VERSAWALL RETAINING WALL SYSTEM

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1 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TABLE OF CONTENTS BEFORE YOU START 2» Key considerations» Cross sections» Versawall components» Key tips and tricks to prepare for your project DURING CONSTRUCTION -HOW TO BUILD 12» Installation» Internal and external corners ON COMPLETION 18» Maintaining your project» FAQ's ABOUT ADBRI MASONRY 20 VERSAWALL RETAINING WALL SYSTEM Concrete retaining wall blocks are ideal for creating garden beds, planter boxes, feature walls and retaining sloped land and Versawall is one of the top choices for these projects! This pure vertical block system is incredibly versatile, DIY friendly and includes is available in left and right corner units as well as a neat cap to finish off retaining projects. This comprehensive guide includes everything you need to know about Versawall for use in landscaping and home building projects. First things first, concrete segmental retaining wall systems like Versawall are a tried and tested solution for retaining land and creating garden beds. While there are many options on the market, very few feature the benefits and value for money that Versawall does, so if you want the best product for your retaining project, then read on! We ve created a dynamic table of contents, meaning you can skip ahead to any part of the document simply by clicking the title, or you can read from start to finish. PAGE 1

2 BEFORE YOU START THERE'S A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER INTENDED APPLICATION The purpose of your wall will help you determine two key questions: 1. Is Versawall suitable for your project? 2. How does Versawall need to be installed to be successful in your project? While it is true that Versawall is perfect for most projects around the home, the more practical question you need to ask yourself is, will Versawall be the best product for my project?. Generally, the answer is yes for all soil garden retaining walls under 800mm in height, all planter boxes, veggie gardens or garden beds and garden wall projects! The finished height of the wall will impact all of your decisions regarding the product. Versawall can be built as a pure vertical retaining wall to achieve maximum reinforced heights of 800mm plus the capping unit when installed correctly. An important feature that makes Versawall so popular is that it can be built to 1400mm in height with the use of No Fines Concrete (as seen in the diagrams on page 4). The ability to build a pure vertical block retaining wall over 1 metre in height opens up many new project opportunities for Versawall. It is important to note, you will need approval from council and may require engineer designs and approval before building to this increased maximum height. View the Maximum Unreinforced Heights of Adbri Walls PAGE 2

3 BEFORE YOU START IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT BASE Arguably the most important part of any retaining wall project is the foundation levelling pad, or base that the wall itself will sit on. In walls built to the unreinforced height specified (for Versawall, 800mm), the foundation serves as a levelling pad to ensure the wall is laid level if you start level, you can finish level. Therefore it s vital to get the base right so spend some time on this step and choose the base option that best suits your project. 1. TRADITIONAL COMPACTED ROAD BASE FOUNDATION LEVELLING PAD This is a common base option for unreinforced gravity retaining walls. This base type uses roadbase in the trench, which is then compacted to a depth of approximately 100mm before a 25mm sand and cement screed is applied over the roadbase to create a level surface to begin laying blocks. 2. TORPEDO BASE BLOCK FOUNDATION The Torpedo Base block is an innovative new retaining wall foundation block for use in unreinforced gravity retaining walls. The major benefit of Torpedo is that by using these blocks, it use reduces the need for advanced screeding skills to attain a level base. Torpedo Base blocks are very solid and wide providing the perfect base for retaining wall blocks to be laid on top of. Torpedo Blocks are simply laid in the trench atop of a maximum of 25mm cement stabilised sand which provides give. This means the Torpedo blocks can be tapped with a mallet to level. Once the pad of Torpedo Blocks is level, the first course of retaining wall units are simply glued down to the centre of the Torpedo Block using a landscape grade adhesive. Check out the typical wall detail cross sections on the following pages for more information. PAGE 3

