Upper Retaining Wall Completed



Initial work at existing height

Hi again.

In this post, I'm showing the completion of the Upper retaining wall.  This wall was the first part of construction back in 2008 when this whole project started. 

In previous posts, I noted that this wall didn't extend across the entire side of the house.  In this project, we were looking for an invisible benefit; a structural improvement that would tie together the house foundation wall and the upper retaining wall.  


Ended, final height started

The other thing this part of the project does is set the path in place for a walkway.  Right now it is a walkway to nowhere - a concept so popular in Milwaukee with the Hoan "Bridge to nowhere". 

In our case, that corner of concrete block on the right side at floor level will be the starting point for a new deck (but of steel and fibrolet and tile) across that entire side of the house.  That deck will be a lounging location, but serve as an alternate pathway to connect to the lower veranda off the two bedrooms on this level.  And we'll gain the benefit of being able to put a ladder there to wash windows, paint, and otherwise service that side of the house.



Final height almost done

 In this photo you can see that upper retaining wall raised one block higher.  If you look closely, it is not quite finished, but well along to completion. 

Done and cleaned up

This photo shows the wall finished, and the area generally cleaned up.  When the rest of the courtyard is done, the concrete floor up to the short curb and gravel line will be tiled.  On top of the concrete block wall will be steel and fibrolit that will enclose this space; and some form of open grill will be windows in that wall.

Then we we finally landscape this hillside to complete the whole planing area between our house, and our neighbors, that will be visible thorugh these "windows". 

This will have the effect of a new room, but with and open to sky ceiling.