Retaining wall install, how difficult?

[tractornewbie]

I'm planning on installing a ~4 foot high rataining wall along the property line in my back yard.

There's a gully back there so the wall will go up first (I assume that's the correct order), then the gully will be filled and leveled up against the new wall.

Also, there's a huge rock smack in the path of the wall so the wall will need to go up against one side of the rock, then continue on the same line from the other side of the rock.

I've never done a retaining wall before.

Given I have/can get the right equipment, how difficult a task is this?

Are there any good references/books, etc, for this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

DT.

[Lanelle]

A wall of that height will usually require a building permit and depending on local ordinances, material used and site conditions may require an engineer's stamped design. You mention a gully along your property line--is this actually a drainage swale that moves water across or away from your property and toward a storm drain? You have to be careful not to negatively impact the flow of water on your neighbors' land. As in, you can't increase the amount of water runoff that they experience.
You haven't mentioned what sort of retaining wall that you are interested in building and that will impact the difficulty. Also, how long will the wall be? Getting multiple truckloads of soil to the rear of your property could be easy or impossible depending your site conditions. Getting it properly compacted and graded takes some expertise. Installing drainage behind the wall and stabilization systems such as geogrid takes considerable knowledge. Don't have any idea of your skills, but this isn't a Sunday project.

[Bill Schwab]

Not enough specifics for a reply here.....

[tractornewbie]

Thanks for the reply!

Here's more info:

I called the town building inspector and was told any retaining wall above 4' requires a permit, so I don't need a permit. Nothing else is required.

The gully I'm talking about is more like a hole/depression, not a trough. I call it a gully because it's more oblong than round but it's 60% contained, and has it's lowest point (close to the property line) within my backyard. The other 40% of this oblong depression is the higher part and is in my neighbors backyard, so it slants down into my yard. It's a natural depression that turns into a pool (in my backyard only due to it's lowest point) whenever we get 8" or more of rain in any 48 hour period (a ~10 year storm). So if anything it's a cause of flooding in *my own* yard. It does absord and will not start pooling all rain from a lesser storm.

It needs to be ~50' long and 4' high.

I'm planning on filling all but the last 18-24" of this hole (property line side of which will be the retaining wall) with sand per suggestion from a builder friend of mine, so drainage shouldn't be a problem. It should actually help keep water away from the foundation of my house by preventing it from traveling horizontally in the ground during those mega-soaker rain storms. The sand will draw it straight down. I suggested stones but he said sand would work just as well and be alot cheaper...no?

Getting materials and fill into the backyard won't be a problem. I'm installing a 12' wide chain link gate and am buying a SCUT Kubota to do this job as well as a few others like a paver patio, stump removal, lots pf tree work, etc.

A tree fell on my chain link fence and gate two weeks ago so I'm replacing my ~40" gate with a 12 footer. I should be able to drive my pickup back there let alone a little Kubota.

Not yet sure what brand of retaining blocks I will use but I'm thinking nothing greater than 80 lbs per so I can manuver them manually without breaking my back. So I have yet to pick those out.

Compacting/grading and proper drainage behind the wall is information I can use.

Whatever I can't do with the Kubota I will do with other rental equipment or hire out since it'll be possible to get a bulldozer back there if need be. But I would like to learn how to do this properly.

Installing behind the wall drainage is another thing I'll need to learn.

DT.


Originally posted by Lanelle
A wall of that height will usually require a building permit and depending on local ordinances, material used and site conditions may require an engineer's stamped design. You mention a gully along your property line--is this actually a drainage swale that moves water across or away from your property and toward a storm drain? You have to be careful not to negatively impact the flow of water on your neighbors' land. As in, you can't increase the amount of water runoff that they experience.
You haven't mentioned what sort of retaining wall that you are interested in building and that will impact the difficulty. Also, how long will the wall be? Getting multiple truckloads of soil to the rear of your property could be easy or impossible depending your site conditions. Getting it properly compacted and graded takes some expertise. Installing drainage behind the wall and stabilization systems such as geogrid takes considerable knowledge. Don't have any idea of your skills, but this isn't a Sunday project.

[thistlemissle]

I recently completed a wall for some home owners in the bay area of California. It measured 4 feet tall or greater and here is what I learned. The wall was created out of 13,000 lbs. of moss rock and dry stacked by myself. The wall measured some 60 - 70 feet lengthwise and took me about 5 full days. On your first layer, select the largest rocks for your base. Before placing your base rocks trench about 6-8 inches of soil and tamp down your trench. When you place your stone, gradually angle the rock away from you, assuming your in front of the wall as you begin to form it. After your first layer is set back fill behind your first layer and tamp it down. As you add your second layer place your next stones 1/4 to 1/6 of the way back of the previous stone (depending on your slope), back fill that layer and repeat the steps. Of course that is for general one sided dry stack walls. As for the tools you'll need: Maddux, Tamper (large) Rake or Hoe (for back filling), Wheelbarrow, And a strong back... I must add that doing the job by yourself can be incredibly rewarding and impressive too!. Hope I could help. Get back to me if you have any further questions. Cheers!

[HardDaysKnight]

Originally posted by Lanelle
A wall of that height will usually require a building permit and depending on local ordinances, material used and site conditions may require an engineer's stamped design. You mention a gully along your property line--is this actually a drainage swale that moves water across or away from your property and toward a storm drain? You have to be careful not to negatively impact the flow of water on your neighbors' land. As in, you can't increase the amount of water runoff that they experience.
You haven't mentioned what sort of retaining wall that you are interested in building and that will impact the difficulty. Also, how long will the wall be? Getting multiple truckloads of soil to the rear of your property could be easy or impossible depending your site conditions. Getting it properly compacted and graded takes some expertise. Installing drainage behind the wall and stabilization systems such as geogrid takes considerable knowledge. Don't have any idea of your skills, but this isn't a Sunday project.


Tractornewbie, Lanelle really answers your question: I've never done a retaining wall before.Given I have/can get the right equipment, how difficult a task is this?

It's more of a technical process than you think. If it was
an 18" to 24" wall I would help, as well as others here might,
give you some guidance. A wall that is 4ft in height is best
constructed by a lic/ins professional. That being said, it would
be unprofessional to walk you through it.

[tractornewbie]

Thanks alot for the response.

Everything I've heard outside of this board says a 4 footer isn't all that tough to put up, especially when a friend of mine is going to lend a hand. He's not licensed but he put up a 24'x8' high wall using 75 lb. blocks 6 years ago and it hasn't budged one millimeter.

Anything higher and I would hire it out but not this job.

Thanks again,

DT.



Originally posted by HardDaysKnight
Tractornewbie, Lanelle really answers your question: I've never done a retaining wall before.Given I have/can get the right equipment, how difficult a task is this?

It's more of a technical process than you think. If it was
an 18" to 24" wall I would help, as well as others here might,
give you some guidance. A wall that is 4ft in height is best
constructed by a lic/ins professional. That being said, it would
be unprofessional to walk you through it.

[Lanelle]

This is the outcome that we want to avoid:
http://www.groundtradesxchange.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2271