4 BEFORE YOU START TYPICAL DESIGN CROSS SECTION OF VERSAWALL BY APPLICATION Please note; these typical designs are reflective of common applications. Always check with your local council regarding requirements and regulations for retaining walls in your area and seek engineering advice if you have soil with high clay contents or for walls built over the maximum stated unreinforced heights. Gravity retaining wall Unreinforced to 800mm in height Adbri Masonry Versawall units and caps 20mm drainage aggregate column and to fill block voids Existing soil 100mm diam. socked subsoil drain 2% fall to discharge at 20m max centres Max 800mm high 4 courses + cap No structural load within this zone 450 x 130mm compacted roadbase or concrete pad 300mm NOTE: Allow minimum 50mm embedment to cover leveling pad Planter box to 800mm in height Adbri Masonry Versawall units and caps 20mm drainage aggregate column and to fill block voids Max 800mm high 4 courses + cap 300mm 300mm 450 x 130mm compacted roadbase or concrete pad NOTE: Allow minimum 50mm embedment to cover leveling pad 100mm diam. socked subsoil drain 2% fall to discharge at 20m max centres PAGE 4

5 BEFORE YOU START Reach greater heights - Engineered retaining walls to 1400mm in height Adbri Masonry Versawall units and caps No Fines Concrete (NFC) Existing soil No Fines Concrete (NFC) Max 1400mm high 7 courses + cap 100mm diam. socked subsoil drain 2% fall to discharge at 20m max centres No structural load within this zone 450 x 130mm concrete pad Depth Varies* NOTE: Allow minimum 50mm embedment to cover leveling pad *Dependant on height & soil conditions. Must refer to Adbri Technical Retaining Wall brochure for required backfill of No Fines Concrete. Torpedo Base Block Adbri Masonry Versawall units and caps 20mm drainage aggregate column and to fill block voids Existing soil Ø100mm socked subsoil drain 2% fall to discharge at 20m max centres Max 800mm high 4 courses + cap No structural load within this zone Masonry Adhesive 300mm Torpedo Base Block Maximum 25mm of cement stabilised bedding sand PAGE 5

6 BEFORE YOU START REASONS TO CHOOSE VERSAWALL Quick and easy to build with Interlocking blocks with lugs on top of units and tongue and groove joints on sides, the perfect choice for DIY Pure vertical space saving retaining wall perfect for projects where space is a premium Can be laid onto Torpedo Base Blocks for easy installation Speciality corner units for easy corners Speciality caps for neat finish Can be used to create walls with gentle curves PAGE 6

7 BEFORE YOU START Versawall Components Capping Unit 250mm 60mm 300mm Versawall Corner Unit (Right Shown) 215mm 200mm 390mm Unique self interlocking lugs Versawall Standard Unit 215mm 200mm 400mm PAGE 7

8 BEFORE YOU START OTHER CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE YOU BUILD DIY VS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR The type, height and complexity of your wall, with consideration to your DIY confidence level will determine if you should take on this DIY project or hire a contractor. Trained installers can help you achieve a premium finish to your project. For higher, engineered walls that require submission through council, contractors can also help with advice throughout your certification process. If you are committed to building the wall yourself, the good news is Versawall is incredibly easy to work with and perfect for DIY projects where the wall height does not exceed 800mm in height. We have some great DIY information, videos and tips throughout this guide to help you get started! PURCHASING VERSAWALL Once you have confirmed Versawall will be suitable for your project you are almost ready to buy. Versawall is one of Adbri s best retaining walls and is therefore widely available as a stock item throughout the East Coast, South Australia and Tasmania. For the very best advice and peace of mind, it s worth visiting a trained Adbri Certified Partner. Certified Partners have completed multiple Adbri training sessions which include modules specific to building retaining walls and working with Versawall. If you have any further questions or just want the best advice, be sure to visit an Adbri Alliance Certified Partner. Along with the CMAA, we recommend to order an extra 5% to account for cuts and breakages! Click Here To Find Your Nearest Versawall Retailer PAGE 8

