07-27-2015, 06:27 PM
Hey all,
This is a follow on to my previous thread about my retaining wall starting to fall down. (link here). It's pressure treated that is rotting out. 50' long, 5' above ground, with 10' returns on each end. 21' from the house and 11' from the deck footers, holding dirt toward the deck/house.
For what it's worth, no one who has seen the wall thinks that the house or deck would be threatened at all by the wall actually falling over. They implied that I have time to fix it.
We got three quotes from some of the highest rated Angie's List companies in the area that I thought could handle a project like this. I mentioned being interested in doing a segmental block wall, but also wanting to be reasonable on cost. I talked with each contractor about the option of moving the wall 4' further out (thus 2' higher) and/or 10' longer. We really like the idea of doing that so we have a little more flat yard space.
1. I didn't really click with this guy, although I think he could do the work. He seemed to enjoy criticizing the state of my yard. Granted, we're not great at landscaping, but he can keep that to himself. He wanted to go with PT wood. His quote was hand scrawled and lacking in significant details, but his total was $21000 to replace what's there and $25000 to go 4' further out. This does not include railings, fill dirt, or sod (and maybe some other things), but does include drainage.
2. I think this guy would do a good job. He seemed very knowledgable and talked through options. He really wanted to do a cinder block wall on a concrete pad (30"x30") with rebar through everything. $38,000 to replace current wall, or $34000 if I wait until winter. Railings are not included. He can veneer a brick face on the cinder block, but that sounded like about $10-$15K extra.
3. This guy had the best plan laid out and was the easiest to work with, but also the most expensive. He talked through all the drainage plans and everything. He quoted both a cinder block wall and a segmental block wall. The cinder block wall was $46,000 for replacement of what's there to $54000 for 4' further out and 10' longer. The block wall was $61500 to replace what's there to $69,500 for 4' further out and 10' longer. All aspects of the project are included (sod, drainage, railings, etc.).
Thoughts? All of these are WAY higher than I was expecting. I was guessing more like $15K, which I guess was a joke. But since it doesn't sound like the deck/house are in danger if the wall falls, and those prices are super high for a wall we don't even see, I'm toying with the idea of doing it myself (although I really wanted to avoid that, as I already have too many other projects).
I've been reading through installation guides for the various blocks available, trying to get an idea of the work involved. (If anyone has a link to recommended installation guides, please share!). I figure that I could do the wall for about $23K. That includes making it 4' further out, 10' longer, and buying a decent sized truck (used) to haul supplies (gravel, blocks, etc.). That also includes hiring some cheap labor to remove/dispose of the current wall (to save me time), railings, purchase a used vibratory plate compactor, rent a mini-excavator, gravel, fill dirt, geo-grid, drainage, etc. It also includes permits and hiring a structural engineer to develop plans.
Given the size, I figure I would have to move about 100,000 pounds (!) of block. I'd be super buff by the end.
Am I crazy? If you're still reading this long post, you might be. =)
Thanks,
Tyler
This is a follow on to my previous thread about my retaining wall starting to fall down. (link here). It's pressure treated that is rotting out. 50' long, 5' above ground, with 10' returns on each end. 21' from the house and 11' from the deck footers, holding dirt toward the deck/house.
For what it's worth, no one who has seen the wall thinks that the house or deck would be threatened at all by the wall actually falling over. They implied that I have time to fix it.
We got three quotes from some of the highest rated Angie's List companies in the area that I thought could handle a project like this. I mentioned being interested in doing a segmental block wall, but also wanting to be reasonable on cost. I talked with each contractor about the option of moving the wall 4' further out (thus 2' higher) and/or 10' longer. We really like the idea of doing that so we have a little more flat yard space.
1. I didn't really click with this guy, although I think he could do the work. He seemed to enjoy criticizing the state of my yard. Granted, we're not great at landscaping, but he can keep that to himself. He wanted to go with PT wood. His quote was hand scrawled and lacking in significant details, but his total was $21000 to replace what's there and $25000 to go 4' further out. This does not include railings, fill dirt, or sod (and maybe some other things), but does include drainage.
2. I think this guy would do a good job. He seemed very knowledgable and talked through options. He really wanted to do a cinder block wall on a concrete pad (30"x30") with rebar through everything. $38,000 to replace current wall, or $34000 if I wait until winter. Railings are not included. He can veneer a brick face on the cinder block, but that sounded like about $10-$15K extra.
3. This guy had the best plan laid out and was the easiest to work with, but also the most expensive. He talked through all the drainage plans and everything. He quoted both a cinder block wall and a segmental block wall. The cinder block wall was $46,000 for replacement of what's there to $54000 for 4' further out and 10' longer. The block wall was $61500 to replace what's there to $69,500 for 4' further out and 10' longer. All aspects of the project are included (sod, drainage, railings, etc.).
Thoughts? All of these are WAY higher than I was expecting. I was guessing more like $15K, which I guess was a joke. But since it doesn't sound like the deck/house are in danger if the wall falls, and those prices are super high for a wall we don't even see, I'm toying with the idea of doing it myself (although I really wanted to avoid that, as I already have too many other projects).
I've been reading through installation guides for the various blocks available, trying to get an idea of the work involved. (If anyone has a link to recommended installation guides, please share!). I figure that I could do the wall for about $23K. That includes making it 4' further out, 10' longer, and buying a decent sized truck (used) to haul supplies (gravel, blocks, etc.). That also includes hiring some cheap labor to remove/dispose of the current wall (to save me time), railings, purchase a used vibratory plate compactor, rent a mini-excavator, gravel, fill dirt, geo-grid, drainage, etc. It also includes permits and hiring a structural engineer to develop plans.
Given the size, I figure I would have to move about 100,000 pounds (!) of block. I'd be super buff by the end.
Am I crazy? If you're still reading this long post, you might be. =)
Thanks,
Tyler
