Before and after pics of retaining wall

[Pronto]

I started this project in March, pulling down a cinderblock retaining wall that was all cracked and tipping over. I finished the hardscape at the end of May, getting delayed by rain. Finally finshed the plants and mulch. Came out OK for an amature. Suggestions for anyone that want's to do a project like this:
1) Start as early as possible, you don't want to do this in the hot weather.
2) Research your products. I found one manufacturer that I liked best and the quality of there material was better and easier to use.
3) Check with the suppliers to see pictures of professional jobs and check websites for how-to's and designs.
4) Be prepared to bust your nutz.
Thanks Steve for helping me! Next I need the driveway paved.

 

[Russ Merritt]

DUDE! That came out sweet!!


I've done a bunch of rock walls, it is tough work. When your done it is very rewarding!! Again, nice work guys!!

 

[Pronto]

:biggrin: Steve and I got practice carrying that slate around for your neighbor last year! Gone full circle, now I'm back to my dumb Italian roots playing around with concrete. Who knows, next I might put stucco and wrought iron on the house , well maybe not...

 

[Russ Merritt]

OH YEA!! That was F&^%$# heavy!!! I forgot about that.....

 

[Quiky One]

Man that looks good. I did a similar project about 1/5 of that size and it was hard work.

Jason

 

[1QWIK6]

Another hardworking liberal! Good job.

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Looks great! :biggrin:

 

[Pronto]

Thanks, it was hard work but I saved a bunch of money.

 

[Woody]

Lots of hard work I'm sure but it looks great!!! Did you concret the blocks? I have a similar project I need to start and having never done concret/brick work before I am very interested in your project! What web sites did you use as aids in your reasearch to this this project?
Thank you for any information you can share!


Woody

 

[Pronto]

The brand I used was Allen Block. They have a facility in my state and I could get materials from the supplier within a day or 2. The reason I liked them better than other brands I looked at is that they just stack. There are no pins or plastic pieces to put between courses to hold them together. The style I got was designed to look like an old stone wall. The blocks have slightly different setbacks so some stick out alittle and are not perfectly square. Each company has tips and loads of pictures on there websites. You can Google "retaining walls" and get millions of hits. I found 4 or 5 manufactures that sold in my local area, mostly through homebuilder or landscape suppliers. Prices vary some between brands but the biggest difference came between the simple straight line blocks and the stylized ones like I got. The caps and end pieces can add up too. I did have fun renting a walk behind front end loader by Bobcat. I had a ball digging with that.

 

[GNSCOTT]

Wall looks great. I hope you put adequate drainage in or else it will start coming down this fall. Buddy's next door neighbor keeps rebuilding his wall and my buddy tells me it will fall again because of the drainage, and sure enough I have seen it fall twice in 2 years.

 

[hbsky]

Wow, that is awesome work. Makes the entire property look so much better.

 

[Raist103]

wow that looks great gets me thinking i should get up and do something too. good work

 

[BlackMetal]

Beautiful landscaping and home in general. Gotta love the pay-off from hard work. Great job!

 

[Pronto]

I'm firgure it raised the value of my house twice the cost of materials. Either way I do like coming home better now that it looks nice. My wife has even started to care for the garden some, before she wouldn't even look at that mess.