9 BEFORE YOU START SITE ACCESS If you are having product delivered, you can potentially save yourself a lot of time and effort when ordering your Versawall by providing specific details about your site. Forklifts require a clearance of 2.8 metres wide and have height restrictions of 2.9 metres. This is important because if there is an opportunity for a forklift to access the side or back of your house without damaging your surfaces, you can get the pallet as close to where you are building the wall as possible! Your back will thank you because you will save yourself countless trips with the wheelbarrow from the front of the house to the back!. PAGE 9

10 BEFORE YOU START NOW YOU'RE READY TO BUILD! One of the reasons Versawall is such a popular retaining wall is because it s so easy to build with! The interlocking blocks and tongue and groove joints make the system very straight forward to work with regardless of your experience level! We ve created videos that will help you make your walling project a success. We ve even got quick links to each particular step in the process in case there s some parts of the project where you require advice. Before you start and learn all of the expert tips in the videos below, we wanted to share our top tips, years of experience before you start the project! 1 DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG, CALL 1100 Your retaining wall will require a footing that needs to be dug below ground level and you should always call the free service Dial Before You Dig on 1100 or visit: to check for power, water, and other services including data cables. Not only can they be incredibly dangerous, it can be incredibly expensive! 2 POISON 3 ALWAYS THE GRASS Another tip is to poison the grass along the length of the trench that you will need to dig a week or so before you are ready to dig it out it will make removing the grass a lot easier! WEAR APPROPRIATE SAFETY GEAR Versawall is great for DIY projects but don t needlessly risk injury by ensuring you have your safety gear on at all times. At a minimum, safety glasses, gloves and protective footwear should be worn. When using equipment like a brick saw or plate compacter, make sure you have hearing protection and a dust mask for cutting. PAGE 10

11 BEFORE YOU START 4 FOLLOW 5 DON'T 6 HAVE THE HELPFUL HINTS AND TIPS Follow the helpful hints and tips in this guide and look out for the best practices shown in these videos, it will all help to ensure you get the best result for your project TAKE SHORTCUTS Don t take shortcuts with the technical requirements of your wall like agpipes, backfilling and infilling with aggregate which are all vital to ensuring your wall performs as required. FUN WITH THE PROJECT AND DON T RUSH! Expert landscapers spend years crafting their skills around levelling, screeding and installation of walls don t try to rush it and spend extra time on your base, if you start level and check for level as you build each course you will finish level! PAGE 11

12 DURING CONSTRUCTION - HOW TO BUILD DIY HOW TO BUILD A RETAINING WALL WITH ADBRI This video steps through the installation process of using Versawall to create a retaining wall. To watch our how to video on building a garden planter box with Versawall, click here. STEP 1 MARKING OUT Using marking paint and string line, locate and mark out the line if your wall. STEP 2 EXCAVATION Remove soil and turf. TIP: Always call Dial Before You Dig on 1100 before excavating. STEP 3 PREPARING THE FOOTING There are 3 footing types: 1. Compacted Road Base 2. Torpedo Base Block 3. Concrete Leveling Pad This video shows wall construction using compacted road base and then the soil and cement screed. PAGE 12

13 DURING CONSTRUCTION - HOW TO BUILD STEP 4 LAYING THE FIRST COURSE Start at either the lowest point, or the most visible section of your wall. Place blocks and check for level side to side and front to back. STEP 5 INFILL AND BACKFILL WITH AGGREGATE It's vital you infill the cores in each block with free draining aggregate like blue metal. You must also backfill with the same aggregate behind your wall to form a drainage column. STEP 6 DRAINAGE AGPIPE It's imperative your wall deos not have water pressure massing behind it. Install a drainage agpipe and divert water away from back of wall. PAGE 13

