Retaining walls and patio

[two_bit_score]

Interesting project. Good pics. Look forward to following.

 

[Muhammad]

First batch of blocks arrived for the retaining wall. Started getting the lowest point first course down. Using a 10 inch 3/4 clear base. 3 down, 492 to go.

 

[dougtrr2]

I see the slight curve. Are you setting the wall vertical or using the step back option? When I rebuilt my wall I changed it from vertical to stepped. Cutting the blocks for the curve was a pain.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Muhammad]

I see the slight curve. Are you setting the wall vertical or using the step back option? When I rebuilt my wall I changed it from vertical to stepped. Cutting the blocks for the curve was a pain.

Doug in SW IA

Going vertical so the blocks will be flush. They are secured with pins instead of lips.

These blocks are narrower in the back than the front so you can curve them without cutting. Makes it really easy.

 

[Muhammad]

Realized I needed seven blocks on the first course so had to dig out a little bit. But today I bought a cheap 20lb bauer demo hammer from HF... seems to work just as good as the makita I usually rent. So far this is about 3 hours of work to get these blocks in.

Tomorrow I'll pick up some drain pipe since it needs to go in behind the second course.

 

[i7win7]

Stanley "Dirt Monkey" Genadek - YouTube

May want to look over some of this guy's videos - pro landscaper

 

[Muhammad]

Stanley "Dirt Monkey" Genadek - YouTube

May want to look over some of this guy's videos - pro landscaper

Yup, I've already watched them! Good tips for sure. The only thing I'm unable to do to make this the best possible wall is build up the backfill with grid to spec. The hillside is just too steep to take out another 3 feet and then build it back up. That would dramatically increase the strength but what I will be doing is laying grid as far back as I can, just not the full four feet that the engineers would want.

 

[Streetcar]

What is maximum height of your wall.depending on existing soil rotational grid is needed for walls over 4 ft in height

 

[Muhammad]

What is maximum height of your wall.depending on existing soil rotational grid is needed for walls over 4 ft in height

We're going to 4 feet including the cap.

I am all for the grid, I'm just making the risk:reward calculation based on the amount of work it would be to excavate out the hillside to be able to insert the grid, compared to the height and building permit requirements (not needed up to 4 ft total height).

 

[dougtrr2]

Going vertical so the blocks will be flush. They are secured with pins instead of lips.

These blocks are narrower in the back than the front so you can curve them without cutting. Makes it really easy.

That works for a while, but depending on the curve and height eventually you have to start cutting blocks. The radius of the curve gets tighter and at some point the pins don't line up anymore.

Doug in SW IA