Rogers' Hardscape Pros
Tips on Installing the Leveling Pad – Courtesy of Joe Powers, Anchor Wall Systems
The installation of the leveling pad and foundation block are aspects of projects that can really eat up the dollars. There are a number of accepted methods and materials to use for digging and installing the leveling pad. To begin, make sure you have a proper layout by a certified surveyor using the designed/engineered shop drawing for the retaining walls (not the grading plan) to make sure the structure is in the correct location and you have considered any impact of the wall batter relative to site utilities and structures, including fences, guard rails and light fixtures, to name a few.
Next, using a laser, establish the bottom of the wall, plus the leveling pad depth. Dig and compact the trench, making it ready to receive the eventual foundation block. Special attention to get the leveling pad to the desired elevation for bottom of wall is imperative.
After digging, a string line or elevation pins placed in the trench to indicate top of stone can help the crew achieve the desired elevation. This is where a certain amount of finesse enters the mix of getting the pad perfect for the foundation block placement. My suggestion is to get the stone pad as close as possible to the elevation for the bottom of the wall and use a leveling bar across the trench (similar to paver installation) to achieve the final elevation for the foundation block.
Take steel bars approximately 24 to 28 inches long, about 3/4 of an inch thick and 2 inches wide with pins on each end and lay across the trench about 8 to 10 feet apart. Set the bars to elevation using a laser to the exact bottom of wall elevation and then use a small amount of screening (no more than 1/2 inch) to achieve the final elevation. This little operation will give you a very nice pad on which to place the foundation block, with little or no disturbance to the foundation block. I’m pretty sure production will increase and the operation will go from angst to a degree of pleasure and accomplishment. Try it, you might like it!