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VERSA-LOK Mosaic Wall ComponentsSoils and Compactionweep through joints of installed units. For wallsWith proper design, VERSA-LOK segmentalgreater than three feet in height, a perforatedwalls can be constructed within a wide varietydrain pipe is recommended at the base of theof soil conditions. Granular soils are preferreddrainage aggregate to quickly remove largeas fill in the areas reinforced with geosynthetics;amounts of water.however, fine-grained soils such as clays areacceptable. Usually, coarse soils require lessIf high groundwater levels are anticipated or ifsoil reinforcement and are easier to compactthe wall is along a shoreline, additional drainagethan fine soils. Problem materials like expansivematerials behind and below reinforced fill may beclays, compressible soils, or highly organic soilsrequired. Filter fabric may be required to prevent(top soil) should be avoided or properlyunwanted migration of fine soil particles into theaddressed in designs.drainage aggregate.3Properlycompactedsoils anddrainage controlsare criticalcomponents ofMosaic walls.Proper compaction of foundation and backfill soilis critical to long-term performance of retainingSurface Drainagewall systems. Loose backfill will add pressure onWall sites should be graded to avoid waterwalls, collect water, cause settlement, and willflows, concentrations, or pools behind retainingnot anchor soil reinforcement materials properly.walls. If swales are designed at the top ofFoundation and backfill materials should bewalls, properly line and slope them so water iscompacted to at least 95 percent of standardremoved before it can flow down behind walls.Proctor density. (Proctor density is the maximumdensity of the soil achieved in a laboratoryGive special attention to sources of stormwaterusing a standard amount of compaction effort.)from building roofs, gutter downspouts, pavedGenerally, construction observation andareas draining to one point, or valleys intesting for proper soil type and compaction istopography. Be sure to guide flows from theseprovided by the project’s soils engineer.areas away from retaining walls. Slope thesoil slightly down and away from wall basesto eliminate water running along bases andDrainage Within Wallseroding soil. If finish grading, landscaping,Segmental retaining walls are designedor paving is not completed immediately afterassuming no hydrostatic pressure behind walls.wall installation, temporarily protect the wallDrainage aggregate (angular gravel, clear offrom water runoff until adjacent constructionfines) placed behind walls helps eliminate waterand drainage control structures are completed.accumulation. Because no mortar is used inVERSA-LOK wall construction, water is free toVERSA-LOK MOSAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDELINES8

3Geosynthetics suchas VERSA-Grid reinforce backfillsoils, allowingconstruction ofstable Mosaicwalls exceeding40 feet in height.VERSA-LOK Mosaic Wall ComponentsGeosynthetic ReinforcementGeosynthetic layers must be nominallyGeosynthetics are durable, high-strength polymertensioned and free of wrinkles when placed.products designed for use as soil reinforcement.Geosynthetics are generally stronger in oneHorizontal layers of geosynthetic such asdirection, the roll direction. It is important thatVERSA-Grid provide tensile strength to holdthe high-strength direction be placed perpendicu-the reinforced soil together, so it behaves aslar to the wall face, in one continuous sheet (noone coherent mass. The geosynthetic reinforcedsplices). Along the wall length and parallel tosoil mass becomes the retaining wall. Sufficientthe face, adjacent sections of reinforcement arelength and strength of geosynthetic can createplaced immediately next to each other withouta reinforced soil mass large enough andoverlap to create 100 percent coverage withstrong enough to resist destabilizing loads.no gapping, and with special details for curvesGeosynthetic layers also connect theand corners.VERSA-LOK units to the reinforced soil.The needed type, length, vertical spacing, andGeosynthetics are made from several types ofstrength of geosynthetic vary with each projectpolymers that resist installation damage anddepending on wall height, loading, slopes, andlong-term degradation. Geosynthetics aresoil conditions. A professional Civil Engineerdesigned to interact with the soil for anchorage(P.E.) must prepare a final, geogrid-reinforcedagainst pullout and resistance to sliding.wall design for each project.Geogrids, the most common soil reinforcementfor walls, are formed with an open, grid-likeconfiguration. Geotextiles (solid fabrics) arealso used. Product specific testing determinesthe durability, soil interaction, and strengthof each type of geosynthetic. The interactionof various geosynthetics with VERSA-LOKunits (connection strength) is also tested.Geosyntheticsare designedto interactwith the soilfor anchorage.Geosynthetics provide tensilestrength to backfilled soils.9VERSA-LOK MOSAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

