HDTutorial
EN
How to Build a Timber Retaining Wall | This Old House

Playback starts YouTube’s embedded player (privacy-enhanced mode).

How to Build a Timber Retaining Wall | This Old House

2,623,877 views November 1, 2015 5:38

Watch on YouTube
ChannelThis Old House

In brief

This Old House’s Roger Cook demonstrates how to build a sturdy, wood-timber retaining wall for a play area. You’ll dig a trench, lay a gravel base with drainage, and assemble pressure-treated timbers securely—ideal for creating a raised, level space in your yard. The project includes key details like proper staking, screwing, and water management to ensure longevity.

Key steps

  1. Lay and compact 3/4-inch stone as a base, then add drainage pipe wrapped in filter fabric.
  2. Position and stake the first timber, securing it with rebar stakes and screws.
  3. Cut timbers to fit corners or curves using a circular saw, treating cut ends with preservative.
  4. Cover the front of the wall with bark mulch to finish the look.

Questions & answers

What size timbers are used for this retaining wall?

The video uses 6x8-inch pressure-treated landscaping timbers.

How is drainage handled in this design?

A 4-inch perforated pipe wrapped in filter fabric runs behind the wall to direct water away.

Description from the creator

This Old House landscaping contractor Roger Cook shows how to construct a wood-timber retaining wall to create a play area. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse

Shopping List for How to Build a Timber Retaining Wall:
- 1x3 wood stakes [amzn.to/2M18dFg] and nylon string [amzn.to/2HBw0GJ], used to establish layout lines for timbers
- 6x8-inch pressure-treated landscaping timbers [amzn.to/2QbzIe4], used to build retaining wall
- wood preservative [amzn.to/2JJaXVj], to treat cut ends of timbers
- 3/4-inch stone [amzn.to/2EdQRPu], used as base and drainage material
- landscaping filter fabric [amzn.to/2LO8Wd3], used to prevent soil from clogging drainpipe
- 4-inch-diameter perforated drainage pipe [amzn.to/2HLe2BJ], for draining water away from retaining wall
- 1/2-inch-diameter (No. 4) x 4-foot-long metal reinforcing bar [amzn.to/2W9sgFy], used to stake timbers and dead men to ground
- 12-inch landscaping screws [amzn.to/2VBu9Xq], for fastening together the landscaping timbers
- bark mulch [amzn.to/2YAKsFK], used to cover the ground in front of the retaining wall

Tools for How to Build a Timber Retaining Wall:
- hand tamper [amzn.to/2JSBlfz], used to compact the soil and stone base
- wheelbarrow [amzn.to/2HlIx1Y], used to transport stone and mulch to jobsite
- shovel [amzn.to/2w3KUzU], for excavating the ground
- circular saw [amzn.to/2VwSi0W], used to cut timbers
- impact driver [amzn.to/2VsuNGw], used to drive landscaping screws into timbers
- drill/driver [amzn.to/2VvOsp8] with 9/16-inch-diameter spade bit [amzn.to/2JHHKdk], used to bore holes in timbers for rebar stakes
- sledgehammer [amzn.to/2W2h4uv], used to drive in rebar and wood stakes
- 6-foot level [amzn.to/2w6ADDi]
- torpedo level [amzn.to/2WdILAg]
- foam paint brush [amzn.to/2VwkDo4]

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet:
bit.ly/34RYEP5

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
bit.ly/AskTOHIG

For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite

How to Build a Timber Retaining Wall | This Old House
youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

About this tutorial

This Old House published this 5:38 video tutorial on November 1, 2015. It has been watched 2,623,877 times on YouTube.

Duration
5:38
Published
November 1, 2015
Views
2,623,877
Likes
12,479

Tags

Share

This tutorial in other languages