[rdy2go]

I need to build a few retaining walls. Nothing huge except one area will be 6ft high by 18ft, nothing a little geogrid can't solve. Every contractor so far has been hocking vera loc. $9 per sqft just for the block. To me that's crazy. I can get something that looks nearly similar for $4 from Menards/Home Depot. Beyond their pin system, is there something else that makes versa worth the extra $5/foot?

I think six feet tall is a significant wall. I would make sure the contractor knows what he is doing. There is more to it that just stacking blocks. Have you asked the contractors for alternatives?



Block manufacturers have specs for their blocks as far as wall limits and construction diagrams.

 

[rdy2go]

There is a lot of difference in net cost to you because there is a lot of heavy labor and money to be made by the contractor. I built some for my house in my young days, but lower, with lighter blocks. I sense you must be young, but keep in mind that assuming the wall will be 6x18 exposed, with may be 3 rows under, you are looking at laying down some 200 blocks, 80 lbs. each. Add digging, tampering the base, back filling, etc. Just make sure your back can take it now and is it worth to put the tear on it for the future.

 

[rdy2go]

3 rows under?!?!?!? I have never seen that. Just one course buried and the rest on top.

I would make sure I get suggested engineering drawings from the specific block manufacturer... My gut feeling is that they will require at least two rows. At the end, it will be your wall...



Aside from that topic, I would put some thinking to the shape of the wall in relation to the surrounding area. It all depends where it is, like if it is an edge of street walkway, it is mostly mandated. If possible, staying away from straight lines tends to render a more graceful landscape look. Some times a curve is mandated, others, some convex, concave or even "s" shape will soften it. Obviously is a matter of personal taste. You can use a hose to delineate it. If you have any artistic inclination, you may be able to put a pencil to work at it. Also, at times, and I did this on one I had built thirty years ago, breaking a 6' wall into two levels, with planters between them can make a huge difference aesthetically. In the one I am talking about, I came up with a lower deeper one, evolving into a narrower shape a bit higher, curving to meet the back wall and then the back wall wrapping it all.

 

[rdy2go]

I have an engineer designing the walls. Two of them are simple 22ft long, starts at 6ft high then goes down to 0. The other is 6ft high but tapers to 0 in 40ft. No room for curves. I only ordered enough to do one course below so hopefully that is what the engineer specs.

With the engineer design you are covered. As for to actually building it, the slowest thing is to prepare trench and lay first two rows. I have seen professionals dig more than needed, then compact it to level within an inch and then lay down two parallel 3/4 EMT pipes to bubble level, fill/screed with coarse sand, remove pipes, fill grooves and carefully place the block on top, which will compact the sand and take care of inequalities. I am not sure that will work with whatever the engineer designs for support. There have to be plenty of tutorials online.



Good luck with your project !