Charlottesville Retaining Walls &
Paving Stone Installation

Retaining walls can add beauty, elegance and design appeal to your property, and can also add usable space to your yard. Building a stone retaining wall is a physically challening task, and has its elements of technical challenges. There's more to it than just stacking stone!

There are many options when it comes to choosing materials. In the old days, most retaining walls were constructed using timbers which didn't last very long. Today, there are countless styles of pre-manufactured concrete stones available in many colors to suit your exact application. As you can see in the photo to the left, this retaining wall was built to corra a sloped yard that was otherwise not usable. The homeowner created a near level yard space above the wall, and a more gentle and usable slope below the wall. A project this large requires the use of heavy equipment. We can either use our tractor mounted backhoe, call in a subcontractor to do the digging and backfilling, or rent the appropriate piece of equipment by the day. When a project is properly planned, renting is very cost effective.

If your retaining wall is going to be over 3 feet in height, we'll want to get a set of technical specifications from the manufacturer to make sure we follow the guidelines for the particular stone you are using. Each stone has its own requirements and there are several more common installation methods. Some stones use pins that go through one stone into the one below, others have a retaining lip on the back edge of the stone. Depending upon the application, one may be better than the other.

Once you select the style of stone that will meet your requirements structurally, we can begin by designing the wall in paper and then transfer that design to your yard. A laser level comes in handy here and don't worry, we have one you can use if you don't want to buy a new toy! We'll mark up the yard with a can a spray paint, put stakes in to indicate grade, get the supplies delivered and begin work.

This photo shows us again how to take control of a slope that made this yard unusable and is an excellent example of a do it yourself manageable project.

The technical work that comes at the beginning of construction is the most important. Getting the footing right is absolutely critical. Don't worry, we'll show you how to do this perfectly! It is physically hard work no doubt, and as the homeowner, you get to decide how often you work on it and when. It doesn't all have to be done in one weekend! Once the footings are in properly using the proper materials, you can begin stacking the stone. Stacking goes pretty quick except for those areas where you'll need to make a few cuts. The wall in this photo was done without cutting, so oce the footings were in it was off to the races! Now, depending upon the stone you choose, each one can weight up to 80 pounds. The average is about 45 pounds, so be prepared to work hard, even though it's easy! We'll show you the right way to pick the stones up and move them so you don't get hurt, and you'll want to work at your own confortable pace. You can even hire a laborer by the day to help you with the lifting and be more of a director of sorts! We have great resources for labor if you decide to get some help.

 

Sounds challenging?

It can be, but with a Frugal DIY Pro by your side it'll be easier than you think! Like most home improvements and remodeling projects, once you understand the concepts involved and get your hands into the process, it quickly becomes old hat. Since much of the process of installing a retaining wall is labor, expect to save upwards of 65% off contractor prices.

To get started, just give us a call at (434) 202-4198 in Charlottesville, or use the contact form. Our initial consultation is just $88 and we'll credit you the full amount when you hire us to coach you on instaling recessed lighting and ceiling accents.

Building a Retaining Wall
the Frugal DIY Way!

Enough can't be said about planning and organization when it comes to building a retaining wall. Once we have everything mapped out, we'll go over every piece of it again to make sure we didn't miss something. The first few days of construction will be busy! It is very exciting to see it come together! Once it is completed, you can rest easy and enjoy the fruits of your labor that will last a lifetime!

DOn't worry about the technical details. We'll guide you through them all to make sure you build the wall properly, and safely. In order to hold back the tons of earth that will be pushing against the wall, we'll use the manufacturer's technical specifications for construction and water management to assure a lasting outcome! If you don't hire Frugal DIY to help you, make sure you get involved with the process as much as possible and make sure the construction specifications are met exactly. We've seen more than a few retaining walls that looked great when they were done, but were little more than a pile of rubble a few years later because they were not built properly. The amount of force that can be exerted agains a wall is amazing, particularly when the soil is soaked after a heavy rain. When done properly, there's no problem. Done wrong, and it can not only be a mess, but a real safety hazard. Assure yourself of doing it right with a Frugal DIY Pro by your side!

 

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