Special Design Considerations4ShorelinesVERSA-LOK segmental retaining wallsperform well in shoreline applications. However,special design considerations are often necessaryWith properdesign, Mosaicwalls can accommodate specialsite conditionssuch as waterloads, slopesor surcharges.to ensure that water pressures do not build upbehind walls. Special provisions may includegranular reinforced backfill, additional drainageaggregate, drainage behind reinforced soilmasses, and filter fabric. Protection of basesfrom water scour, wave action, and ice mayalso be necessary.See VERSA-LOK Technical Bulletin #1 for moreinformation regarding shorelines and retentionpond protection.TieringLoads Behind WallsSurcharge loads and slopes behind walls cansubstantially increase amounts of requiredsoil reinforcement. Common surcharge loadsinclude parking areas, driveways, and buildingstructures. For design purposes, permanentloads like buildings and slopes are considered tocontribute to both destabilizing and stabilizingAesthetically, it may sometimes be desirableto divide large grade changes into tiered wallsections. However, upper wall tiers can addsurcharge loads to lower walls and necessitatespecial designs. To avoid loading lower walls,upper walls must be set back horizontally atleast twice the height of the lower walls.If walls are placed closer, lower walls mustbe designed to resist the load of upper walls.forces acting on walls. Dynamic forces likevehicular traffic are considered to contributeSeveral closely spaced tiered walls can create steep,to destabilizing forces only. Often, the highestunstable slopes. If tiered walls make a grade changesurcharge loads are caused by grading or pavingsteeper than 2:1 (horizontal: vertical), global slopeequipment during construction. Heavy equipmentstability may need to be reviewed by a qualified soilsshould be kept at least three feet behind theengineer. See VERSA-LOK Technical Bulletin #7 forback of retaining wall units. Soil reinforcementmore information regarding tiered wall construction.designs should accommodate all anticipatedsurcharge loads—even if they will occurinfrequently or just once.VERSA-LOK MOSAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDELINES10

5VERSA-LOK’stechnical staff isavailable to assistin planning, layout,estimating, andreferrals for finalengineering.Planning, Estimating& Final DesignsPlanningEstimatingCareful planning is critical to successful projects.Accurately estimate and order required materialsPrior to design, accurate information needs toincluding VERSA-LOK units, VERSA-TUFF be gathered including soil conditions, proposedSnap-Off Pins, cap units, VERSA-LOK Concretewall heights, topography, groundwater levels,Adhesive, imported backfill, leveling padand surface water conditions. Proper permits,materials, VERSA-Grid geosynthetic soilowner approvals, utility clearances, andreinforcement, drainage aggregate, andtemporary easements should also be obtainedadditional drainage materials. The Mosaic in advance.Unit Estimation Chart on page 12 shows howto determine quantities of the various MosaicPlanned wall alignments should be reviewedunits. See the Material Estimation Worksheetfor feasibility. Make sure that layouts accounton page 29 to help determine quantities of allfor minimum curve radii, wall setback, andVERSA-LOK products.area needed for geosynthetic soil reinforcement.Be sure that all wall components fit withinFor reinforced-wall projects, the VERSA-Gridproperty constraints. Verify that temporaryestimation charts on page 30 provide approximateconstruction excavations will not underminefoundation supports of any existing structuresor utilities. Considerations should also begiven to site access for equipment and materials.11VERSA-LOK MOSAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDELINESamounts of geogrid soil reinforcement necessary toconstruct walls in various soil and loading conditions.For tall walls or complex situations, VERSA-LOK staffengineers can prepare project-specific preliminarydesigns for geogrid estimation purposes.

Planning, Estimating& Final Designs5Mosaic Unit Estimation ChartEach Mosaic panel is 1.66 square feet in wall-face area. For each panel, there is one Standard unit,two Accent units, and one Cobble unit. The following formulas and table may be used to estimatequantities of units required for a Mosaic retaining wall project.6"6"4"12"12"12"12"16"No. of STANDARD UNITS Wall Square Footage 1.668"No. of ACCENT UNITS Wall Square Footage 1.66 x 2EACH PANEL REQUIRES 8 PINSNo. of COBBLE UNITS Wall Square Footage 1.66VERSA-LOK MOSAIC QUANTITY ESTIMATION CHART t10 inchesStandard5678910111213141520 inches30 inches40 472808896104112120VERSA-LOK MOSAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDELINES*This chartdoes not includeestimates forembedded(buried) units.The quantity ofembedded units(generally allStandard units)should also beadded to thesequantities.12

5Planning, Estimating& Final DesignsFinal DesignsFor walls overfour feet high,a licensedprofessional civilengineer (P.E.)should preparethe finalwall design.Final wall designs may be provided prior toFor assistance in specifying, designing, andputting projects out for bidding. Alternatively,engineering VERSA-LOK walls, sample wallwall portions of projects can be specifiedspecifications are provided on pages 32 to 38design/build. With design/build projects, engi-and sample construction details are providedneers/architects provide wall layout informationon pages 39 to 42. Additional details and(line and grade) but not final engineering forspecifications are available in electronic format:the wall. Contractors submit bids based onCall (800) 770-4525 for more information or visitthis layout including estimated labor, materials,our website at www.versa-lok.com. VERSA-LOK’sand final engineering costs. Contractors whotechnical staff is also available to assist withare awarded projects retain licensed engineersplanning, layout, preliminary engineering, andto prepare final wall designs and submit shopreferrals for final engineering.drawings for approval from projectengineers/architects.For walls more than four feet in height, most buildingcodes require a final wall design prepared by aAs with all proposed construction, a soils reportlicensed Civil Engineer (P. E.) registered in that state.prepared by a qualified geotechnical engineer isVERSA-LOK and its manufacturers have a networkrequired to provide adequate information forof licensed Civil Engineers who are familiar withproper design. The soils report should addresssegmental retaining wall design. These individualsoverall stability of planned grade changes andare available for referrals to architects, engineers,allowable bearing capacity of foundation soils.The report should also include information aboutreinforced and retained soil properties.13VERSA-LOK MOSAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDELINESor contractors with final wall design needs.

