Upper Retaining Wall Extension - Laying Block

This post reflects what we refer to as the UPPER WALL EXTENSION.  This went part way across the back (in future what we will call left side) of the house.  In rains, mud would splash over the wall and onto the house.  Plus it posed a hazard.

So the project was to extend this wall across the entire side of the house, matching the foundation wall which supports the only part of the house making direct ground contact. 

That sort of curb you see in the middle will be permanent since just past it, water and electric conduits take those utilities into the house. 

You can see the new footings going back to the end.

This photo shows block being layed, and crossing over much of the end.  The new footing connects to the foundation wall, making a closed box.  This makes the entire box structure a single unit, combining the upper retaining wall with the foundation.

We added perf pipe then on the uphill side of that wall, so that water coming down the hill will fall into that pipe, protected by landscape fabric and surrounded by gravel. 

This then drains any excess water past the house and downhill below the house. 

You can see i this photo the wall extended.  In future photos you'll see that end closed and squared, and the wall raised up one block. 

Thanks for reading our blog

Dick and Jim