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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. Anybody got experience building a retaining wall?

Anybody got experience building a retaining wall?

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  • CopperC Offline
    CopperC Offline
    Copper
    wrote on last edited by
    #10

    And nobody ever regretted having a good 42 inch wrecking bar, you will use it on a million projects

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-42-in-Wrecking-Bar-DWHT55132/202985493?mtc=Shopping-B-F_D25T-G-D25T-25_1_HAND_TOOLS-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-HandTools_PLA_PrioritySKUs&cm_mmc=Shopping-B-F_D25T-G-D25T-25_1_HAND_TOOLS-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-HandTools_PLA_PrioritySKUs-71700000067189882-58700005873234876-92700053720272631&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9oz-pcnk6QIVkobACh3hHg0sEAQYASABEgLfCvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

    alt text

    1 Reply Last reply
    • MikM Offline
      MikM Offline
      Mik
      wrote on last edited by
      #11

      Copper, quit giving the wanker free advice.

      “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

      LuFins DadL 1 Reply Last reply
      • LuFins DadL Offline
        LuFins DadL Offline
        LuFins Dad
        wrote on last edited by
        #12

        I just picked up a 36” bar to tear down the timber wall the previous owner had up. That made my life so much easier.

        The Brad

        1 Reply Last reply
        • MikM Mik

          Copper, quit giving the wanker free advice.

          LuFins DadL Offline
          LuFins DadL Offline
          LuFins Dad
          wrote on last edited by
          #13

          @Mik said in Anybody got experience building a retaining wall?:

          Copper, quit giving the wanker free advice.

          You’re just upset that I stole all your lucky charms...

          The Brad

          1 Reply Last reply
          • MikM Offline
            MikM Offline
            Mik
            wrote on last edited by
            #14

            😆

            “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

            1 Reply Last reply
            • LuFins DadL Offline
              LuFins DadL Offline
              LuFins Dad
              wrote on last edited by
              #15

              This first row is kicking my ass. Once I’ve got it in, it will go faster, but today I’m working my behind like an Irishman trying to earn money for a bottle of whisky.

              @Copper I am impressed with that wall.

              The Brad

              1 Reply Last reply
              • MikM Offline
                MikM Offline
                Mik
                wrote on last edited by
                #16

                If you were really Irish you'd have found a way to get someone else to do it while you drank the whiskey.

                “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

                1 Reply Last reply
                • CopperC Offline
                  CopperC Offline
                  Copper
                  wrote on last edited by Copper
                  #17

                  I think I spent a day on the bottom row, then the next 4 or 5 rows in less than a day.

                  You have to get the first row straight (or the correct shape) and level.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • LuFins DadL Offline
                    LuFins DadL Offline
                    LuFins Dad
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #18

                    @Copper @Jolly @wtg

                    Okay, the wall is pretty much done. Getting ready to put the caps on top. The wall is only 14” above ground and 6” - 12” submerged (I have a slope in the yard and have an extra row of block for 6ft (1/4 the wall length). The wall is not holding back against natural terrain but is simply one side of a raised garden bed 24’ x 4’. The other sides are bordered by a wooden fence (that is next year’s project) so the pressure against the wall isn’t that high. Still, I dropped a 3’ perforated drainage (ran it from the catch basin from the gutters to kill 2 birds with one stone), and even dropped some rebar down through the block (decorative hollowed cinderblock). It’s perfectly level (except the drainage pipe) and all that’s left is putting the caps on... Except, a neighbor just suggested filling the holes in the block as much as possible with gravel. Thoughts? I don’t want to do this again in 10 years...

                    The Brad

                    LuFins DadL 1 Reply Last reply
                    • LuFins DadL LuFins Dad

                      @Copper @Jolly @wtg

                      Okay, the wall is pretty much done. Getting ready to put the caps on top. The wall is only 14” above ground and 6” - 12” submerged (I have a slope in the yard and have an extra row of block for 6ft (1/4 the wall length). The wall is not holding back against natural terrain but is simply one side of a raised garden bed 24’ x 4’. The other sides are bordered by a wooden fence (that is next year’s project) so the pressure against the wall isn’t that high. Still, I dropped a 3’ perforated drainage (ran it from the catch basin from the gutters to kill 2 birds with one stone), and even dropped some rebar down through the block (decorative hollowed cinderblock). It’s perfectly level (except the drainage pipe) and all that’s left is putting the caps on... Except, a neighbor just suggested filling the holes in the block as much as possible with gravel. Thoughts? I don’t want to do this again in 10 years...