14 DURING CONSTRUCTION - HOW TO BUILD STEP 7 LAYING SUBSEQUENT COURSES Continue laying blocks and be sure to remove debris from tops and bottom of blocks with a brush and check for level. TIP: You must remove the locating lugs on the tops of the corner blocks before placing the next course. If you do not remove the top lugs on corner blocks, the next course will not sit level. STEP 8 APPLY CAPPING UNITS Finish the wall neatly with wall caps that are applied using a landscape grade adhesive. TIP: Before gluing down caps you must remove the lugs on the top course of blocks. Do this with a mallet and bolster and don't forget your safety glasses. Click here to watch how to mitre a capping unit corners PAGE 14

15 DURING CONSTRUCTION - HOW TO BUILD HOW TO BUILD INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CORNERS WITH VERSAWALL INTERNAL CORNERS Use standard Versawall units and remove the locating lugs atop of blocks. Then set corner at half bond, 90 degrees. Fill cores and 300mm behind each course with granular rock (blue metal) for drainage and compact. Pic 1A Pic 1B Pic 2A Pic 2B EXTERNAL CORNERS Use Versawall left and right corner units to construct an external corner. 1. Remove the two lugs from on top of the corner unit prior to installing the following courses. 2. To finish the wall, use a bricksaw with PPE and mitre cut the caps and remove all locating lugs from the top of the block prior to securing capping units down with landscape grade adhesive Pic 3A Pic 3B PAGE 15

16 DURING CONSTRUCTION - HOW TO BUILD FINISHING YOUR WALL WITH VERSAWALL SPECIALITY CAPS Versawall is a complete retaining wall system and this means you can buy speciality retaining wall caps to finish your project. There are 3.33 caps per lineal metre of wall and you will require 2 caps per mitred corner so our tip is to always order 5% extra for cuts! Applying the capping unit is easy and involves removing the lugs on the tops of the final course of blocks with a mallet and bolster first. Once these lugs are removed, simply run a line of landscape grade adhesive along both the back and front of the block and firmly place capping units down onto the adhesive. You can check out this step in detail in this video. HOW TO GET YOUR VERSAWALL CORNER CAPPING PERFECT! To neatly finish a Versawall corner, the capping units will need to be mitred to create the best finished visual for your wall. To achieve a perfect mitre, a brick saw / wet saw is ideal. If you need to hire a wet saw, you must also have hearing, eye and dust protection and be comfortable and confident in the operation! Once you ve got your safety gear, the process is straight forward as explained in this short video from Adbri s brand ambassador, Jason Hodges. PAGE 16

17 DURING CONSTRUCTION - HOW TO BUILD HOW TO CURVE VERSAWALL This is one of the most common questions we are asked about Versawall can it create curved walls? The simple answer is yes you can achieve mild curves using Versawall blocks! If you want to create high quality gentle curves using Versawall, grab your mallet, bolster, safety gear and then check out this video for step by step instructions! TIPS FOR PLANTING OUT YOUR NEW VERSAWALL GARDEN BED OR VEGGIE PATCH One of the best tips for planter box and garden bed involves the last step of the project, planting out! In most instances, people will complete their wall, glue down their caps and begin brining in soil to then plant into. First things first, if you are bringing soil in with a wheelbarrow, be careful not to ram the barrow into your wall or sit the weight of the full barrow on top of your just laid caps as it will move them around, especially if the glue is not dry! While that can protect your wall, the real life hack is in the planting of your flowers, trees or veggies. Bring in a base layer of soil and spread it approximately two-thirds of the height behind your wall. Then start spacing out your plants and take them out of their pots and place on top of this base layer of soil. Finish by bringing in the remainder of your soil or mulch until it is sitting just below the bottom of the cap! This saves you bringing in all the soil and then digging holes for each plant! After your work on the shovel digging the retaining wall base, take the opportunity to give yourself a well-earned break with this tip! PAGE 17

