Asked on Feb 27, 2015
I want to make a smallish retaining wall that looks like stone
by Louise
+13
I've seen videos from Stonemakers and was VERY impressed. The wall I need to make (when the weather gets warmer) would be about 2 ft tall x 10 ft. long. Can I just use concrete that I mix myself in a container, put it into a pile, let it set a while and then shape it? I'd first dig a trench of sorts and hammer some rebars into it. Would that be all I need? Would I need to wrap some wiring all around the rebars? I'm very artistic and could easily create stone-looking shapes with the concrete. Maybe even something more freeform like this photo. The fellow in this video said he threw some broken concrete pieces on the ground and covered them with concrete, then shaped it. Ideas?
10 answers
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Great ? as I am also looking for ideas on a small retaining wall. Can you load up the video you saw, or where I can see it?
![Anna Ibarra]()
Anna Ibarra
on Feb 27, 2015
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Just stack bags of quickcrete to make your wall and soak them down....when they harden the paper comes off and it looks like a cobblestone wall....saw this at South Shore Harbor in Clear Lake, Tx.
![Charles Prock]()
Charles Prock
on Feb 28, 2015
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Just buy some real rocks that are cut and stack mortar on top of each and leave the sides open for a natural dry stack look. Real rocks can cost you about the same as bags of concrete.
![Gary Penney]()
Gary Penney
on Mar 01, 2015
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This concrete idea is great. I never seem to have enough rocks for what ever i'm building in my garden. Was wondering though by soaking a bag of cement...how difficult was it to remove the paper? Did bits and pieces get stuck when the cement hardened? I'd be interested to know.
![Heather]()
Heather
on Mar 01, 2015
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Another question: when using the bags of quickcrete I will be combining it with real stone, how do I add the coloring products to match the other stone, how is the texture, and does it bleach or change texture?
![Maggie]()
Maggie
on Mar 03, 2015
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You would stain it just like you would your floor concrete....if you use acid also it will make it turn incredible colors so you would do the staining first and then find the stone that would compliment it or contrast with it.
![Charles Prock]()
Charles Prock
on Mar 04, 2015
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the texture is smooth like the inside of the bag....it does not bleach or change texture....you could use a hammer and cold chisel to knock off the outside for different textures but that would be quite time consuming...if you do this be sure to wear eye protection.
![Charles Prock]()
Charles Prock
on Mar 04, 2015
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There is motor and concrete color powder at Lowes or Home Depot. Then you add it when mixing the motar. Easy
![Gary Penney]()
Gary Penney
on Mar 04, 2015
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yes, I went to Home depot the other day and saw both the plasticizer and retarder. They were in a small bag. Fortunately you do not need a lot per 60-80lb bag. I bought a half gallon from a website, I'll get you the information once I get home, it was about 30 dollars for the plasticizer. The aggregate is sand. The key thing is to get the proportions accurate. Which I am pretty damn close. When you are at home depot look in the concrete section for the retarder and plasticizer. They are in small bags probably by the ground, dyes and accessories if they are shelved the same way. I went on a few blogs and concrete guys were saying these additives were not new. Just the way it is being used is new.
![R911381115]()
R911381115
on Mar 04, 2015
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you can go through this blog to understand the features and usability of retaining walls better: http://goo.gl/L1QWfO
![Socorro Gonzalez]()
Socorro Gonzalez
on Jun 09, 2015
Anna Ibarra
on Feb 27, 2015
Charles Prock
on Feb 28, 2015
Heather
on Mar 01, 2015
Maggie
on Mar 03, 2015
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