Retaining walls and patio

[GSVette]

Maybe on your side... not around here. 4ft max.

4’ is the limit ( without engineering coverage) I’ve always found in the building code regardless of which side of the mountains you are on.

 

[Muhammad]

4’ is the limit ( without engineering coverage) I’ve always found in the building code regardless of which side of the mountains you are on.

Same. Also if there's surcharge, even 4' requires engineering.

 

[Cougsfan]

Maybe on your side... not around here. 4ft max.

I think it depends on the blocks that you use. I had a 10 tall foot tall big block wall at my last house that was not engineered, installed by a licensed contractor and inspected and approved by the building inspector. I did it because of that 4 foot rule, which we have too. They probably wouldn't let you do that with standard ecology blocks though, as their interlock is pretty unsophisticated. The wall was quite expensive, but less expensive than a less attractive engineered poured concrete wall that I was quoted.

 

[Cougsfan]

Perhaps it was considered a Pre-engineered wall?

 

[Muhammad]

I think it depends on the blocks that you use. I had a 10 tall foot tall big block wall at my last house that was not engineered, installed by a licensed contractor and inspected and approved by the building inspector. I did it because of that 4 foot rule, which we have too. They probably wouldn't let you do that with standard ecology blocks though, as their interlock is pretty unsophisticated. The wall was quite expensive, but less expensive than a less attractive engineered poured concrete wall that I was quoted.

By big block do you mean those blocks that weigh about 2 tons each?

 

[Cougsfan]

By big block do you mean those blocks that weigh about 2 tons each?

Yes, they are about 2'X2'x4' or thereabouts and are set by a track hoe. They interlock together quite tightly and have a choice of attractive patterns on the face. Some make it look like the wall is made from smaller blocks (that's what I chose), other provide the illusion of large odd shaped interlocking slabs. The top row of block is different and has a trench built into it where you can plant either grass or flowers. (I planted perennial flowers in mine) I have seen several other walls made of these blocks in my area set by the same contractor. Several are 10 ft tall if not taller.

 

[goeduck]

Yes, they are about 2'X2'x4' or thereabouts and are set by a track hoe. They interlock together quite tightly and have a choice of attractive patterns on the face. Some make it look like the wall is made from smaller blocks (that's what I chose), other provide the illusion of large odd shaped interlocking slabs. The top row of block is different and has a trench built into it where you can plant either grass or flowers. (I planted perennial flowers in mine) I have seen several other walls made of these blocks in my area set by the same contractor. Several are 10 ft tall if not taller.

Any pictures? Those large block walls can look real nice.

 

[the old grind]

The place where I get my pea gravel, CC, CL, etc has just put up a display/wall near one of their entrances. It's ~35' long, at least two rows high, has a vertical decorative face, and they have a corner on one end to show those blocks. If they're 2'x2'x4' that's roughly 5/8 yd. If a yd of concrete weighs ~2 tons, that's ~ 2400 lbs/block.

Anyway, don't want to side-track, and don't want to push our host for updates, but thanks guys for the discussion.

 

[Muhammad]

No more updates for now. Driveway is curing and a storm just passed through. Next steps are filling the spaces between sections with sand and stone then landscaping, and turf. Should be looking good by the spring.

 

[Muhammad]

After the forms were removed. Car on the driveway after a week of curing. Curing process was watering 6-7x per day.