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I need help / ideas with retaining wall

3K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  47_47 
#1 ·
Hello,
I have 2 retaining walls in my yard made of cinder block. I would like to go over the cinder block with cedar and then apply a clear, protective finish over the cedar. Any help with this would be appreciated...

What is the best way to mount the cedar without seeing large masonary nails or screws? I thought about liquid nail, but I'm afraid I would have a hard time getting the cedar back off if I need to replace any of it.

I am also concerned with the part of the cedar that would touch the ground. Would the moisture cause rapid deterioration?

Thanks for the help,

Mark
 
#3 ·
You will have lots of rot unless you have ventilation behind the cedar.

If you are going to go forward with this you will need to seal the back and top of the cedar since it will rot from behind.

Here's what I suggest.

Use glue. Put dots of glue large enough to keep the wood away from the wall. Since it is not structural then it won't need a lot of glue but enough to keep the boards in place. Then I would put a small "roof" over the top to keep water from getting behind the boards. Put the "roof" about an inch over the top of the wall so that there is good air flow over the whole wall including the back. Also keep the wood off the ground and keep anything that will restrict air flow like grass.

There are other ideas for keeping the wood off the brick so be creative. The glue thing might not keep it far enough off the wood to work but it is worth a try.

The cedar myth that it is rot resistant is alive and well. Reality is that cedar will rot like any other cellulose based life form. Only heart wood cedar is more rot resistant than other wood. Even then it will rot if not treated well.
 
#6 ·
I live in Houston. I'm not real sure about the soil type. I have a french country style home with cedar columns and beams so I'm thinking that the cedar will look nice. I know that Cedar won't last forever, but I do want to try and mount it in the best fasion possible.
 
#8 ·
If keeping the cedar away from the cinder block is key, what would you think of mounting treated 1X2's to the cinder block on a 45 degree angle about 16" apart? Then I could tack the cedar to those. That would keep the cedar away from the cinder block and would give any water a path to run down.
 
#9 ·
I don't think that the cedar will hold up near the ground level. But if you are insistant on doing this strap the block for an air gap, between the cedar and the block.

What type of cedar are you using? Shakes, clap, planks? You will need to use a SS nail and the shortest siding nail that I've found are 2" and the 1x material will not be thick enough.
 
#11 ·
All wood expands and contacts with its moisture content. Sealing the wood on all sides will make this expansion and contraction more uniform and the boards will be less likely to cup. However, In my opinion, the construction adhesive will not allow enough of the woods natural movement and fail.

Do some research here http://www.wrcla.org/installation_and_finishing/default.htm

Have you thought about a veneered stone to cover the block walls or replacing the walls with swr walls for a contrasting look?
 
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