C
B
A
D
F
E
G
LAFITT TANDEM – 90 mm UNITS
LAFITT TANDEM – 180 mm UNITS
TANDEM
®
SYSTEM
–
13
BUILDING A RETAINING WALL
CURVED WALLS
Using some Tandem units yields the minimum following curves:
Curved sections of walls must generally be built
using the smallest units .
For a curved Lafitt Tandem 90 wall, use units A, B and C .
For Lafitt Tandem 180 and Esplanade Tandem walls,
units E and F must be used . Their ends are bevelled
to make it easier to install the curved wall .
Since Melville Tandem veneers all have a textured side,
the minimum bend radius is greater .
Remember that there will be a surplus of longer units for
the remainder of the wall . In building convex curves (outer curve),
the wings of structural units may have to be cut off .
STRAIGHT WALLS
To build straight Tandem walls, install the units randomly, using equal numbers of all
unit sizes according to the typical cross-section and installation pattern associated
with each type of walls .
To combine the Tandem 90 and 180 units in a single wall, just use units of each
height randomly, in a proportion that creates an aesthetically pleasing result . We
recommend the following proportions: 75% Tandem 90 and 25% Tandem 180
(in terms of wall surface) .
Note that the Esplanade Tandem system requires 17% fewer structural units
than veneer units . 1 cube of 60 structural units = 4 .32m
2
(46 .52 sq . ft)
1 cube of 60 veneer units = 5 .06m
2
(54 .52 sq . ft)
When building a Tandem wall, avoid aligning vertical joints between rows as much
as possible . Allow a minimum overlap of about 67 mm (2 3/4") between modules to
make sure the vertical joints do not line up . (See Installation pattern)
90° CORNER WALL
When building a retaining wall, it is best to start with a corner to avoid breaks
and alignment of vertical joints . Specially designed veneer units are needed
to build a 90º corner . These units have a textured end .
LAFITT TANDEM
A Lafitt Tandem 90 cube contains 18 textured end veneer units per row .
To form the corner, use B, C or D veneer units .
A Lafitt Tandem 180 cube contains 8 textured end veneer units per row .
All of the veneer units (E, F and G) can be used to build the corner .
MELVILLE TANDEM
All of Melville Tandem veneers have one textured side .
ESPLANADE TANDEM
Both ends of all Esplanade Tandem veneer units are textured,
use only F & G capping to create 90° angles .
LAFITT
TANDEM 90
LAFITT
TANDEM 180
MELVILLE
TANDEM 90
MELVILLE
TANDEM 180
ESPLANADE
TANDEM 180
Convex curves (outside)
1 .5 m (5 ft)
1 .5 m (5 ft)
1 .8 m (6 ft)
2 .4 m (8 ft)
1 .5 m (5 ft)
Concave curves (inside)
1 .2 m (4 ft)
1 .5 m (5 ft)
1 .8 m (6 ft)
2 .4 m (8 ft)
1 .2 m (4 ft)
67 mm min .
(2 3/4")
Fill the empty space with
20 mm (3/4") clean stone
LAFITT TANDEM WALL
(PLAN VIEW)
ESPLANADE TANDEM WALL
(PLAN VIEW)
STACKING POSITION ON PALLETS (WITH A TEXTURED END)
Empty space
Cut off the extremeties
(wings) if necessary
R = 1 .5 m
(5 ft)
R = 1 .2 or 1 .5 m
(4 or 5 ft)