OT: Sloped backyard

[NotCranky]

My house is a raised with a subloor and I built it near a slope and took a deck from the sliding glass door of the great room to the first level of the terrace. This deck is 16 feet wide. I kept within non-engineered required cut and used a stacking retaining wall system. The terrace/patio is about 12 feet wide on average with slate tile and pigmented concrete finishes. Then I put another short wall with no engineering required on the other side of this terrace/patio. I went up from grade about 6 feet total in two steps.The way the contours of my lot work I was able to grade the terrace around the house on both sides and access it from grade without any steps.

I am thinking about cutting further into the hill and building a poured in place concrete walled cabana. This will require engineering. Alternately, cutting a lap pool into the hill, with a bench for the patio or yard, would be cool.

Some friends of mine are going to cut into the slope at their house just far enough to avoid engineering requirements and do some type of masonry hardscape benches with a concrete slab or flag stone patio that you step up to, with a fire pit in the center.

[UCGal]

As has been mentioned, by Russell and others, there are two ways to approach it – with the stacked walls (keystone type) and with engineered walls.

We have a lot that slopes down from our house – and built a companion unit and a switchbacked handicap ramp down to it. We have both engineered walls and fill, as well as the stacked walls (on the ramps.

The cost of bringing in fill, or removing fill can vary widely… But it can get expensive depending on how many yards. There is an entire sub-industry of moving dirt in San Diego county.

[UCGal]

As has been mentioned, by Russell and others, there are two ways to approach it – with the stacked walls (keystone type) and with engineered walls.

We have a lot that slopes down from our house – and built a companion unit and a switchbacked handicap ramp down to it. We have both engineered walls and fill, as well as the stacked walls (on the ramps.

The cost of bringing in fill, or removing fill can vary widely… But it can get expensive depending on how many yards. There is an entire sub-industry of moving dirt in San Diego county.

[UCGal]

As has been mentioned, by Russell and others, there are two ways to approach it – with the stacked walls (keystone type) and with engineered walls.

We have a lot that slopes down from our house – and built a companion unit and a switchbacked handicap ramp down to it. We have both engineered walls and fill, as well as the stacked walls (on the ramps.

The cost of bringing in fill, or removing fill can vary widely… But it can get expensive depending on how many yards. There is an entire sub-industry of moving dirt in San Diego county.

[UCGal]

As has been mentioned, by Russell and others, there are two ways to approach it – with the stacked walls (keystone type) and with engineered walls.

We have a lot that slopes down from our house – and built a companion unit and a switchbacked handicap ramp down to it. We have both engineered walls and fill, as well as the stacked walls (on the ramps.

The cost of bringing in fill, or removing fill can vary widely… But it can get expensive depending on how many yards. There is an entire sub-industry of moving dirt in San Diego county.

[UCGal]

As has been mentioned, by Russell and others, there are two ways to approach it – with the stacked walls (keystone type) and with engineered walls.

We have a lot that slopes down from our house – and built a companion unit and a switchbacked handicap ramp down to it. We have both engineered walls and fill, as well as the stacked walls (on the ramps.

The cost of bringing in fill, or removing fill can vary widely… But it can get expensive depending on how many yards. There is an entire sub-industry of moving dirt in San Diego county.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks for all the input. My idea is extend the flat space of a yard with a slope possibly by 5-10 feet into the slope and build a retaining wall with Concrete blocks, rebar and concrete fill to support the slope.

Something like this

http://www.wayraycontracting.com/images/upload/1176932692Retaining%20wall%20-%20loose%20laid%20flag%20&%20steps.jpg

I would like to have two terraces with stairs on one side, not the middle and use the two terraces as flower or garden beds. Sounds simple but im sure its a ton of work.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks for all the input. My idea is extend the flat space of a yard with a slope possibly by 5-10 feet into the slope and build a retaining wall with Concrete blocks, rebar and concrete fill to support the slope.

Something like this

http://www.wayraycontracting.com/images/upload/1176932692Retaining%20wall%20-%20loose%20laid%20flag%20&%20steps.jpg

I would like to have two terraces with stairs on one side, not the middle and use the two terraces as flower or garden beds. Sounds simple but im sure its a ton of work.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks for all the input. My idea is extend the flat space of a yard with a slope possibly by 5-10 feet into the slope and build a retaining wall with Concrete blocks, rebar and concrete fill to support the slope.

Something like this

http://www.wayraycontracting.com/images/upload/1176932692Retaining%20wall%20-%20loose%20laid%20flag%20&%20steps.jpg

I would like to have two terraces with stairs on one side, not the middle and use the two terraces as flower or garden beds. Sounds simple but im sure its a ton of work.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks for all the input. My idea is extend the flat space of a yard with a slope possibly by 5-10 feet into the slope and build a retaining wall with Concrete blocks, rebar and concrete fill to support the slope.

Something like this

http://www.wayraycontracting.com/images/upload/1176932692Retaining%20wall%20-%20loose%20laid%20flag%20&%20steps.jpg

I would like to have two terraces with stairs on one side, not the middle and use the two terraces as flower or garden beds. Sounds simple but im sure its a ton of work.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks for all the input. My idea is extend the flat space of a yard with a slope possibly by 5-10 feet into the slope and build a retaining wall with Concrete blocks, rebar and concrete fill to support the slope.

Something like this

http://www.wayraycontracting.com/images/upload/1176932692Retaining%20wall%20-%20loose%20laid%20flag%20&%20steps.jpg

I would like to have two terraces with stairs on one side, not the middle and use the two terraces as flower or garden beds. Sounds simple but im sure its a ton of work.

[NotCranky]

That looks really nice. The foundations need to be very deep and wide because of the short terrace between combined with the steepness. Sorry, don’t
know how much it would cost. The only engineered retaining wall I ever had my hands on was approved by the time I got involved and I only did the foundation. The owner then hired a mason and his helper for $5OO a day(probably $400 now) and did the water proofing drainage and backfill himself with the help of a bobcat opperator who he paid by the hour. He saved a ton of money vs hiring a top notch hardscape guy and got great results.

[NotCranky]

That looks really nice. The foundations need to be very deep and wide because of the short terrace between combined with the steepness. Sorry, don’t
know how much it would cost. The only engineered retaining wall I ever had my hands on was approved by the time I got involved and I only did the foundation. The owner then hired a mason and his helper for $5OO a day(probably $400 now) and did the water proofing drainage and backfill himself with the help of a bobcat opperator who he paid by the hour. He saved a ton of money vs hiring a top notch hardscape guy and got great results.

[NotCranky]

That looks really nice. The foundations need to be very deep and wide because of the short terrace between combined with the steepness. Sorry, don’t
know how much it would cost. The only engineered retaining wall I ever had my hands on was approved by the time I got involved and I only did the foundation. The owner then hired a mason and his helper for $5OO a day(probably $400 now) and did the water proofing drainage and backfill himself with the help of a bobcat opperator who he paid by the hour. He saved a ton of money vs hiring a top notch hardscape guy and got great results.

[NotCranky]

That looks really nice. The foundations need to be very deep and wide because of the short terrace between combined with the steepness. Sorry, don’t
know how much it would cost. The only engineered retaining wall I ever had my hands on was approved by the time I got involved and I only did the foundation. The owner then hired a mason and his helper for $5OO a day(probably $400 now) and did the water proofing drainage and backfill himself with the help of a bobcat opperator who he paid by the hour. He saved a ton of money vs hiring a top notch hardscape guy and got great results.

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