The contractors to whom I have spoken with about this project have not been very enthusiastic about replacing this structure (which needs to be repaired or redone). Can anyone recommend a good replacement?
by earlyboy
The contractors to whom I have spoken with about this project have not been very enthusiastic about replacing this structure (which needs to be repaired or redone). Can anyone recommend a good replacement?
by earlyboy
28 Comments
Damn. Sorry OP, that looks expensive. Just keep calling around, but you’ll need a landscaper who knows what they’re doing and will probably need to get an engineer involved too given the volume of earth that thing’s holding back.
Ok… I obviously have no knowledge about retaining walls but questions always pop into my head.
Could you not remove the dirt from behind the wall? Would that relieve the pressure that is pushing it outwards? Sorry in advance for asking an ignorant question.
With about $15k is how.
The soil behind that wall is clearly heavier than the wall, which looks suspiciously tall for a stacked block wall. There are usually height restrictions on that sort of construction.
I personally would not replace the wall with a similar block wall. I think bringing in larger Armor Stone blocks and building a much more substantial wall would hold up better long term.
Can you share a picture of the wall and the area behind it? The video doesn’t show context of the terrain.
If the highest point is under 4ft, you could probably DIY that for less than 5k. Demo and cutting back for drainage would be a PITA but not outside the realm of possibility I think. It looks like you have room to rent equipment, too.
I’ve been watching A LOT of retaining wall videos lately as I’m facing a really expensive replacement project in my backyard and wanted to know my options.
Check on YT, if you’re so inclined.
How to replace? Write a big check. Done!
One brick at a time.
The short version is it’s probably going to require soil being removed and using landscaping blacks that slightly tilt back and lock at the back rather than this straight up ans down block.
Can’t say I’ve seen this type of stacked stone slab wall, traditional retaining wall block would be much more effective but it’s going to take a lot of digging.
Will have to tear it down cut soil back to atleast 80% of the total height of the wall, cut out put in new gravel add perforated pipe in the base, keep a 1ft gravel chimney all the way up separated by filter fabric to the structural material behind, add geogrid every 2 block high because the wall is over 1.2 metres high
Expensively 😔
Is it just yard above it or is there a structure close to it?
If it’s just yard I say you should DIY this. Tear down the wall and dig back the dirt at a slant. Base layer below grade, blocks and geomesh back fill with gravel. There are thousands of videos on this on YouTube. It’s a multiple weekend project and VERY labor intensive but it’s absolutely doable.
If you don’t want to do that my best guess is this will cost $15k
Honestly. If you have the muscle and the back. I’d dig out soil until you can straighten the wall. Backfill the underground level with rock. Put a layer of soil on top up to the brick. Rock won’t migrate like soil will and it’ll help drainage. Just my two cents.
Don’t know if it’ll work, but bare minimum. You’ll have to dig out soil to put in a new wall anyway.
That whole wall will need to be removed and rebuilt properly. Not a cheap task by any means.
Is this your house or one you’re thinking about buying? If you’re thinking about buying it this could be a make or break part of the deal imo. Where I am this could very easily cost $20k+
I would remove the old wall and build it correctly with larger heavy retaining blocks with a proper base, gravel backfill and drainage. You could DIY for $5k.
That is going to be allot of work. Turn it into a 3 layer terrace that steps down to the drive way. Each terrace would be retained by some kind of brick wall or concrete wall. That will look really nice!
Check with your home owners insurance. Depends on the policy, but I’ve had plenty of customers cover the cost of fixing retaining walls or replacing trees from storm damage with their insurance.
Carefully!
Is regarding the yard an option?
Get a second job, cause that’s going to cost a lot
You need to get the right contractors to bid. Not all landscape type architects are into building walls, especially of this height.
Can’t see to the left but if this is next to your house probably 15k+
They sell that block at Home Depot/Lowes. It’s not designed to be stacked that high. Once you hit like 4 feet tall(maybe 3.5), you need heavy duty blocks for your retaining wall. I did a wall once, with those blocks. It took all summer of evening and weekends to move the dirt, lay the brick, lay the drainage, fill w/gravel. Or I could’ve paid $2500 and had it done in 2 days. Should’ve just paid for it.
Reuse the blocks, take it all down, get proper drainage stone behind the wall and geo grid in layers going up.
Unfortunately I don’t think 56 cypress trees will fix this. Unless….