posted March 05, 2005 02:54 PM            

I'm no engineer, but I'd say this wall is insufficient to hold back the amount of soil behind it. New home construction.

I recommended the builder provide the buyer with the engineering reports stating this wall is adequeate and to outline IN WRITING what remedies would be available should this wall fail.

I also recommended that a sufficient retaining wall be constucted at the front of the property. Kinda seems to be a no brainer. But the landscapers were there at the time of inspection just laying sod over the whole works. Didn't plan on putting in a front retainer wall at all.

This just looks like a disaster waiting to happen.

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posted March 05, 2005 03:39 PM            

That was a great call; that definitely needs an engineered design!!! (And hopefully the engineer was out to inspect the work as it was being done to be assured that all the draintile and supports were being installed properly).

Certainly wouldn't back down on getting all that in writing if I was the buyer!! You're absolutely correct that it could be disasterous.

posted March 05, 2005 08:47 PM            

That said, I frequently point things out to my client and tell them "If done properly, it should be okay, but there is no way I can tell you anything about it other then 'Yep, that's a retaining wall and it is white.', so have the builder's engineers provide documentation that it IS right."

Check these out.
http://www.masonrymagazine.com/2-03/blocks.html
http://www.ncma.org/use/srw.html
http://www.ftgu.net/Products/products.html (click on the 'photo' links at the end of each block style text)
http://www.nicolock.com/nicdec.html
http://www.retainingwalldesign.com/retaining_wall_design_masonry_srw_gravity_wall.htm

posted March 06, 2005 05:46 AM            

Looking at the first picture you posted, the hill at the corner has already began sliding, albiet slowly. If you will look at the angle of the tree growth, you'll notice that the evergreens are leaning quite noticeably - recent sliding. The small tree in the foreground has started to correct the way in which it is growing by tring to right itself (notice the "elbow" in the trunk about 18 inches up from the ground) - evidence of slower, creeping movement.

I actually have concerns that there may in fact be reason to believe that the entire lot may one day end up in the intersection. I would definately have a geo-engineer out to give this home and property a thorough going over before closing if I were the purchaser.

------------------
-DON-

* Remember, it wasn't raining when Noah started building the ark *

[This message has been edited by Don Matthews (edited March 06, 2005).]

posted March 09, 2005 02:59 AM            

Usually the local seasonal workers from south of the border put them up. We have a great supply of local seasonal workers from south of the border hanging out at Home Depot every morning, which, coincidentally, has a great supply of retaining wall blocks just like those.

They are alongside the freeways (where they probably were engineered by CalTrans engineers) and alongside the streets holding back houses (where they probably were engineered by Mr. Weekend Warrior).

Hmmmmmmmmm. I think I shall "engineer" a wall for the left front corner of my property. I need a new outdoors project. LOL

posted March 09, 2005 06:21 AM            

quote:

---

We have thousands of retaining walls like that here in San Diego. Rarely are they "engineered."
Usually the local seasonal workers from south of the border put them up. We have a great supply of local seasonal workers from south of the border hanging out at Home Depot every morning, which, coincidentally, has a great supply of retaining wall blocks just like those.

---

Hey, Russ... that might help to explain alot of the mud-slides in CA., right??!!

Rich

------------------
R. Rushing
Duncanville, Tx.

posted March 09, 2005 07:56 AM            

Retaining walls are not for the ritzy areas because they are too unsightly for those upscale homes. Without retaining walls to hold back the mud, well, one has mudslides. Kind of a big DUH! to me.

Well, which is more unsightly? (1) A retaining wall holding up a house or (2) A house that now is in someone else's back yard down the hills a way?

posted March 10, 2005 05:01 PM            

That is incredible. Does your area not have a maximum grade for a driveway?

posted March 10, 2005 05:11 PM            

You altered that photo didn't you?

I can see the buyers lining up for those houses now!

Try opening those doors without an automatic opener!

posted March 20, 2005 05:24 PM            

I wonder, when you do the terracing that I saw in some of the pics that were posted, does this bypass the 4'/no surcharge rule (assuming individual walls that are less than 4' high)? Any thoughts?

posted March 31, 2005 05:22 AM            

Thats a photoshopped picture of the sloped driveway.

posted March 31, 2005 05:16 PM            

House had a steeeeeep driveway leading down to the garage. Slope ended two feet from the garage door.

Older gentleman with a handicapped wife and a lift equipped mini-van.

We walked down the driveway to the front of the garage. I asked him if he had tried to get his van into the garage. He said no. I suggested that this would be a good time to try. He pulled his van down the driveway and the bumper hung on the garage slab before his wheels left the slope.

Inspection over. Couldn't get the van into the garage.

45 days later I did another one for him that he could get it into.

If I hadn't had to drive 30 minutes to get there, I probably wouldn't have accepted the money he insisted I take.

------------------
Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections & Kentucky Radon Testing
Georgetown, Kentucky

www.b4uclose.com

posted April 01, 2005 04:01 PM            

Had a home today that had a retaining wall at least 8ft. high that a person could be seriously injured if you fell from this wall.

Just envisioning having family or company over and the kids are outside in the night playing chase or running through the yard and run directly off this wall.

posted April 01, 2005 04:27 PM            

I have often wondered that too. I don't address railings unless there is a patio, deck or walkway in the same area. At some point I figure that people just have to take some responsibility for themselves.

posted April 01, 2005 07:42 PM            

We still have that requirement in the Florida Building Code, but only in the HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zones - Dade and Broward counties).

Same requirement is for sea walls, fountains, etc., unless the lower level is water. That means (down here) that if the sea wall is built back beyond the lowest low tide mark, the sea wall needs to have a railing.

Like this one.

(another view of it)

posted April 02, 2005 02:22 AM            

Did you noice the mature landscaping already leaning toward the lower level driveway? Calling that one was very smart on your part..
Retaining wall may be newer, I don't know the details... When you have mature trees and shrubs leaning forward like in your pic.. it's due to one of 2 reasons...
#1. the root structures were torn during the install of the retaining wall and cutting of the road.
#2. The soil is failing to hold, and in time the retaining wall will fail as well.

I'm glad I didn't have to inspect any of the hillside homes down south from me...

posted April 02, 2005 05:31 AM            

Things ain't square.