How could I 'top' my retaining wall?

[Tom]

Hi everybody

My builder is now starting on the retaining wall, which is between 1 and 2.5 metres away from our house on three sides. The height of it will be about 1m. It will be built in block and faced with reclaimed brick. I'm stuck on how to finish it on the top.

My builder has suggested doing it in brick 'sideways' on, so covering the brick and block. He also said he'd do it higher than the ground behind it, so the rain can run off the top of it. I'm not sure about this and, as usual, would like some other suggestions.

Personally, I'd like it to finish about 1/2" lower than the ground behind it (which is all lawn), with a flat finish so that I could mow right up to the edge...you know, like you would lay stepping stones so you can mow over them. I like the idea of a flat finish as I know this wall will be sat on time after time!! Plus it will give it a softer edge against the grass. However, most coping stones I've seen aren't flat. Is there any advantage to the top being flat, rounded or pointed? Surely, a bit of rain on top couldn't hurt it 'that' much....could it?

What do you think? Where can I get some ideas from? Thanks.

Jaqy

 

[chuckey]

I used paving stones, 12" wide X 18" long, it all depends on how thick the wall is, if its just the single 9" block, then 12" allows for a 1 1/2 " overlap each side. Or get wider and your buillder can cut them down with a disc cutter.
frank

 

[plumbers mate]

Grass flush to the edge of the wall wouldn't thrive as it wouldn't have much root depth and would soon dry out. Also mowing to the edge could be dangerous.
I'd put a cock-and-hen top of the local stone on - that would stop people sitting on it or kids walking along it.
If you *want* people sitting/climbing on it, then plant a drought resistant plant eg a low growing thyme. It would still need some water now and then but not as much as grass.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

A lawn running right up to a three foot drop sounds like a safety issue to me. Not for you, perhaps, but for some future occupant perhaps with a young family.

How about taking the wall up above ground level to form a parapet? Or adding a low railing or fence on top of the wall. Or planting a shrubby border along the top to create a margin between the lawn and the wall. Or a gravelled gutter so that you could mow to the edge of that rather than having to take the mower to the edge of the drop.
Difficult to suggest things without seeing the site, of course.

However you do it you'll need to top off the wall somehow. I'd have a look around the area to see what the local vernacular suggests. Brick on edge would seem a straightforward way to go. Stone copping would be grander, especially if you could find reclaimed.

 

[Tom]

Safety is not an issue for me and if it is for future occupants, they can put their own wall up! Mind you, if that's an issue I wonder how they'll cope with the stone staircase or the river in the back garden!! I think stone coping is the way to go. That way it'll look good with the stone steps in the centre

Jaqy