wall necessary to blend into the existing topography. These grades should be sufficient to channel water away from the wall and towards the wall ends. It is also helpful to establish a strategy to minimize exposure to rainwater runoff during construction of the wall. Following is a list of materials and equipment necessary to install most Artstone walls:

MATERIALS

ArtStone Units and Caps
Drainage Stone
Drain tile (perforated plastic pipe)
back fill soil (non-organic)
Landscape materials, if desired.

EQUIPMENT

String line & Tape Measure
Bubble Levels (12" & 24" long)
Hammer & Mason's Chisel
Safety Glasses
Vibrating Plate Compactor

All projects will also require some type of materials handling equipment depending on its size and volume of material to be moved. Small projects can be done with a wheelbarrow, but larger projects are generally facilitated by mechanized equipment such as wheel or track loaders. Finally, proper compaction equipment should be selected based upon the back fill soil being used and may additionally require a reciprocating tamper or sheepsfoot roller for fine grained soils.

Important: This installation guide is appropriate only for ArtStone will constructed according to the "Design Tables for ArtStone Retaining Walls" published by Lehi Block Company, 1993 or those walls that have been designed by a qualified, licensed professional engineer. Furthermore, when using the Lehi Block Company Design Tables it is recommended that a professional engineer evaluate the soil, groundwater, and loading conditions at a specific site to determine which, if any, of the Design Tables are applicable.

1. Excavate foundation trench to a depth of 12" and a width of 24". The edge of the foundation trench should be located 6 inches in front of the planned wall location. Be sure to check for property lines, construction easements, and underground utilities before starting excavation.

2. Place a minimum of 6" of free-draining granular material such as 3/4" or 1" concrete coarse gravel in the trench. Optional: Drain tile may be placed at the rear of the foundation trench prior to filling with drainage stone.

3. Create a foundation base for the wall by compacting the drainage stone using a mechanical plate compactor to provide a hard, level surface on which to place the first course of units.

4. Installing the first course. If first course will be exposed at the front of the wall, knock the lip off the bottom of each first course unit. If first course will be covered, simply turn first course upside down and back wards so the lip is facing up and at the front of the block. Control the horizontal
alignment of the wall using a string line and one the straight surfaces on ArtStone Block, i.e. the back of the unit or it's core holes. If not previously installed, place drain tile behind the first course of units. Adjust the hight of the drain tile behind the wall to gravity flow to a convenient outlet point.

5. Place and compact back fill:
a.) Fill the voids between units and the cores of each unit with drainage stone, leaving it slightly high. The drainage stone should also be placed to a minimum of six inches behind each unit. (NOTE: Fine grain soils such as organic topsoil, silts or clays are not recommended for use as drainage fill,

because they could easily leach through the openings between the units and stain the face.)
b.) Place soil back fill between the drainage stone and the back of the excavation to slightly above the hight of the unit. Any non-organic common back fill soil is appropriate.
c.) Compact the drainage stone by running a vibrating place compactor just behind the ArtStone units to obtain a minimum of 95% of the maximum standard proctor density. Generally three passes will accomplish this. Do not run the plate compactor directly on the ArtStone units since it may cause cracking.
d.) Compact the general soil back fill behind the drainage stone to obtain a minimum 95% of the maximum standard proctor density. The method of compaction will vary based upon the type of back fill selected. Flooding of puddling of water to compact back fill is PROHIBITED.
e.) Clean the top to the ArtStone units off using a shovel and broom to create an unobstructed level surface to accept the next course of ArtStone units.

6. When required (refer to design tables) install geo-grid reinforcement to the length provided in the design table or in the plans. Orientation of geo-grid is of extreme importance. Geo-grid should be unrolled perpendicular to the face of the wall and cut to length. Make sure each adjacent sheet of geo-grid reinforcement is butted against the next so there are NO gaps. After geo-grid is placed, it should be tensioned by hand until taut, free of wrinkles, lying flat and secured in place until drainage stone and back fill material is place on it.

7. Install additional courses. Knock off all burrs and protrusions from the top of each block before starting the remaining courses. This will make for an even fit. Center the second course of ArtStone units over the joints of the preceding layer with the locking lip snug against the black of the two blocks beneath. No mortar or interlocking pins are required.

8. Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 for the remaining courses to reach desired height.

9. Install final course of cap. A solid 4 inch thick cap is available (with glue included) or standard size ArtStone with knock out backs (with glue included) is available. When breaking out pieces on ArtStone caps it is important to break back piece off first before breaking the three web pieces off. Tap all pieces gently with a hammer towards the inside of the block.

Engineering Helps for Reference.
28 Degree Wall | 34 Degree Wall

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