First small retaining wall

[stocksngrass]

Here is a wall I did, took 2 days and a total of about 15 hours of labor...this is my first small wall that i have installed...here is the only real before/after pic of it, my camera was out of batteries on day 1...let me know what you think

[stocksngrass]

2 more pics of the whole wall...

[centralarlawn]

i think you did a good job. keep it up

[cgland]

Are you using any base material? Are you leveling those block directly on the soil? Do you have any drainage built into the wall?
If you answered YES, NO, YES to those questions then....nice job... If you didn't answer those easy questions correctly then I say....."It is people like you who give the landscape industry a bad name! That customer probably paid decent money to have you come in and install something that will undoubtedly fail! This makes you a scrub!" I hope you answered correctly, but I doubt it!

Chris

[stocksngrass]

cgland...Yes I did use base material on the wall, therefore no, they were not leveled directly on the solil. And as for the drainage, in spots where i deemed it necessary i put in 1/2 inch washed rock. It was used mainly to backfill the long straight section of wall The curves do not have as much drainage to them but curves add strength to a wall and I believe it will do just fine. By the way, you don't need to be such and @ss when you reply, you sir are the type that scare new members from posting pictures such as the ones i just did

[rakeeye]

I noticed in your first pic that the excavation at the end of the wall is barely deep enough for the depth of your block, leaving no room for the wall to be backfilled properly. No matter what you deem suitable, you must always backfill your walls with the proper depth of drainage aggregate. It also appears that your next step into the hill with your base block will be sitting on soil and if you are using base material there is definitely room for no more than 1-2''. It looks like a good first attempt but perhaps you should have done some more research. This is not a guessing game. There is a right and wrong way of doing things.

[cgland]

If you installed it properly, what do you have to be scared of? And by the way, Are you an engineer? It just seems funny to me that YOU can add and subtract drainage stone "where you deem it necessary". As Rakeeye stated it's not a guessing game. It's a matter of right and wrong. The pics don't lie...you did it wrong.

P.S. If you can't handle criticism (both good and bad) then don't bother posting anymore pics.

Chris

[stocksngrass]

I noticed in your first pic that the excavation at the end of the wall is barely deep enough for the depth of your block, leaving no room for the wall to be backfilled properly. No matter what you deem suitable, you must always backfill your walls with the proper depth of drainage aggregate. It also appears that your next step into the hill with your base block will be sitting on soil and if you are using base material there is definitely room for no more than 1-2''. It looks like a good first attempt but perhaps you should have done some more research. This is not a guessing game. There is a right and wrong way of doing things.

rakeey, in the first pic the next block was now laid where the soil sits, i would bring the block up to that point then dig down and lay around 4" of paver base compacted....but yes i will admit there is not much drainage in the curve, i did dig it a litte ways back after i set the bricks in but i probally should have went farther.

[stocksngrass]

cgland...i'm not scared of anything, i feel the wall will do just fine but it seems as though your critism was destructive, not contstructive...maybe i should stick to mowing...

[stocksngrass]

I'll stand by my work, i have no reason not to from other jobs so for...and if something happens i'll be out there asap to fix it

[rakeeye]

Slow down buddy. There is nothing wrong with trying to learn a new trade. But perhaps your learning should be done at classes, seminars, or as an understudy working for a qualified hardscaper. Not on a homeowners property.

[sheshovel]

It looks good for your first job,but you gotta ask yourself ,
Is it good?Without proper drainage behind a wall the wall may look good but it's basic structure and planning are bad.
It's fine you stand behind your work,you ever have to fix a failed wall?It's sure no fun to eat that kind of labor because
you did not do the research beforehand.
All walls require drainage behind the whole length curves and all.Especialy on curves.I am not putting you down,Just letting you know that a missed step in the process of wall building can cause you a huge headache later on.This is basic stuff.
What I think is you knew about drainage and digging back the wall but chose to skip it because you diden't "deem it necessary".Next time I hope you will "deem it necessary because it is.

[stocksngrass]

The most vulnerable part of the wall has drainage but yes, i should have done more research...I'm anxious to see how the wall will hold in upcoming years, i honestly feel it will be ok but if not then i'll have to get my butt to work on it