Mosaic Wall Construction6ToolsThe following tools may be helpful duringconstruction of Mosaic segmental retaining walls:VERSA-Lifter Block SplitterSafety ProtectionVibratory Plate CompactorDiamond-Blade Concrete SawCaulking GunBackhoe or Skid-Steer LoaderThe VERSA-Lifter helps installers constructVERSA-LOK Standard retaining walls bymaking it easier to lift and place units —especially on the base course. Two prongs onFour-Foot LevelString LineHand Tamperthe Lifter are inserted into pin holes in eachVERSA-LOK Standard unit. Lifting the handlesecures the Lifter to the unit and makes foreasy, balanced lifting and placement.Transit or Site LevelFinishing TrowelTape MeasureFour-Pound Sledge HammerBroomBrick HammerShovelThree-Inch Masonry ChiselVERSA-LOK MOSAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDELINES14

6VERSA-LOKMosaic units areeasily modifiedby splitting fora textured face,or by saw-cuttingfor a smooth side.Mosaic Wall ConstructionUnit ModificationExcavationDuring wall construction, it may be necessaryExcavate just deeply enough to accommodate theto split or cut VERSA-LOK Mosaic units.leveling pad (which is normally 6 inches thick)Splitting creates an attractive textured faceand the required unit embedment below grade.on any visible sides of a Mosaic unit thatWhen necessary, also excavate areas wherematches the split-face on the front of the unit.geosynthetic soil reinforcement will be placed.Saw-cutting creates a smooth straight edgeRequired unit embedment varies with wall heighton a partial unit, so it can fit tightly next toand site conditions. Generally, if grade in frontadjacent units. Remember to always wearof the wall is level, one-tenth of the exposed wallproper safety protection when performingheight should be buried below grade.splitting or cutting operations.To split units with a masonry chisel and hammer,mark a path on the unit’s top, bottom, andback. Score along the top and bottom pathsusing the chisel and a heavy hammer. Place theunit on its face and strike along the back path.It is easier to split units on the ground than ona hard surface. The unit should fracture nicelyalong the paths. If many splits will be requiredfor a project, it may be helpful to rent a mechanicalor hydraulic block splitter from your blockAdditional embedment may be required forsupplier or rental center.special conditions including slopes in front ofwalls, soft foundation soils, and shorelineSaw-cuts are normally made using a gas-poweredapplications. Compact soil at the bottom ofcut-off saw with a diamond blade. Before youexcavation—do not place Mosaic units on loose,saw-cut a unit, mark a line on each side to besoft, wet, or frozen soil—settlement may result.cut. Place the unit face toward you with the topIf the wall will set on previously backfilledside up, at a comfortable height on a stable workexcavations, such as utility line trenches, besurface. Make a straight cut down and two tosure the entire depth of existing backfill is wellthree inches into the face. Move saw to top ofcompacted. If necessary, over-excavate soft soilsunit, and cut through top using successivelyand replace with properly compacted backfill.deeper cuts. Flip unit over and finish by cuttingcompletely through the bottom of the unit.15VERSA-LOK MOSAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

Mosaic Wall ConstructionLeveling PadBase CoursePlace granular leveling pad material andMake sure that the leveling pad is level andcompact to a smooth, level surface. Levelingbegin placing base course units. For ease ofpad should be at least six inches thick and 24installation, use only VERSA-LOK Standardinches wide. It should consist of crushed stone.units for the base course. This will create aThe most commonly used material for levelinguniform “platform” on which to build thepads is what is used locally as road base aggre-Mosaic panels.gate. To construct long sections of leveling pad,create forms by leveling and staking rectangularmetal tubing along both sides of the plannedpad. Place and compact granular material withinthese leveled forms and screed off excess.6Take time toensure a level basecourse—minorunevenness in thebase course willbe amplified anddifficult to correctafter severalcourses ofpanels havebeen installed.Always begin at the lowest level and workupward in situations where the planned gradealong the wall front changes elevation. Use athin layer of fine sand on top of the levelingpad for final leveling.Align base units using their backs or slots,rather than their irregularly textured front f

VERSA-LOK Mosaic units are made from high-strength, low-absorption concrete on concrete block machines. VERSA-LOK Mosaic units' solid characteristics make them resistant to damage before, during, and after construction in all climates, including shoreline applications. 12" 4" 12" 12" 6" 16"