                      LuFins DadL Offline
                      LuFins DadL Offline
                      LuFins Dad
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #19

                      By the way, it’s taking so long because after I had the first row done, I started working on the drainage system and then we had a ton of rain and work...

                      The Brad

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • CopperC Offline
                        CopperC Offline
                        Copper
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #20

                        I think the gravel is a good idea but with only 14" above ground it might be overkill.

                        That is just a guess I don't know what the limit should be.

                        The gravel will obviously help prevent mud from working into the holes and wet mud and ice could cause things to move around. Dry gravel would be better than mud.

                        LuFins DadL 1 Reply Last reply
                        • CopperC Copper

                          I think the gravel is a good idea but with only 14" above ground it might be overkill.

                          That is just a guess I don't know what the limit should be.

                          The gravel will obviously help prevent mud from working into the holes and wet mud and ice could cause things to move around. Dry gravel would be better than mud.

                          LuFins DadL Offline
                          LuFins DadL Offline
                          LuFins Dad
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #21

                          @Copper said in Anybody got experience building a retaining wall?:

                          I think the gravel is a good idea but with only 14" above ground it might be overkill.

                          That is just a guess I don't know what the limit should be.

                          The gravel will obviously help prevent mud from working into the holes and wet mud and ice could cause things to move around. Dry gravel would be better than mud.

                          Pea or a little bigger? I worry that pea isn’t as good for drainage.

                          The Brad

                          CopperC 1 Reply Last reply
                          • ImprovisoI Offline
                            ImprovisoI Offline
                            Improviso
                            wrote on last edited by Improviso
                            #22

                            I had to put in a drain pipe from my driveway to the ditch on the edge of the property to prevent water from backing up into my garage during heavy rain. About 75 feet.

                            I used corrugated drain pipe and put this pipe sock on it to prevent sand and silt from clogging the pipe over time. Been working fine for over 10 years now.

                            https://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-x-100-ft-Preloaded-Drain-Sleeve-34140-6/203092475

                            We have the freedom to choose our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences.
                            Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on.

                            LuFins DadL 1 Reply Last reply
                            • ImprovisoI Improviso

                              I had to put in a drain pipe from my driveway to the ditch on the edge of the property to prevent water from backing up into my garage during heavy rain. About 75 feet.

                              I used corrugated drain pipe and put this pipe sock on it to prevent sand and silt from clogging the pipe over time. Been working fine for over 10 years now.

                              https://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-x-100-ft-Preloaded-Drain-Sleeve-34140-6/203092475

                              LuFins DadL Offline
                              LuFins DadL Offline
                              LuFins Dad
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #23

                              @Improviso thanks!

                              The Brad

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • LuFins DadL LuFins Dad

                                @Copper said in Anybody got experience building a retaining wall?:

                                I think the gravel is a good idea but with only 14" above ground it might be overkill.

                                That is just a guess I don't know what the limit should be.

                                The gravel will obviously help prevent mud from working into the holes and wet mud and ice could cause things to move around. Dry gravel would be better than mud.

                                Pea or a little bigger? I worry that pea isn’t as good for drainage.

                                CopperC Offline
                                CopperC Offline
                                Copper
                                wrote on last edited by Copper
                                #24

                                @LuFins-Dad said in Anybody got experience building a retaining wall?:

                                @Copper said in Anybody got experience building a retaining wall?:

                                I think the gravel is a good idea but with only 14" above ground it might be overkill.

                                That is just a guess I don't know what the limit should be.

                                The gravel will obviously help prevent mud from working into the holes and wet mud and ice could cause things to move around. Dry gravel would be better than mud.

                                Pea or a little bigger? I worry that pea isn’t as good for drainage.

                                That sounds right

                                Something like this is what I had

                                https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sakrete-60-lb-Brown-All-Purpose-Gravel/3066391

                                alt text

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • CopperC Offline
                                  CopperC Offline
                                  Copper
                                  wrote on last edited by Copper
                                  #25

                                  Actually I used some thing a little coarser, like this

                                  https://texasgardenmaterials.com/product/black-star-gravel/

                                  alt text

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