Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Umar Farooq
Techo Bloc Raffinato is a smooth-faced, double-sided concrete wall system with matching caps, steps, edges and pillars. The wall units come in two heights, 90 mm (3 9/16 in) and 180 mm (7 1/16 in). Both are 9 13/16 inches deep and 15⅝ inches long at the front, tapering to 14¼ inches at the back. The step is a single 42 x 14½ x 7 1/16 inch unit. The caps come in 14 x 28 inches (60 or 90 mm thick) and 14 x 32 inches in HD². In the US, the colors are Beige Cream, Greyed Nickel, Onyx Black and Caffè Crema. Shale Grey is sold in Canada only.
I went through Techo-Bloc's Raffinato spec sheets and walls installation guide, so the figures below are the manufacturer's.
Raffinato wall sizes and pallet coverage
| Raffinato 90 mm | Raffinato 180 mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 3 9/16 in | 7 1/16 in |
| Depth | 9 13/16 in | 9 13/16 in |
| Length (front / back) | 15⅝ / 14¼ in | 15⅝ / 14¼ in |
| Units per pallet | 64 | 32 |
| Pallet weight | about 2,060 lb | about 2,071 lb |
| Wall face per pallet | 24.61 sq ft | 24.61 sq ft |
| Minimum radius | 8.5 ft | 8.5 ft |
For a double-sided wall, the Raffinato Smooth wall spec sheet gives about 23.53 sq ft per pallet, finished on both faces.
Check the 8.5-foot minimum radius before you fall for a curved sketch. For tight curves, see Semma in our Techo-Bloc walls comparison. A Polished Raffinato (one face) is made to order with a 500 sq ft minimum.
Mixing 90 mm and 180 mm courses
The install guide gives three mixes, each 2.4 m (about 7 ft 10 in) long:
- 1-row pattern. 180 mm high, half of each size, for the top row or gaps.
- 3-row pattern. 21¼ inches high, 67% 90 mm and 33% 180 mm; it matches geogrid spacing.
- 4-row pattern. 28⅜ inches high, same split, where no geogrid is needed.
Since both pallets cover 24.61 sq ft, the 67/33 split means roughly two pallets of 90 mm for every pallet of 180 mm. Order in that ratio and you won't finish with a heap of one size.
Two HDPE vertical keys per block lock the courses; the front slot builds plumb, the back slot sets back 4.4°.
How high a Raffinato wall can go
From Techo-Bloc's residential chart:
- Retaining, set back: about 28 inches total without geogrid.
- Retaining, vertical: about 21 inches.
- Freestanding: 29 7/16 inches exposed, every course glued with Flexlock adhesive.
- Pillars: up to 42½ inches total.
Retaining heights include the buried part: at least 10% below grade, never less than 6 inches, on a compacted 0-3/4 inch stone pad at least 6 inches thick, assuming good soil and nothing heavy above.
Techo Bloc Raffinato caps
The cap is where the system earns its name: a plain, square-edged slab that overhangs the wall.
- 14 x 28 in, Smooth: 90 mm (3 9/16 in) or 60 mm (2⅜ in) thick, 24 per pallet, 56 linear feet, in Chestnut Brown, Beige Cream, Champlain Grey, Greyed Nickel, Shale Grey and Onyx Black.
- 14 x 32 in, HD² Smooth: 60 mm, 24 per pallet, about 64 linear feet, adding Caffè Crema and Silver Granite.
So a Greyed Nickel wall can wear a Champlain Grey cap. Glue caps down; a drip groove underneath stops streaking.
Raffinato step units and how they're set
Per the Raffinato step spec sheet, nine steps come on a pallet of about 3,236 lb, so each weighs roughly 360 lb. That's a two-person lift with a step cart, not a solo job.
Each sits on a 1-inch setting bed (½ inch more allowed for alignment) over compacted 0-3/4 inch base. The riser is under the IRC's 7¾-inch maximum, and the tread is well over the 10-inch minimum. Our guide to building steps with pavers covers the base and layout, and our Techo Bloc steps comparison sets Raffinato against the other step units.
Choose Raffinato for straight lines, not for a tight circle
My opinion: Raffinato is the right Techo-Bloc wall when the design is linear and modern, and the wrong one when it curves hard or retains more than about 2 feet. Inside those limits, wall, cap, step and edge share one smooth face. Outside them, you'll be buying geogrid, an engineer, or a different block. (The concrete doesn't negotiate, however nicely the curve was drawn.)
FAQ
What sizes does Techo Bloc Raffinato come in?
Wall units are 90 mm and 180 mm high, 9 13/16 in deep. Caps are 14 x 28 in and 14 x 32 in. The step is 42 x 14½ x 7 1/16 in.
Is Raffinato double-sided?
Yes, the Smooth wall is finished on both faces. The Polished version is polished on one face only.
What colors does Raffinato come in?
In the US, Beige Cream, Greyed Nickel, Onyx Black and Caffè Crema; Shale Grey is Canada only. The 14 x 28 cap adds Champlain Grey and Chestnut Brown.
Can Raffinato be used for a curved wall?
Only gently, to an 8.5 ft minimum radius. For tight curves, use Semma.
How much does a Raffinato step weigh?
Roughly 360 lb each. Plan for two people and a step cart.
