Building a retaining wall...by hand.

[LoveTheSmellofDiesel]

Make sure to compact material behind wall at no more than 8" of back fill at a time. Otherwise it will settle and bad things start to happen. All good links!

 

[N80]

Here are a couple of pics. This one is from the bottom of the second terrace looking upward. The wide angle lens makes the second terrace look larger than the top one but it is not:

This one is looking up the two sets of stairs:

I underestimated the height of the first terrace. It is probably at least 4.5 feet high. The second one is probably about 3 feet high. Both would be about 40 feet long.

The first terrace might be biting off more than I can chew. But what has me really concerned is just the cost of back fill material. I know the stones will be way more but I kind of figured that. Just eyeballing the back fill volume seems pretty daunting.

 

[dmccarty]

What Robert and others have said.

I built a small retaining wall to level out some land for our "barn." I read the manual/instructions per the maker of the blocks I bought. My wall is only 14-30 inches tall.

The blocks I use have a ridge on the back so that as they are stacked the will move back into the hill. I back filled with ABC road base and nothing has moved in 6 years.

The blocks are heavy though and I re-injured my back.

The hard part is the first layer. That has to be level. Period. Getting it level is the hard part. Then it goes up really fast.

Later,
Dan

 

[kenmac]

I built 1 by hand a few years ago.. There's alot of difference in landscape block & retaining wall block. I used this product. http://geostone.com/wallpage1.htm
landscape isn't heavy enough for a retaining wall. My highest point of the wall is 6' The lowest row of block that I used weight 110 # each. the other smaller block weight 85# ea. This was what the people at geostone recommended I use

 

[RobertN]

Landscaping block will make a fine retaining wall up to 3' depending on the type. See my previous post... Most walls over 3' have to be engineered. They will include deeper bases, geo-fabric, and typically larger blocks. Keystone Country Manor is a rally nice looking pinned block syste. It will make walls well over 36", if engineered properly.

There are a lot of variations; some block is only good for 18" walls, some for 36". Some that will work for 36" walls will also work for taller walls, with the proper foundation, fabrics, and engineering. Keystone Country Manor for example, is a really nice looking pinned block system. It will make walls well over 36", if engineered properly.

I built 1 by hand a few years ago.. There's alot of difference in landscape block & retaining wall block. I used this product. Retaining Walls - GeoStone
landscape isn't heavy enough for a retaining wall. My highest point of the wall is 6' The lowest row of block that I used weight 110 # each. the other smaller block weight 85# ea. This was what the people at geostone recommended I use

 

[kco]

I realise this isn't likely suitable for your application but I am posting some pictures of my retaining wall that I had built to replace a rotten landscape tie wall that was ready to collapse. We built the new wall in front of the old one using boulders dug from the property. The small wall goes from about 2' to 4.5' high. The longer wall is about 6.5' high by the yellow bush.

I built the steps using flat rocks I found elsewhere.

 

[kenmac]

GEO GRID wasn't required for my wall at 6' or engineered as per the block manufacture. I'm no expert by any means. I'm an HVAC/Plumbing guy. I did ask alot of questions ( from people that make the block) b-4 I built the wall

 

[forgeblast]

To plan it out, take some spray paint and put some lines down where do you want it to start and then you can get a rough estimate on the lenght.
It looks like a great spot for the retaining walls, will make some nice usable space for you once done.

 

[Egon]

You are looking at a lot of manual labour for those two retaining walls.

Just wondering why you need the retaining walls?

That backyard looks pretty nice as is.:thumbsup:

 

[N80]

You are looking at a lot of manual labour for those two retaining walls.

I need the exercise. I'm rapidly approaching the 185 pound weakling phase. I got sand kicked on me at the beach this year!

Just wondering why you need the retaining walls?

Minor reasons. Some of the hill slopes are starting to erode a little. They are a pain to mow. And the walls would give some extra space for the top terrace which is the 'backyard'. We added a screen porch which made the top terrace a little tight.

That backyard looks pretty nice as is.:thumbsup:

The backyard is nice. Before she got real old my grandmother kept it as a garden. Lots of great plants, camelias, azaleas, hydrangeas, dog woods, perennials ect. But it has got a bit overgrown and wild.

So my wife and I are considering bringing it back as a semi-formal garden. The retaining walls would give it a bit more structure and new steps would provide better access. The current ones look kind of cool and old but they are a bit treacherous.

The local garden club has asked to help out and wants to get it up to the level where it could be on their garden tour. Their help would be primarily design and some labor....no money .

Anyway, its all just in the dream phase right now. We're pretty much tapped out on disposable funds with the renovation and a child headed to Clemson eek in a year. So whatever we do will be mostly DIY....or DIM.