Patio retaining wall

[Dischord]

I'm hoping somebody might be able to share some knowledge or experience here.

I want to put a block patio at the back of my garden, the problem is the area where I want to put the patio is some 6 inches higher than the garden/grass. Digging it out is not an option. So from what I have read I will need to add a small retaining wall and then build the patio 'raised' above the garden with some sort of steps going into it?

I have quite a bit of experience as a labourer so I'm not shy of hard graft I just need to know what type of wall I need to build and what type of blocks/bricks to use? If anybody can help me out I'll provide a 'show and tell' with lots of pictures
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[unitynotsocri...]

you could easy dig a small footing trench and fill it with cement/hardcore/fill.Put a small wall around the perimiter and after compressing the patio base ,cover it in a few inches of sand ...then level it.Dont forget to carefully unpeel the turf to put back later for a neat job.

Unless it matters you can use any old brick for the small side wall,the grass will grow up it anyway.After the slabs have been laid (taking care to include a slight slope if needed for efficient drainage..i.e. no slime in winter)Then leave it a few weeks to settle before cementing the top of the wall with any flagstones........that way the mortar wont crack.

Although mixing cement and shifting bricks is hard work,if you put a small wall foundation in then you can use it for strong beam/posts/supports if building any strutchures on the patio later.
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[Ariel Badger]

Why is digging not an option?
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[yambabe]

Our patio is higher than the garden on one side too, we used paving slabs on their side. I'll see if I can find a picture.

Edit: here you go. Not a brilliant pic but you get the idea. The sideways slabs form a retaining wall which has a sloping rockery down to the grass level alongside it. There are 2 steps down just behind the black chair, and a step in the concrete on the other side.

https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/Yambabe/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/485538_10151363649155940_1039755270_n.jpg
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[Skudd]

When I did my patio on the last house I use flags sideways, Cut them in have and sunk them down a few inches, back filled with sand and then flagged with the top flags hanging over by an inch or so. looked good. Haven't got any pictures to hand, but it was dead easy.
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[angryjonny]

Mine's the other way round (patio at the bottom) but I just built a regular wall. The missus wanted some lights in it too. It's brick where visible and breezeblock where hidden, with 2 runs about half-way up to add strength to hold the ground back and then just single brick higher up where it emerges above the lawn (the soil is now lawn).

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/angryjonny/wall1_zps7b7d7825.jpg

[Pete.]

You barely need a wall for 6" raise. You could use treated timber, railway sleepers or just a couple of 12" gravel boards sunk in the ground a bit. Ground isn't going to move over that small drop.

Your biggest work is going to be in getting the ground flat and compact enough for the block paving.
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[shereen]