18 ON COMPLETION MAINTAINING YOUR PROJECT One of the reasons concrete masonry blocks are increasingly popular choices for retaining wall projects is due to their proven performance and durability. Concrete wall blocks wont rot over time, they are not prone to white ants and because they have been designed for external use, they will stand up to the elements. This means your Versawall project will require very little maintenance. From time to time you may notice some debris gathered on the surface of your wall blocks that you can wash away with a hose, pressure cleaner or a stiff brush and some soapy water. In some instances, concrete products can be impacted by efflorescence. This natural occurrence presents itself in the way of white, chalky marking on the surface or face of concrete masonry. While marking will dissipate naturally over time, there are ways to expedite the removal of efflorescence. Check out the helpful video below to learn more about removing efflorescence and staining from concrete masonry. PAGE 18

19 ON COMPLETION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1.WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM UNREINFORCED HEIGHT THAT VERSAWALL CAN BE BUILT TO? Versawall can be built without engineering or reinforcement to a maximum height of 800mm (4 courses) plus the capping unit. You will need to seek advice from your local council before constructing any retaining wall to confirm the maximum heights allowable in your area without engineering and certification. 2. IS THERE A RECOMMENDED WAY TO BUILD PURE VERTICAL RETAINING WALLS OVER 1 METRE IN HEIGHT USING VERSAWALL? Yes, Versawall can be built to 1400mm in height with the use of No Fines Concrete. Most councils will require engineer plans for walls this height to be submitted and to go through a certification process. Please check with your local council before engaging a contracting to build your Versawall wall over 1m in height. 3. CAN VERSAWALL BE USED TO CREATE CURVED RETAINING WALLS AND GARDEN BEDS? Yes, Versawall can be used to achieve gentle curves in retaining walls and garden beds. To make success of your curved Versawall project, be sure to check out all of the advice, hints and tips in our Curving Versawall video. 4. ARE THERE SPECIALITY CORNER UNITS USED WITH THE VERSAWALL SYSTEM AND HOW DO I BUY THEM? Yes! To make the construction of corners in your retaining wall even easier, the Versawall system includes both a left and right speciality capping unit. Check out our video on building corners with Versawall for further DIY advice. 5. DO I NEED TO INFILL THE CORES OF EACH BLOCK ON EACH COURSE AND BEHIND EACH COURSE WITH A FREE DRAINING AGGREGATE? Yes. Versawall retaining walls can only be built to a maximum unreinforced height of 800mm (4 courses) plus cap if the cores of each block on each course and behind the wall are filled in with a free draining aggregate such as blue metal (available at most landscape supply yards). The aggregate within the blocks adds additional weight and mass to the wall which ensures it can reach 800mm in height and the drainage aggregate column behind the wall (and essential for all walls) ensures water can drain freely and quickly from behind the wall to the drainage pipe where it can be redirected away from the back of the wall. WHERE TO BUY? Click the Request a Quote button for a quick and accurate price, as well as details on your nearest Certified Partner store. Request a Quote PAGE 19

20 ABOUT ADBRI MASONRY Adbri Masonry is Australia s leading masonry manufacturer supplying quality concrete bricks, Besser blocks, pavers, retaining walls, erosion control products and architectural masonry solutions from various sites throughout Australia s East Coast and South Australia. Adbri Masonry is a wholly owned division of Adelaide Brighton Ltd, a leading integrated construction materials and lime producing group of companies and a member of the S&P/ASX 100 Index. Adbri Masonry first produced concrete Besser blocks in 1957 and has been committed to Australian manufacturing and quality that is just as strong today. In addition to supplying a full collection of quality concrete building and landscaping products, there are a range of valuable benefits to working with Adbri Masonry including;» Access to our Contracting Services Team (in-house design, supply, installation and certification team for commercial projects).» Samples of all products are tested for quality in our N.A.T.A accredited laboratory» Our commitment to environmental sustainability and environmental building products.» Our suite of helpful step by step DIY videos with landscaping expert Jason Hodges» Our network of trained and experienced Certified Retailers» Service from dedicated and experienced consultants» The benefit of dealing with knowledgeable local sales teams BRICKS BESSER BLOCKS PAVERS RETAINING WALLS PAGE 20