My first of many Retaining Walls to tame my slope - DIY

[dragoneggs]

It looks like a very nice wall. What I'm not understanding is what is it for? Are you wanting to use the land above it so you can have a level spot? Erosion? Or is it for the land in front of it?

Eddie

Thanks Eddie... yes both, I am dealing with a 20 to 25 degree slope. Up to 35 near the house. I am on sloping hill with no flat spots. The angle is too hard to maintain so we are terracing parts, putting in a large vegetable garden (just above this first wall). Some fruit trees, berries, grapes? in other areas... who knows. But what I don't want to be doing is weedwacking by hand. The retaining walls will give us some much desired level or gently sloping areas for easier maintenance. I am not getting any younger!

 

[CurlyDave]

...I guess that means a diamond blade for my circular saw, eh? And a vibratory plate... $$$ I can't justify the daily rental if I do a few more days of wall building and I have weeks or months if I do all I want to do....

My experience has been that if I plan on renting something twice or more for a project, it is far better to buy than rent.

You can try with a diamond blade for your circular saw, but you will be far ahead of the game if you go down to HF and but a real paver cutting saw. One with a water pump. This will outlast and make much better cuts than the blade on the circular saw.

 

[dragoneggs]

My experience has been that if I plan on renting something twice or more for a project, it is far better to buy than rent.

You can try with a diamond blade for your circular saw, but you will be far ahead of the game if you go down to HF and but a real paver cutting saw. One with a water pump. This will outlast and make much better cuts than the blade on the circular saw.

Crap! I suppose this is more good advice. So I now have figured out what I need to build below my retaining wall. Haven't told the wife yet... I am thinking a dedicated shop/dog house. If and when I ever retire I am going to need something a little more established than robbing one space of a two car garage!

 

[scoutcub]

Thanks Eddie... yes both, I am dealing with a 20 to 25 degree slope. Up to 35 near the house. I am on sloping hill with no flat spots. The angle is too hard to maintain so we are terracing parts, putting in a large vegetable garden (just above this first wall). Some fruit trees, berries, grapes? in other areas... who knows. But what I don't want to be doing is weedwacking by hand. The retaining walls will give us some much desired level or gently sloping areas for easier maintenance. I am not getting any younger!

This is the same issue I had when we bought our house 3 years ago. Severe slope, essentially unusable. So I regraded the entire slope (with a dozer) added 2 "roads" one on top, one behind the garage that I built. Not only do they provide access around the property and to the garage upper level, but I angled them towards the bank with a fall in one direction for drainage.

Please excuse the tractor in the foreground, but I'm showing the stairs I built to access the top area. Had some blocks left over so used them as steps.

 

[dragoneggs]

This is the same issue I had when we bought our house 3 years ago. Severe slope, essentially unusable. So I regraded the entire slope (with a dozer) added 2 "roads" one on top, one behind the garage that I built. Not only do they provide access around the property and to the garage upper level, but I angled them towards the bank with a fall in one direction for drainage.

Please excuse the tractor in the foreground, but I'm showing the stairs I built to access the top area. Had some blocks left over so used them as steps. View attachment 327897View attachment 327898

No excuses for the tractor! But I am drawn to the background retaining wall. Quite red and I love it. What block is that?

 

[scoutcub]

I agree with CurlyDave, the circular saw will take you forever. You know how heavy the caps are.....thats a lot of density! I used a wheel saw, with a 14" blade. Not as precise as a table cutter, but mouch more versatile. If you take your time and mark it correctly they come out fine. And, I've switched blades on several occasions to cut metal with. :thumbsup: I bought a used Husky from either a pawn shop or CL, can't remember, many years ago, still going strong.

 

[scoutcub]

What block is that?

Same ones you are working with! I really like how they're engineered....if only they weren't so heavy.....:tired:

I'm glad mine is done....

edit; This is the other side of the wall I sent you the earlier picture.....I also wrapped it around the far side of the garage in a 90 degree arc around the driveway.

 

[dragoneggs]

Same ones you are working with! I really like how they're engineered....if only they weren't so heavy.....:tired:

I'm glad mine is done....

Okay now we are on the same page, brother! Absolutely love the color... not available 'round here. I can't show my wife, this would be exactly what she wanted. We went with Rocky Mountain (Grey/Tan mix). Only other options are Grey (light) and Charcoal (medium grey). Do you know the name?

I have about a half acre that needs landscaping on steep slope... thus the title of this thread! I don't know if I am up to it. If I am/do, I should get an award...

 

[ultrarunner]

Enjoy seeing the progress pixs and looks great!

I have a downslope lot with no level areas until I bought a tractor. It was becoming too much of a chore balancing on a steep hillside with a string trimmer.

Thinking about adding some block walls to gain more usable area as opposed to my angle of repose slopes.

Would like a curved downslope shoulder on my access road without having to step the blocks... looks like concrete is my best bet.

 

[scoutcub]

Okay now we are on the same page, brother! Absolutely love the color... not available 'round here. I can't show my wife, this would be exactly what she wanted. We went with Rocky Mountain (Grey/Tan mix). Only other options are Grey (light) and Charcoal (medium grey). Do you know the name?I have about a half acre that needs landscaping on steep slope... thus the title of this thread! I don't know if I am up to it. If I am/do, I should get an award...

Well, I tried...I was sure the tag is in my shop, but I had the wife do an extensive search with no results. I am overseas and just cannt remember the name, sorry!
I was quite lucky actually, when I bought the house, there was 5 or 6 pallets of the blocks sitting there....that s when the plans of the garage, steps, and wall continuation began to form. Didn't have to buy too many more fortunately. They're not cheap, as you know.....:laughing: