The Great Wall

[RobS]

Finally... it's time for spring/summer project season to begin. This weekend I will start (and hopefully finish) a retaining wall to create a parking spot for our camper. It's only about two feet high, but 115 feet long /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I've got 22,000 pounds of landscape block and 3 yards of gravel waiting for me when I get home tonight. Backhoe is on the tractor and ready to dig. Pictures will be forthcoming, wish me well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MarkV]

Big project Rob, make sure you are stocked up on Advil and your favorite beverage.

MarkV

 

[SteveH_CT]

Oh if only that were true here ... snow snow snow. We had nice weather for a few weeks but but's it back to winter this week.

Good Luck with the project - Hopefully you'll have pics when it's done!

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Looking forward to the photos...I also need to do a retaining wall. No where as long as yours however... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif GOOD LUCK!

 

[RobS]

OK, installment #1. A before picture showing my trusty little 790 poised for action and the pallets of block and my pile of stone. I'm hoping the block is staged far enough away to be out of the way but not so far to be a hassle to work with. This is the view looking up what will soon be a side drive along the main drive but a couple feet lower. This is where our camper will sit when we're not out enjoying it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Last picture tonight... I got a pretty decent start to the excavation. That little backhoe is amazing. No way I could move this much dirt by hand in a whole weekend much less a couple of hours on a Friday night. And yes, that is a cold one sitting on the concrete /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

This is the corner. The wall will come straight back towards the camera for 100 feet and to the right of this corner (behind the dirt) about 15 feet. In addition to a functional parking pad, it will add a nice hardscape element to our landscape.

I'm reserving the right to rent a power compactor but so far the Armstrong model is working just fine. I did pick up a pretty slick laser level which I'll photograph and report on more tomorrow /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

Rob, keep the pictures coming. I am interested in your laser level. I am working on leveling an area for a barn...but will soon need some way to shoot the grade.

 

[RobS]

I have a bad feeling this is going to be a frustrating day /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I get the tractor warmed up, make some more measurements and begin moving some spoils only to have it start raining again. Hopped on the move the tractor back inside and it's pouring with hail /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Here's a pic from this morning, just before the rain. Not much more progress than last night, only a different angle /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

As long as I'm rained out I'll take the time to post about the laser level I picked up. I'll repeat this over on CountryByNet as I had started a laser level thread over there.

I've been looking casually at laser levels mostly for this wall project. I couldn't justify a $300 model with self leveling and such as a string line will work just fine for my needs. There are a bunch of small laser levels out there for as low as $20. It doesn't make sense to me though to have the accuracy of a laser linked to the inherent inaccuracies of a short (12 inch) bubble level.

At Menards the other day I see this thing (see picture). It's called a Multi-Function Laser Adapter by Maxall. Basically, it's a laser that clamps onto your own level. Cost $39.99 and so far I'm happy. I use my four foot level which I trust, get an area in the wall leveled then shoot that elevation with the laser clamped onto the level. In the picture you see a grade stake with marks at 0, 4 and 8. That's my sophisticated laser pick up to get the laser line at any length along the wall. 0 is the offset of the laser to the ground level, 4 and 8 represent thicknesses of the blocks I'm working with for stepping up/down.

So far, it's much easier to work with than a string level or a water level. Set it, check and pick it up to get it out of the way.

I'm using it on my four footer right now but it will easily clamp to my two footer and it will clamp on at 90 degrees to shoot vertically.

I'll give more feedback as my project continues (weather permitting /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif )

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jmc]

Hi sassafraspete,

I just posted a road test for the laser level I bought over on Rob's thread in Countrybynet. Attached is a link.

If you're interested in trying it out, send me a PM.

John

Robs laserlevel thread

 

[RobS]

More shots from yesterday, between rain showers /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Here is the corner with crushed stone base leveled and ready for wall block /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

The first courses of block. I started in the corner to avoid having any cuts. Like they say, it's all in the first course. Successive courses are a breeze if that first course is level and straight /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Same picture, slightly different angle /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Well, finally the sun comes out so progress picks up. So much in fact, there aren't many opportunities to stop for photos. My wife joined in and we worked hard for several hours. As you can see, the site has become quite muddy and my biggest mistake so far was not excavating the entire cut down to grade first. I'll have to remove all this dirt plus the cut when we're done.

I even got my first sunburn of the year /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[RobS]

Last picture from yesterday. Got almost to the end of our concrete apron. I thinkk I overbought on the block but that's OK as I have several other projects that will use the same stuff. My estimate was for an average wall height of 2 1/2 feet but it's running just under two feet for a good bit of it. This picture shows the highest section at just over 2 1/2 feet but it starts dying off pretty quick now. The bottom slopes as well so it's been a bit tricky judging when to start a lower course.

We both were pretty sore last night. Lifting the blocks is definitely the hardest on the back. The tractor makes the digging and placing crushed stone a breeze but we're lifting the blocks into the loader bucket then back out at the wall. It's nice being able to park the loader bucket at the top of the wall. Much easier lowering the blocks into place than raising them.

Note if you can see it, the beverage of choice sitting on the wall. After this picture we went out for dinner then came home to a nice Jaccuzzi. Definitely helped the muscles. As I type this (Sunday morning), I'm feeling pretty good.

Yes, ready to go except its dark, windy, 33 degrees and a dusting of snow on the ground. What is with this weather /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[RobS]

Here's my start on a Sunday morning. Tractor gets some warm up time, I get some coffee. Yes, that is a dusting of snow on the ground. I guess I won't be in shorts today /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Now that I'm past the concrete I decide to do the digging from above. It's nice not having the piles down below to work around /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Two areas the tractor really paid off in this project: The excavation work was made easy with the backhoe and the movement of the wall blocks. Either could have been done with shovel/wheelbarrow but I wouldn't be finished until this summer.

Here I'm loading block into the FEL bucket. It's perfectly sized to hold four rows of blocks just like they are stacked on the pallets. By adjusting the loader height I can mostly swing the blocks from pallet to bucket rather than actually lift. Same with the unload. My back is most appreciative /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

And here's the finished product! Only used 2/3 the block I ordered but I have other applications in mind. I may adjust some of the heights once I finish all the grading /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

View from a different angle. While the wall itself is finished I still have to remove a lot of dirt from the newly created lower elevation. Then have some stone brought in.

Some project stats: 20 hours of my time plus 4 of my wifes (too cold for her today). 576 blocks at 25 pounds each for a total of 14,400 pounds plus about 3 yards of crushed limestone. Wall is 115 linear feet at an average of 1 1/2 feet high. Two pairs of leather work gloves. My back is sore.

All that remains is the grading and giving the tractor a good cleaning /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif