Hit 100 feet of retaining wall block today and it felt huge

I've been chipping away at this retaining wall in my backyard for about three weekends now. Today I finally got the 100th block placed and leveled, which was my goal from the start. I honestly didn't think I'd get that far since I was working alone and had to dig out some nasty roots. The wall sits against a slope that used to wash mud into the garden every time it rained, so this feels like a real win. Has anyone else set a random number goal for their own project and actually made it?

3 comments

3 Comments

allen.kai1mo ago

Wait, you did 100 blocks solo in three weekends? That is seriously impressive. I've done small retaining walls before and the leveling alone drove me crazy, plus you had roots to fight. What kind of blocks are you using, the big heavy ones or the smaller interlocking kind? That must feel amazing to see the mud problem finally solved.

taylorshah1mo ago

Honestly, I used to think dirt was just dirt and any wall would do. But after fighting those roots and realizing how much water was pooling, I totally changed my mind. The leveling really is the worst part, I used a string line and kept checking with a level every single block. I'm using the big heavy ones, those 40 pound concrete blocks that lock together, because I figured they'd hold up better against all that pressure. Have you ever tried drilling into the blocks to add rebar for extra stability?

murphy.mason1mo ago

Wait, have you actually had issues with those 40 pound blocks shifting over time? I've seen plenty of walls built with the smaller interlocking ones that have held up for decades without any rebar, so I'm not convinced the weight alone is the answer. The thing about drilling into concrete blocks is you're creating weak spots where water can get in and freeze, cracking the block from the inside out. Plus, if your base is leveled right and you've got proper drainage behind the wall, the pressure from the soil shouldn't be that big of a deal anyway. Honestly, I've talked to a few old-timers who just stacked dry stone and called it a day, and their walls have outlasted anything with fancy locking systems.