My neighbor’s lot (to the west) is about three feet above ours, and I can tell by the way the plants are growing along the property line that his lot is slowly slumping into ours. The builder should have put in a retaining wall 15 years ago, but hey – builders always give you a taillight guarantee, eff you very much.
I’m doing it “old school” – poured concrete with rebar reinforcement under split face blocks. The blocks will be linked to the foundation with rebar, and the voids in the wall will be filled with concrete. It will outlive me.
The excavation is complete, and I’m just about ready to install forms so that I can pour the foundation for the retaining wall. While I have it open, I’ve installed conduit in case I want power and speakers on the far side of the retaining wall. Conduit is, after all, cheap!
It has been a challenge to move all of these materials around without damaging my knee, which has a 50 pound load limit. I’ve become an expert at using leverage, and picking things up while standing on one leg. 😀
As always, my laser level has been worth its weight in gold. I just don’t know how I got so much done in the past without it!