Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

MrBill · Expert Joined: Sep 15, 2005 Posts: 5220 Location: Eurasia

A wrap. I have seen it done often enough with rough stone, so no reason to expect if you would not work well with dry stacked blocks. Those T-shaped metal posts are easy to drive in using a larger diameter piece of pipe with one end welded shut and some rebar welded on as handles. The heavier the pipe the better. The wrap could be two-sided or one-side only depending on whether you can find cheap welded wire fence? My step-father is a master scavenger, so we usually have plenty of scrap material lying around.

welded wire fencing

UPDATE: not exactly what I had in mind but another link FWIW Wire the rock wall if you need a long term wall!
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wisconsin_cur · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

wisconsin_cur · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

Here are the pictures that I promised:

Looks like I will have enough brick left over to do one more wall farther down the hill. That, however, will have to wait until after my vacation is over.
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kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1127

Thats a fine wall!

In the 2nd photo, on the far right, just past the end of the wall is what looks to be an oak tree. If the roots of that tree grow underneath the wall, there is a good chance it may lift the far right section of the wall. If the blocks are mortared, they will crack and tilt. Repairs will take a great deal of effort. Dry stacked they can be taken apart and put back together in a couple of hours.

With the fertility and water of the garden, the roots would have a tendency to do precisely that.

I don't see any problem with the wall in its current form as far as strength and durability, and no stress other than frost heave. It will last for years as it sits now.
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frankthetank · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:42 am Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

Or take a chainsaw and make firewood.

Is this what you were going for Smile

These walls have held since the 1400's... I think yours will do just fine!
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wisconsin_cur · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

Yeah but those guys knew what they were doing...

Smile

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"Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain."
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"Remember Krondstat"
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strider3700 · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

Very nice.

Mind if I ask what that much brick cost you?

I need to do the same. maybe twice as many walls as you but still the same.
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wisconsin_cur · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

$0.97 a piece and I ordered 500. That was for those two walls, the foundation of a barn and it looks like my math was bad enough that I will have enough to do one more wall later in the summer.

I had them delivered so that added $50 to the whole bill but it was well worth it to have the delivery guy take them all to the top of the hill with his forklift so that I did not have to carry them.
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"Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain."
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"Remember Krondstat"
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patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1406

Frank,
I got vertigo just looking at that photo! Surely there must have been some place more hospitable to live than on that mountain. Makes me wonder why people would choose that.

WC,
The walls look great! Oh, your aching back... But the garden will be worth it.
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strider3700 · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

Ludi · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1406

Strider,
Oh I'm doing terracing too! But I'm on a 20% grade, not a 50 % or more. Those people were awesome in Peru, but I wouldn't make it through the day there without falling off.
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Pops · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: Cheap(er) retaining wall idea

I know you asked a while back for quick advice and I ain't quick but when you do your next, get an operator to scrape off the topsoil, terrace your hill with the subsoil and replace the topsoil on the flats.

Lots of terraces around here 70 years old done just that way with no wall whatsoever.

Filling in loose stuff by the wall without changing the subsoil slope, pouring a footing, building deadmen, grouting in rebar, etc. will just cause water to flow down the slope undermining the wall as well as soak the fill and push over a dry stacked wall from the top too.

Just my opinion...
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kanman · Coal Joined: Dec 31, 2006 Posts: 16

A bit late in the day but for anyone with a similar problem here's a more natural solution using live willow:

http://www.willowbankservices.co.uk/simple.cfm?y=y&page_id=17&cat_id=5

buzzard · Tar Sands Joined: May 31, 2004 Posts: 99 Location: skrazo

I had to laugh, Cur when I saw the photo of the place of your retaining wall. Compared to my place, it looks like level ground.
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