So convoluted thought process.

We have an in ground pool but at the far side it slopes off heavily after two feet from the concrete apron. The wife decided we should get a retaining wall to make a level area for about 8 feet or so to enjoy the pool area better. So we get quotes for a wall and are floored. Anywhere between 30 and 40k! Probably about double what I thought (18k or so was my guess). While we could afford it we also like to have the delirious idea of retiring some day.

So plan B. I decided to build the wall myself. About $3500 in block and caps. Another $1500 in stone 2a/2b (aka type 57), $200 for some geogrid, $400 to buy a plate compactor and another $500 in misc supplies....
Now the part where I may need my head examined...I'll be doing this after work and on the weekends so this will take 6-8 week. I'll need to move approx 50 tons of material several hundred yards. Renting a tractor or loader will run 2500 to 3200 a month...so that could be another 5k. Ouch.....so in my wisdom I decided to buy a skid steer...so let's say 9k out the door. Hopefully I can sell the loader for what I have in it and defer rental costs. So do I need my head checked to be building a 400sqft wall myself? Am I crazy for buying a skid loader while living in suburbia? I am kinda excited to play with the new toy- sick I know.

[This message has been edited by Hank is Here (edited 05-01-2023).]

quote Originally posted by Hank is Here: We have an ongoing pool...

You lost me right from the get-go. What's an "ongoing pool"?

quote Originally posted by Hank is Here: CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

Your Bobcat photo reminded me of a post I made here 17 years ago!

quote Originally posted by Patrick Here: Years ago a buddy and I rented a Bobcat to make some money clearing snow from parking lots during our once-a-decade major snow storm here. I don't know if the Bobcats are any different now, but back then there was a (slightly) padded metal bar which went across your mid-section as a sort of seatbelt, except it was 6 to 10 inches in front of your stomach. Anyway, there I was clearing snow off a parking lot, racing back and forth, when all of a sudden I hit a raised manhole cover with the front bucket down at full speed. Well, that Bobcat came to dead stop in about a half an inch (which is about how much the bucket bent). Of course, I (me, my body) kept going full speed until my stomach hit that (slightly) padded metal bar. Ugh! That's the first and only time I ever had the wind knocked out of me while driving a vehicle. However, I suppose hitting that bar with my stomach was better than being catapulted out of the cockpit.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-01-2023).]

I had a very long explanation of how retaining walls are done here and they are VERY VERY common, but I accidently deleted all the text. There are a few masonry walls but most are made from surplus but servable railroad cross ties. I paid $30 each for some about this time last year.
Life is about 35 years, but I'm in a dry climate.

All the work is done with a mini excavator but a small one can be done by hand if you are up to the task.

You must secure the wall to the ground under it in some fashion. Here, they dig a trench and start laying the wall's first row. lay the first row of ties down, end to end and surrounded on each side and underneath by a bed of gravel. This is to allow rain/ground water to drain off. It's important to get the 1st row pretty close to level. They then drill 5/8" holes in 3 places spaced out along the length of each tie and drive 3' long lengths of concrete rebar in thru the tie and into the ground below it. Some places use bigger diameter rebar and longer lengths but with my rocky ground, 3 ft is about all you would be able to drive in. It is NOT easy because you drill a 5/8" hole but the nominal size of 5/8 rebar is 5/8" with the ridges being about 1/16" larger on all sides of the bar. Get a BIG hammer! Drive until flush with top of the tie.

You then lay the next row, staggering the joints so the tie overlaps the joints below it. You will either have to dig the area out longer in places or cut some of the ties. You will use BIG nails and will want to pre drill some holes because a cross tie is HARD!!
No matter if you use ties or masonry blocks, the wall will need to be tied back an unspecified length into the slope above it. With ties, about 2 rows before the top, another trench is dug perpendicular to the wall, and a tie is placed with one end on top of that row, secured to it with nails. On the other (upside) end of that tie, another cross tie is placed, running parallel to the wall and it is secured to the perpendicular tie, forming a tee. These 2 ties will be just below ground level on the upside of the slope. I'll get some pictures later of how mine looks but it needs some work in places. It is 30 years old and needs some work in places.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 05-02-2023).]

I too have a pool but the wall nearest it is just a few blocks placed by a previous owner and I really don't think they do any good. You get a pretty good idea of the slope in this picture and you can see some of the cross ties I used to re-build a small retaining wall just beyond the new portion of fence.




The masonary retaining wall is barely visible in the picture, on the right end of the pool. I have these crosstie walls on 2 1/2 sides of my yard, each with a sharp drop off either on my side or a neighbors. Almost everyone in this subdivision has them.


There is a wall at the bottom of the slope on the left side of my property.



Another one at the bottom of the slope of my neighbor's property on the opposite side of the yard. (this is where I grow vegetables)


But no, you shouldn't have any trouble selling the Bcat when you're done with it. They hold their value well.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 05-02-2023).]

A update to my project... I got it to 95% before the heat and humidity kicked in. Just need to cut the cap blocks and adheasive them down.

Overall after getting contractor quotes from 30 to 43K for the wall...I am in it approx..$5500 from a materials standpoint. or 1/6th to 1/8th of the quotes. It took ~2 calandard months with 1-3 hours a day as my schedule would allow. We lost about 1/3rd of pool seasondue to construction but overall it is worth it with the increased used of the pool space, I am not sure it would have been worth it to pay a contractor.

Later the the fall I will build a set of stairs on the right side the the wall to go to the lower yard.

[This message has been edited by Hank is Here (edited 07-20-2023).]