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FreestandingWalls, Columns,and Vertical Walls6TECHNICAL BULLETINThis Technical BulletinFREESTANDING WALLSis the sixth in a series ofSolid VERSA-LOK Standard units do it all,including easy-to-install freestanding walls withthe same natural, classic look as VERSA-LOKStandard retaining walls. VERSA-LOK unitsare easily modified by splitting off the backof the units. From these split units, installerscan build freestanding walls withtextured faces on both sides.Unlike retaining walls,freestanding walls are exposedon both sides and do not retainsoil. Designers can use VERSA-LOKfreestanding walls for stand-alonewalls set directly at grade (Figure 1)or for parapets, extending above thetop of retaining walls (Figure 2).Similar to VERSA-LOK retaining walls,freestanding wall units inter-connectwith pins and rest on granular levelingpads. No mortar or concrete footingsare needed. The weight of freestandingunits and the pinned unit connectionprovide wall stability. Stand-alonefreestanding walls are stable up tothree feet. Freestanding walls usedas parapets at the top of retainingwalls are stable up to 2.5 feet.informational papers thatprovide specific applicationideas and installation tipsfor VERSA-LOK RetainingWall Systems. Additional3' (max)information is available inour Design & InstallationGuidelines.FIGURE 12'-6" (max)While VERSA-LOK freestandingwalls provide excellent aestheticoptions and visual screening,do not rely on them or usethem to resist loads such aspedestrian or vehicular traffic.To protect against lateral loads,FIGURE 2engineer-designed structures(like guardrails or concretetraffic barriers) should be installed behind walls. For more information,see Technical Bulletin No. 8 – Fences, Railings, & Traffic Barriers.The information, including technicaland engineering data, figures,tables, designs, drawings, details,suggested procedures, and suggested specifications, presentedin this publication is for generalinformation only. While every efforthas been made to ensure itsaccuracy, this information shouldnot be used or relied upon for anyapplication without verification ofaccuracy, suitability, and applicabilityfor the use contemplated, which isthe sole responsibility of the user. Afinal, project-specific design shouldbe prepared by a qualified, licensed,professional engineer based onactual site conditions. VERSA-LOKRetaining Wall Systems disclaimsany and all express or impliedwarranties of merchantabilityfitness for any general or particularpurpose, trademark, or copyright inregard to information or productscontained or referred to herein.6348 Hwy. 36, Suite 1Oakdale, MN 55128(651) 770-3166(800) 770-4525(651) 770-4089 faxwww.versa-lok.com

SPLITTING UNITS FORFREESTANDING WALLSCURVED FREESTANDING WALLSSplitting on the groove that extends across the back of aVERSA-LOK Standard unit (Figure 3) creates a texturedsplit-face on the back of the unit, similar to the appearanceon the front face. Because this split is two inches fromthe back, it reduces the original 12-inch-deep unit toten-inches deep. For consistent splits, a mechanical splittermust be used. In some cases,Splittinga supplier may be able togrooveprovide pre-split units for anadded charge. Check withyour local VERSA-LOKsupplier.Create curved freestanding walls by placing theback-split units tightly next to each other, with thefront of the units all on the same side (Figure 6).This creates about an eight-foot radius curve,measured from the front of the units. (No otherradius is possible without gapping units or extensivesaw-cutting.) Place succeeding courses the sameway, with the next course of units shifted halfwayover the units below (half-bond).FIGURE 3Upper courseSTRAIGHT FREESTANDING WALLSUsing these back-split units, install straight freestandingwalls by aligning the rear split face of one unit with thefront face of the units placed next to it (Figure 4).Lower courseFIGURE 6For curved freestandingwalls, drill pin holes in lowerunit with hammer drill.FIGURE 4Continue alternating the direction units face as you placethe remainder of units for the first course. Place succeedingcourses in the same way but shift each course halfwayover the units below (half-bond). Pin units using thecenter holes and front slots (Figure 5).UppercourseLowercourseFIGURE 5In addition to pinning, VERSA-LOK Concrete Adhesiveis used between each course to help stabilize the wall.However, do not stop using pins. Full curing of adhesivemay take several days. Without pins, wall units may slideas work progresses.FIGURE 7Pinning curved freestanding walls requires drillingreceiving pinholes with a hammer drill (Figure 7).Pass a 1/2-inch-diameter by ten-inch-long masonrybit through the rear holes in upper units and boretwo-inch deep holes into the lower units. Pin throughthe rear holes of the upper units into the newly drilledholes in lower units. Also use VERSA-LOK ConcreteAdhesive on each course to help stabilize wall.Transitions from curved to straight walls orserpentine curves require saw-cutting units.

