I would like to get some advice from those of you who are experienced in small retaining walls. Attached is a pic, I would like to transition the cut-in into a retaining wall made of the stackable blocks available at home depot. The wall should start about 8 feet off the porch and wrap around back to the foundation of the house. I was just wondering how much you would charge for this job (before you ask me a million questions just look at the pic and come up with your own solution), and what things should I be thinking about, that I might miss when doing my first retaining wall.
Small retaining wall, please take a look!!!
lamblawnscaping
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I would like to get some advice from those of you who are experienced in small retaining walls. Attached is a pic, I would like to transition the cut-in into a retaining wall made of the stackable blocks available at home depot. The wall should start about 8 feet off the porch and wrap around back to the foundation of the house. I was just wondering how much you would charge for this job (before you ask me a million questions just look at the pic and come up with your own solution), and what things should I be thinking about, that I might miss when doing my first retaining wall.
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oops forgot the pic, here it is
![Image]()
Figure about $35 per face foot. Things to remember, down spout needs to be moved, underground utilities are near that corner and use a commerical wall unit, not a home owner unit. My reason on a commerical unit is you can get help desiging your wall.
Looks like you're going to be over 3' on the backside. Most contractor grade block will go 4' without eng. ( keystone, Diamond, Rockwood, Unilock, etc...) As far as Lowes block, just remember you get what you pay for. If what you're looking to make is a planting circle around that corner, figure what you'll be planting and size accordingly. If its for a specimen tree get it away from the house a good 10'. If that's the case I figure approx. 90 sq. ft. at $22-35 a foot.
Make sure you have a clause for intangibles like utilities and bad access.
Make sure you have a clause for intangibles like utilities and bad access.
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Paul, I'm having trouble finding them in english inches (ie 1/4, 1/8). They seem to all be in tenths or fifths.
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Thank you to all of you that commented on this.
Lanelle, I am going to try to hook up with Bill on monday. Do you think the picture above would be enough for starters, or should I take some measurements with me, and if so which ones. By the way, this property is in Prince William county.
Paul, I was thinking of cutting the downspout with a hacksaw and attaching some corrugated plastic pipe and having that come out the bottom of the wall. Is it necessary to install drainage at the bottom of the wall to keep it from blowing out under heavy rain?
One last question, what should I do to prepare the base for the first row. Gravel Dust? Sand? And which block should be laid first?
Again, thank you all for your input.
Lanelle, I am going to try to hook up with Bill on monday. Do you think the picture above would be enough for starters, or should I take some measurements with me, and if so which ones. By the way, this property is in Prince William county.
Paul, I was thinking of cutting the downspout with a hacksaw and attaching some corrugated plastic pipe and having that come out the bottom of the wall. Is it necessary to install drainage at the bottom of the wall to keep it from blowing out under heavy rain?
One last question, what should I do to prepare the base for the first row. Gravel Dust? Sand? And which block should be laid first?
Again, thank you all for your input.
Lamb
I guess I have two questions 1. Are you asking what to use for base material or are you asking if you should float a layer of something on top of your base for easier leveling of your block? Either way sand is not the answer. Base should be of a material and depth that your manufacturer specs. Here we use CA-6 (road rock) 3/4" - to fines. Have seen a competitor float a 1" layer of 3/8" chips on this to help level but I'm not sure I could agree to this. I'm pretty much a by the book type. 2. What do you mean by which block to lay first? Start at the lowest point and butt up to the structure (house). Hope that helps.
I guess I have two questions 1. Are you asking what to use for base material or are you asking if you should float a layer of something on top of your base for easier leveling of your block? Either way sand is not the answer. Base should be of a material and depth that your manufacturer specs. Here we use CA-6 (road rock) 3/4" - to fines. Have seen a competitor float a 1" layer of 3/8" chips on this to help level but I'm not sure I could agree to this. I'm pretty much a by the book type. 2. What do you mean by which block to lay first? Start at the lowest point and butt up to the structure (house). Hope that helps.
SCL is right use, road base (Lanelle know what kind you have near you) We use CA-6 6" thick compacted to 95% proctor and a 1/4" or less of concrete sand under our block as a leveling course, but most times it's really only 1/16", 1" is a bit much. Most manufactures let you use this but it's allways better to do what your wall manufacture recomends!
Drainage has to be inplace you have a lot of water comming off the roof of that home plus any water that the homeowner is going to put down on the plants. The installation book you will get will help you figure out most of this. Good Luck
Drainage has to be inplace you have a lot of water comming off the roof of that home plus any water that the homeowner is going to put down on the plants. The installation book you will get will help you figure out most of this. Good Luck
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Why do they want a wall ? There seems to be SO MUCH potential for other landscape possibilities.
I'm not sure what they will accomplish with a wall.
It just seems to me that the wall would be overpowered by the size of the house. Unless it was large enough to blend.
I'm not looking to cause a problem, but I would try to find out what they would loke to accoplish astetically.
Little Guy
"There I go thinking again !":blob2:
I'm not sure what they will accomplish with a wall.
It just seems to me that the wall would be overpowered by the size of the house. Unless it was large enough to blend.
I'm not looking to cause a problem, but I would try to find out what they would loke to accoplish astetically.
Little Guy
"There I go thinking again !":blob2:
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Sorry for the TYPO's
Desigining is just as large a job as building, and more important. Given time I can teach anyone one here to install walls but desigining that takes a special skill that I don't think can be taught. The artistry that comes from deep inside so every orgianial landscape seperates it from the cookie cutter jobs done on so many homes I see today.
But then homeowners are to blame too they see something they like and they want it not leaving any room for indivulisume
Sorry for my typos out the door early this morning
But then homeowners are to blame too they see something they like and they want it not leaving any room for indivulisume
Sorry for my typos out the door early this morning
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