Building the
Retaining Wall

About the Photo Sequence
I started building the retaining wall in May, 2013, and I knew it would take a long time. The only way to finish is to start. When I decided to build, that day wasn't done until at least one straight section was one block higher. Sometimes the entire wall got another block higher.


  
Photo Details
This photo sequence contains ?? frames. Each frame is a finite 1024 pixels wide but height was left to its own based on the crop. I based the picture size on an email program's display window asuming that the picture would not be automatically resized to fit. This technique kept the file size down, the largest being just less than 400k making it easy to send and receive through email. The file names are also numbered so they'll display in numerical order. All photos were taken with a Nikon D80.

Download Photo Project


RetWallBuild.zip - 4917326 bytes.


Building the
Retaining Wall

After purchase and taking delivery of the blocks...


...I started building the wall. I drilled into the foundation to mount the vertical rebars
and concreted them in place with "Cement All". Then I started placing the blocks.


It's a constant and repetative process of placing morter, placing the block, then
leveling it. Measuring from the edge of the first block is important for consistancy.


Not bad for two rows.


Somehow, I didn't take photos of the other rows being placed.
In the middle of this project, a tree came down in a storm. I had to
switch jobs, build a couple of firewood sheds, chop firewood and fill
the sheds before continuing the retaining wall.
So here's the wall behind the first firewood shed.


Here's Row 5.


Again, Row 5. The plan is to turn 90 degrees towards the gate,
then mount the gate on the blocks. That means tearing up the fence,
digging more foundation, and securing the doggie run for overnight.
So I'm leaving that job for another day.


Here's Row 6.




I planned on 7 rows, but now that #6 is done, I think 6 is high enough.


Placing the drainage pipe. It'll be covered with rock as per code.


There's 2 rows of holes in the pipe, about 100 degrees apart.
I placed them facing down.