Who knows about stacked-block retaining walls?

[wilso]

Yeah, it is definitely better to think everything over beforehand and find qualified and experienced specialists to avoid mistakes and consequences in the future.

 

[AnotherBueller]

Several location on my (steep) land are 'fills' that have been here since ?1960s? and they are still OK. They don't move.
And they have no geotextile reinforcement.
I have some other areas that I have filled even 12 feet thick, simply dumping the dirt over the slope. Areas where there's no consequence to soil slippage. They are firming up, not moving.
There's no water source above, and no earthquakes (yet).

I don't think many have a concept of how substantial geotextile reinforcement is.
A lot of folks understand "roots".
Geotextile is like permanent, horizontal roots, but much stronger because it's 2-axis. And it doesn't die then decompose.

The "foot" of my geotextile layup is near the base of the slope, so there's nowhere for this layup 'to go'.

View attachment 2664360
Here is a quick sketch.
I expect the topsoil to completely cover the (sand) lifts and protect them from erosion.
I do not expect enough water to erode anything.
In April, vegetation will grow with a vengeance.

Around here soil that has been undisturbed for 40+ yrs is considered stable for building.

 

[RayIN]

12 years ago I had a landscaping company build 2 such retaining walls. One is 5' high X 18' long the other only 2' high x 10' long; it is above the 20' wall. Neither has a drain or crushed stone behind them, only dirt. The only thing that' happened is, the 2' high wall sank about 1" in the center.

 

[LouNY]

12 years ago I had a landscaping company build 2 such retaining walls. One is 5' high X 18' long the other only 2' high x 10' long; it is above the 20' wall. Neither has a drain or crushed stone behind them, only dirt. The only thing that' happened is, the 2' high wall sank about 1" in the center.

Do you get wet ground freezing and frost heaves?

 

[RayIN]

LouNY_ yes. The landscape company accepted the job in July, didn't show up until after Jan 1. DW was ill so I didn't concern myself with the walls. MY BAD!
Had I been thinking, I'd have told them forget the job and hired a different company that following spring.
I don't care who or how, disturbed dirt cannot be compacted in a few days like it was before being moved.
It's said we never stop learning, I'm proof.
Spoke with a different company last year. The owner said he can repair it easily. He uses the same technique as lifting a concrete patio to level.

 

[fishdoggy]

The T posts and welded rebar have taken this all up a notch, all this for a rental says a lot about the landlord !

 

[yanmars]

I live in western Ohio. Almost every stacked wall even if only a few block high have pushed out or over after 5 to 10 years. Some were done by home owners, some not. Not sure what prep they did before laying the same.
I see dry stacked walls in Columbus that have stood properly for over 50 years. I guess how they are done.