I would like to take a moment to comment about two things. First, “building retaining walls is for a younger crew!” Twenty-two 36″ holes, a 36×36″ trench sixty feet long, drilling and driving the rebar into the forty two ties (3-4 bars per tie) left me just a little sore and tired. But I got a good tan plus I didn’t feel like I needed to lift weights at the gym (at least that day). You take the wins where you can.
Secondly, pack-ratting pays off. I don’t mean hording like you see on TV where they’ve kept empty pizza boxes for twenty years. I referring to keeping used or extra bolts, nuts, screws, steel, wood, building supplies, and even tools for possible future use. I hate buying a new 2×4 just because I need an 18″ length to fix something. I present the following video for proof that I am not alone.
Of course, the video is a little over the top…or is it? I’ve kept all kinds of stuff in boxes and bins and every time I find something I can use, my habit of holing thing away is completely validated. This also applies to tools.
The drill is a Milwaukee single speed 1/2″ drill that I purchased in the late 80’s for just this purpose. It can auger through 18″ of wood without any trouble. In fact, it can just about break your arm if you aren’t ready for it. Up until I started building walls again, it had on the wall collecting dust. I probably last used it in 1999. I had thought about selling it several times-I had no use for it. But it wasn’t worth that much used so I kept it. And I’m glad I did. They are $250-300.00 now and I just could not have drilled all the re-bar holes without it. Now, I will never, ever even think about selling it or any other tool again. I’ll just make more shelves for storage!
I had left the vertical poles loose to allow for adjustments. It was time to set those in place. Using 12″ nails, I fastened them to the wall, then poured in at least one bag of dry concrete into each hole. Them a little bit of water. The water along with the ground moisture will be more than enough to set the concrete.
I then set a string at the height I wanted the fence. A tall fence along the timber wasn’t necessary, just enough to keep me from tripping and rolling down the hill. I set the string at 36″ and cut all the poles off level.
I nailed 2x8s on top of the poles and a 2×2 along the top of the wall for backing of the cedar pickets.
Once the dirt has settled in the backfilled area and the building is done, I’ll put down a few inches of CA6 and call it done.