Backfill and Compact Soil

What happens in this clip

Once the sleepers are securely in place and the mortar has cured, backfill the area behind the retaining wall with soil. Use a shovel to carefully place the soil behind the sleepers. As you backfill, compact the soil by tamping it down with your boot or a hand tamper. This ensures that the soil provides proper support to the wall and prevents it from shifting. This step completes the retaining wall, making it ready for its intended use, whether for a shed, flower bed, or other landscaping feature. Remember to consider what will be on both sides of your sleepers when planning your project to ensure any visible concrete elements are covered.

Goal: Complete the retaining wall by backfilling and compacting soil.

What's used

Tools

• Boot or Hand Tamper
• Shovel

Materials

• Soil

About the full video

This project details the construction of a wooden retaining wall, focusing on an effective drainage and leveling system to prevent water buildup and rot. The process involves laying out the wall with string lines, excavating a trench, installing and compacting a drainage bed of MOT Type 1 aggregate, waterproofing the sleepers with bituminous paint, and setting them on mortar piers with haunching to ensure proper water runoff.

Step 6 of 8: Backfill and Compact Behind Timbers

Once the first step is filled and compacted, backfill the soil behind the retaining timbers. Compact this soil firmly to provide additional support and prevent the timbers from moving forward.

Open this step in the guide

Other videos for this step

• Backfill and Pack Soil