Retaining Wall Suggestions

[lonestarlogan]

We built our house in the country on low property, so we had to build the house fairly high and used a retaining wall in the back yard. Anyway, the retaining wall we built is about 10 years old now (was constructed when the house was built and is now starting to rot). We used landscape timbers at the time. The retaining wall stands about 3 foot tall. I'm eventually going to have to redo it and would like to put it about 10-20 feet further out and was wondering what the best products are to use. On a budget so I do not hope to spend an ungodly amount and its something I definitely do not want to hire someone to do. I am attaching a couple pictures so you get the idea.

I realize wood isn't suppose to last forever, but do you think it would have lasted longer if I would have put some kind of gravel between the soil and the landscape timbers to help with drainage? As it is now the dirt is touching the timbers.

Sorry for the large pictures! Just kind of gives you an idea...

Pic 1 (http://www.daytonavending.com/brandon/misc/backyard1.JPG)
Pic 2 (http://www.daytonavending.com/brandon/misc/dropoff.JPG)
Pic 3 (http://www.daytonavending.com/brandon/misc/back3.JPG)
Pic 4 (http://www.daytonavending.com/brandon/misc/back2.JPG)

Thank you for any input! :D

[Cole]

Why not go with a concrete block wall?

It will last longer and be worth it.

[lonestarlogan]

Why not go with a concrete block wall?

It will last longer and be worth it.

That would be pretty pricey wouldn't it? Between putting down footers and everything else...

I'm guessing the wall I'm going to make is going to be a minimum of 50 ft long, 3 foot tall max. :?

[Cole]

Not if you did it yourself. :wink:

[lonestarlogan]

Not if you did it yourself. :wink:

That may be true but I've never worked with concrete really. Just used Quikcrete a few times when putting up a fence.

[lonestarlogan]

Speaking of Quikcrete, you could use that for that purpose, right? Just seems like it'd get to be really expensive. How wide and deep of a footer would I have to make?

I hope to figure something out and start this fall.

[Cole]

I am going to double your post to the Masonry forum for more thoughts.

[Zatol]

Check out this post regarding retaining walls...

http://www.construction-resource.com/forum/ftopic3265.html&highlight=

[lonestarlogan]

Would it have to have a concrete base since it would not be over 3 ft tall? The normal concrete blocks are 8" tall, correct? I'm figuring on burying one block and then have them stacked 4 high from the ground (so 40" tall of block). I guess what I am getting at is there some kind of posts that could be used to hold the wall up? For example, with the landscape timber wall we have now, it is just being held up by other timbers, I'm thinking it is about 4 ft. in the ground and then bolted to the timbers above ground.

So is there some type of 8 ft. tall metal/composite timber/pole that I could put 4-5 ft. in the ground and then somehow bolt it up to the concrete wall? The land is low and wet at times, so I'm guessing it would be pretty sturdy having posts 4-5 foot in the ground, don't you think?

[joelpat]

It sounds like you should look into stackable concrete blocks (no mortar). Check out www.anchorwall.com and see if that fits what you want. They state that some of their products can be used in walls up to 4' high without help from a contractor. The only trick is following the instructions to build a very solid base.

For now at least, that's what I'm planning to use in my walls, which will be 1-5' high.

Once the base course is set, it's all just stacking blocks.

[lonestarlogan]

It sounds like you should look into stackable concrete blocks (no mortar). Check out www.anchorwall.com and see if that fits what you want. They state that some of their products can be used in walls up to 4' high without help from a contractor. The only trick is following the instructions to build a very solid base.

For now at least, that's what I'm planning to use in my walls, which will be 1-5' high.

Once the base course is set, it's all just stacking blocks.

Yeah but that would really be pricey. Don't those run about $2-$3 each? If I build a wall around 50 feet long and they are stacked 4-5 high :shock: The regular plain jane concrete blocks can sometimes be found for around $.50 from some person just trying to get rid of them in his yard.

Good idea though... we've actually used those around a couple plants.

[lonestarlogan]

Would it have to have a concrete base since it would not be over 3 ft tall? The normal concrete blocks are 8" tall, correct? I'm figuring on burying one block and then have them stacked 4 high from the ground (so 40" tall of block). I guess what I am getting at is there some kind of posts that could be used to hold the wall up? For example, with the landscape timber wall we have now, it is just being held up by other timbers, I'm thinking it is about 4 ft. in the ground and then bolted to the timbers above ground.

So is there some type of 8 ft. tall metal/composite timber/pole that I could put 4-5 ft. in the ground and then somehow bolt it up to the concrete wall? The land is low and wet at times, so I'm guessing it would be pretty sturdy having posts 4-5 foot in the ground, don't you think?

Anyone know if this can be done? I could put up the metal/wood post (supports) on each side every 3 ft or so to give the wall good support...

[HDNord]

I installed about 80 feet of these 4 years ago:

http://www.versa-lok.com/index.html

Received a bid of $7500 for a brick and mortar job, did this one myself for about $1600.

Installed a base of about 6" of compacted 3/4 minus, drain behind wall, and 1 foot or so of 3/4 drain rock backfilled behind wall.

[lonestarlogan]

I installed about 80 feet of these 4 years ago:

http://www.versa-lok.com/index.html

Received a bid of $7500 for a brick and mortar job, did this one myself for about $1600.

Installed a base of about 6" of compacted 3/4 minus, drain behind wall, and 1 foot or so of 3/4 drain rock backfilled behind wall.

You just used 6" of gravel rock for the base, correct? I'm guessing your price of $1600 was higher vs. the regular cement blocks because of the fancy design, right?

What I am building I won't be able to see, so appearance doesn't really matter. Thanks for the reply.

[HDNord]

Yes used about 6" of 3/4 minus (also called road mix) compacted as a foundation base. $1600 included the 4 " drain pipe, drain rock, blocks, and top finish caps for the blocks.

For regular mortared cement blocks on a concrete foundation the bid was $7500.

The web site has pdf installation instructions.

[joelpat]

I installed about 80 feet of these 4 years ago:


Do you happen to remember how many blocks you used?

[HDNord]

I installed about 80 feet of these 4 years ago:


Do you happen to remember how many blocks you used?Seems like it was around 500.