Walls – What material to tie two cinder block walls together

brickretaining-wallwalls

I am building a 24" high planter made from cinder block walls: Sketch below.

Though it looks like a normal planter, water is pumped in from a pond, and instead of dirt, various layers of increasingly smaller and smaller rocks are filled in. As such, the walls probably need to support a lot more weight than typical of a planter, as there is rocks and water, not just dirt.

For increased strength, I can run something strong from one wall to the other, since I believe pressure will be equal on both walls. The cinder blocks have holes, which could make a convenient attaching point, but their isn't much space between the bricks, insufficient to run chain. Additionally, I need something that won't rust and deteriorate much over time.

Is there some kind of product I can use for tying the walls good so they support the heavy weight of the rocks and water?

      _____________________________
     /                            /| 
    /            @  <--flowers   / | <--brick wall
   /            \|/             /  | 
  /              |             /   |
 /                            /    /
/___________________________ /    /
|                           |    /
|                           |   /
|                           |  /
|                           | /
|___________________________|/


       ____                            ____
       |  |                            |  |
       |  |oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo|  |   (slide view)
       |  |                            |  |
       |  |     (rocks + water)        |  | <-- three 8"x8"x16" cinder blocks tall
       |  |                            |  |
       |  |                            |  |
_______|  |____________________________|  |_______<-- ground level

Best Answer

The normal way would be reinforcing bar around insides of the blocks, then add concrete. This is called a "bond beam". Blocks with open ends are used. If you use enough reinforcing it can be very strong.

For your way stainless threaded rod, you probably need to go to a fastener specialist for that. (or stainless rod and you thread the ends, but threading stainless is hard)

or stainless, or aluminium flat bar and you drill the ends and put bolts through crosswise. aluminium will probably last 5-10 years, stainless much longer.

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