CAPS FOR FREESTANDING WALLSENDS FOR FREESTANDING WALLSThere are two suggested methods for cappingfreestanding walls. The standard method usesVERSA-LOK Caps without modification. Place these12-inch-deep caps so they overhang both sides of thewall units by one inch. VERSA-LOK Caps have a splitface only on the front, so this method leaves one sideof the cap with a smooth face (Figure 8).The end of a freestanding wall can be nicely finishedwith textured, split-faces that match the faces on thefront and back of the wall. Split the modified freestandingwall units between the slots (Figure 10). This splitshould be as close to the slots on one side as possible,without exposing these slots. Place these split unitsat the end of each course, alternately using thenarrower-split and then the wider-split units onsucceeding courses. For the courses ending with thewider-split units, place a saw-cut partial unit next tothe end unit to get back on half-bond (Figure 11).12"10"6"8"7"9"10"FIGURE 8FIGURE 10FIGURE 9An alternate capping method provides textured faceson both sides of the cap but eliminates overhang of thecap. Using a mechanical splitter, split off the back twoinches of the caps (a minimum two-inch split is neededto achieve a proper split). Place these modified capswith the split-faces of the caps flush with the faces ofthe wall units (Figure 9).For straight freestanding walls, alternately place Aand B cap units along the length of the wall. For curvedwalls, place all A caps or all B caps. The radius of eitherA or B caps is slightly different than the eight-foot radiusof the wall units, so some cutting of caps on curved wallsis needed to create a completely gap-free appearance.Arrange all cap units first, then secure with VERSA-LOKConcrete Adhesive. For more information on capping,see Technical Bulletin No. 4 – Caps.6"Upper course7"8"FIGURE 119"5"5"Lower courseCOLUMNSA wide variety of attractive columns can be easilyinstalled from VERSA-LOK Standard units. LikeVERSA-LOK retaining walls, columns less than fourfeet high can be stacked without mortar, placed ongranular leveling pads, and do not require footingsbelow frost (Figure 12). Generally, columns shouldhave a minimum of one course of units (six inches)buried below grade. VERSA-LOK columns typicallyhave a vertical face (no setback).While VERSA-LOK columns make excellent decorativelandscape fixtures, they should not be used to supportloads or exceed four feet in height without structuralreinforcement designed by a qualified engineer

Stone, precastconcrete, orVERSA-LOKCaps adhearedwith VERSA-LOKConcrete Adhesive4' (max)A 36-inch-square column also can be easily installedby combining four half-units with four whole units foreach course of the column. Each succeeding courseof units should be shifted so units placed overlap theunits below (Figure 15). Building columns of othersizes is also possible by placing half-units at thecorners and combinations of whole or saw-cut partialunits between the corner, half-units.36”FIGURE 12A 20-inch-square column is created simply bysplitting VERSA-LOK Standard units into half-unitsand placing a half-unit at each of the four corners ofthe column (Figure 13). For each succeeding course,shift the bond so the half-units being placed overlapthe half-units below (Figure 14). One simple way todo this is to split four VERSA-LOK Standard unitsat a time. Place the four, right-side half-units firstand then, for the next course, place the four,left-side half-units.Column capnot shown forclarityUse splithalf units(Standardunits splitin half)36”Odd courseFIGURE 15Even courseUnits placed in columns will not pin. So each courseof units should be adhered to the units below withVERSA-LOK Concrete Adhesive. Do not use rigidadhesive or mortars for VERSA-LOK columns onflexible granular pads, they will shift slightlycausing rigid adhesives to fail.ConcreteFIGURE 13FIGURE 1620”20”Odd courseFIGURE 14Even courseRebar as requiredColumns can be built taller than four-feet-high but ataller column requires a structural footing below frost,tied to concrete and steel reinforcement within thecolumn. The center hole of the column (behind theunits) provides a space in which steel-reinforcedconcrete can be placed (Figure 16). Column unitsmay require temporary bracing during placement ofconcrete within the column until the concrete sets.A qualified professional Civil Engineer should providea design for columns over four feet high.

COLUMNS WITH WALLSVERSA-LOK columns can be combined withVERSA-LOK freestanding walls to create attractivelandscaping elements. Also, columns provide anaesthetic way to create a corner within a freestandingwall (Figure 17). The suggested way to incorporate acolumn with a freestanding wall is to saw-cut theunits in the freestanding wall to butt against theadjacent column. With proper design, columns canalso be used as highlight elements or corner featureswithin VERSA-LOK retaining walls.Column cap not shown for clarityVERTICALRETAINING WALLSOn tight project sites, building vertical VERSA-LOKretaining walls can save valuable space at the top ofthe wall. However, there are several reasons installingwalls with the standard 3/4-inch setback may bepreferable, when space allows. Vertical walls are notas stable as setback walls because they do not leanback into the soil. The maximum unreinforced verticalretaining wall height is three feet and may be lowerdepending on site and soil conditions. Vertical wallsalso eliminate the aesthetically pleasing horizontallines created by the standard setbacks. Installersshould use special care when building vertical walls toavoid moving units during construction. Any deviationin alignment of a vertical wall is very visible and alsomay affect wall stability. Also, reinforced verticalwalls require more geogrid, better backfill, and moreinstallation time than setback walls. While verticalwalls are more difficult to pin properly, usingVERSA-LOK Concrete Adhesive in place of pins is notrecommended. The adhesive may take several days tofully cure and retained soil pressures may slide unitsout of place during, or shortly after, construction.STRAIGHT VERTICALRETAINING WALLSFIGURE 17Freestanding wallStraight vertical walls are installed on half-bond(upper unit halfway over lower units) so the rearpin holes line up. Do not build vertical walls onstacked-bond (upper units directly over lower units).After laying the base course, insert pins into all therear holes and, using a second pin and hammer,drive the pins two to four inches into the leveling pad.Pins in the base course provide a stop, keeping pinsin the units above from dropping all the way throughthe upper units. Lay the next course of units so therear holes in each upper unit line up with the rearholes in both units below (Figure 18). Insert pinsthrough upper units,into the rear holesin the units below.Upper courseLower courseFIGURE 18