This is with me helping, digging most of the trench for the first row. I/ve done a Ton of research and was planning on doing it myself, but this is the guy who i had do my fertilization fertilization ( first time trying it this year). He has a lot of experiance installing wall, and is ICPI and NCMA certified. the behind the pool will be the 3ft wall, in front will be the 8-18" high wall (slope on wall in front of pool, pretty level for the wall behind the pool) soil is pretty gravely. I'm going to be using Stonweall select. block is about 65lb ea, which will have to be filled with gravel. the tallest will be 4 levels, plus 4in cap. Seems a little steep, but again, those of you who have done it may say that it is worth it. what do you all think, do it myself, or pay the 1k with doing a lot of the work? heres a sketch and a couple of pics where the wall will be installed. [IMG][/IMG]

I have a buddy who just put in a new stamp concrete driveway. However, he did not pass final inspection because the city does not want the driveway apron to be stamp concrete. So basically they said the driveway within his property line can be stamp concrete, but the portion of the driveway outside of his property line cannot be stamp and need to be either smooth concrete or asphalt. The city wanted the stamp concrete portion removed, and repoured. I am wondering is it possible to do something to remove the "pattern" of the stamp concrete to make it smooth? Something to fill in the grooves? I don't think the driveway can take another layer over it because it is matching the pavement on one side and the sidewalk on the other side so a "bump" up will not be a good idea.