Retaining wall help/advice
#1
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Retaining wall help/advice
Hi everyone, this will be my first post to this forum, and I apologize in advance for any mistakes.
Before i continue i understand this is a HUGE HUGE HUGE project for me but id like to try, and am prepared to spend the next few months working on it if needed, if i happen to fail or quit, i am prepared to take the loss and hire professionals, but this is just way more fun and satisfying!
I've done a ton of research, but have a few remaining questions, And would greatly appreciate your help, review of my process, and any advice.
Id like to give you a short explanation of what im dealing with:
I live on a VERY steep slope on one side, and the dirt has been eroding for quite some time now, We moved in 2 years ago, and i can only assume that its been eroding for over 10 years. (my best guess is that the slope ranges anywhere from about 50-70 degrees, and is about 15 feet high/tall from the street, and 50 feet wide and about 15 feet deep, from the sidewalk to house)
Since it is a home project, I am planning to build two (or more) 4 foot high retaining walls, with at least 1-1/2 block beneath the ground, with the base consisting of 3-5 inches of gravel, followed by 2-3 inches of paver base/sand. (i would also have a perforated drain hose under the the gravel.
Do you think this would suffice? Or am i going about this wrong?
I understand that even with two walls, id only be up to about 8 feet high, while the slope is around 15 feet tall.
What type of wall blocks would you recommend? Solid, hollow, other, or would it not matter?
Next question is regarding the landscape fabric, i noticed there are so many, and im not sure if it matters. Many of them advertise weed prevention and im guessing that doesn't matter since its only used to hold back the gravel and dirt.
finally, would i need to use adhesive or mortar to glue each block, or would the weight be enough to keep the walls in place?
Any and All advice/input is appreciated!
Thank You!
Before i continue i understand this is a HUGE HUGE HUGE project for me but id like to try, and am prepared to spend the next few months working on it if needed, if i happen to fail or quit, i am prepared to take the loss and hire professionals, but this is just way more fun and satisfying!
I've done a ton of research, but have a few remaining questions, And would greatly appreciate your help, review of my process, and any advice.
Id like to give you a short explanation of what im dealing with:
I live on a VERY steep slope on one side, and the dirt has been eroding for quite some time now, We moved in 2 years ago, and i can only assume that its been eroding for over 10 years. (my best guess is that the slope ranges anywhere from about 50-70 degrees, and is about 15 feet high/tall from the street, and 50 feet wide and about 15 feet deep, from the sidewalk to house)
Since it is a home project, I am planning to build two (or more) 4 foot high retaining walls, with at least 1-1/2 block beneath the ground, with the base consisting of 3-5 inches of gravel, followed by 2-3 inches of paver base/sand. (i would also have a perforated drain hose under the the gravel.
Do you think this would suffice? Or am i going about this wrong?
I understand that even with two walls, id only be up to about 8 feet high, while the slope is around 15 feet tall.
What type of wall blocks would you recommend? Solid, hollow, other, or would it not matter?
Next question is regarding the landscape fabric, i noticed there are so many, and im not sure if it matters. Many of them advertise weed prevention and im guessing that doesn't matter since its only used to hold back the gravel and dirt.
finally, would i need to use adhesive or mortar to glue each block, or would the weight be enough to keep the walls in place?
Any and All advice/input is appreciated!
Thank You!
#2
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#3
For 15' high and 15' deep that is a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, HUGE project and not a DIYer job because the potential weather problems over the construction time needed. Once the digging (at the bottom) starts you are at the mercy of Mother Nature and many places in CA can turn a shower into a disaster for everything above and below the wall.
As a minimum, get a Geotech engineer to give you a preliminary sketch to get you planing on how to do it and move the soil. - You will need equipment to excavate, fill, bring in materials (gravel and suitable fill).
You may also run into some zoning and code situations even in remote areas. - It is hard to hide a 15' high structure when the trucks/trailers and equipment move.
I suspect that with building 3 walls with a surcharge from above you would have a hard time spacing them far enough apart since the slope is great above and puts pressure on the walls below.
I worked as an engineer in CA and have some big disasters when one of the rare showers comes and erodes a lot of material in a short time. If you are in a foothill area, that can be a bigger problem.
It is a project best suited for real retaining wall block (not landscaping block) as compared to a rigid reinforced concrete wall that can involve more dirt moving and construction cost.
Dick
As a minimum, get a Geotech engineer to give you a preliminary sketch to get you planing on how to do it and move the soil. - You will need equipment to excavate, fill, bring in materials (gravel and suitable fill).
You may also run into some zoning and code situations even in remote areas. - It is hard to hide a 15' high structure when the trucks/trailers and equipment move.
I suspect that with building 3 walls with a surcharge from above you would have a hard time spacing them far enough apart since the slope is great above and puts pressure on the walls below.
I worked as an engineer in CA and have some big disasters when one of the rare showers comes and erodes a lot of material in a short time. If you are in a foothill area, that can be a bigger problem.
It is a project best suited for real retaining wall block (not landscaping block) as compared to a rigid reinforced concrete wall that can involve more dirt moving and construction cost.
Dick