[nebbe]

Was out doing estimates this morning when I drove upon this.

[nebbe]

A closer view.

[nebbe]

I knew there was a use for those 2 x 4's.

[Stonehenge]

I notice there's no clear gravel spilling out from behind that wall.

And it looks like the yard hasn't been seeded yet - must be a pretty new wall. Looks like it's more than 4' tall, and I also see no grid.

Looks like either a homeowner or builder special.

[Bill Schwab]

You gotta love these genoiuses who feel that retaining walls are a no brainer! I met with one of them earlier today and cut the meeting short when I detected a strong case of moronitus!

[Lanelle]

I would think that the building inspector would be stopping by to have a look see. Since it is visible from the road, might be worth sending the picture to the local newspaper along with a short article about the benefits of hiring a professional who doesn't take short cuts.

[nebbe]

Thanks For the Idea.

[CountyMaterials]

I have been waiting for that wall to fall. That, unfortunately, is my block. Customer walks in, orders his 2nd load of block, caps, and pins. I ask if he needs any geo-grid with this load, he says, "What is geo-grid?"

Oh boy, here we go!!! I explain what it is, tell him how to use it. He says he has done walls before without grid, just puts the soil in the block and behind the block.

So, needless to say, I have numerous pictures of that job, documentation that he was told how to do it. There is no grid on the job, there is no stone on the job. They have driven bobcats on top of the wall. There wires running behind the wall. This is a case of a homeowner thinking he can do it all.

Sorry you all had to see that.

[Stonehenge]

If that's County block, that's a 6' wall (maybe more - hard to tell).

Jason - where is that job?

[Paul]

CountyMaterials, this is one reason why homeowners shouldn't be allowed to install walls.

We here don't blame you, it's just the industry needs to rethink the way it markets material to homeowners. I believe homeowners should be limited to garden walls size blocks, say nothing over a 4" block.

[CountyMaterials]

Yeah, it WAS 6' plus when I first saw it. Part of it fell last year and that is when they put the 2x4's up. I figured that once the frost left and we got some rain, that thing would come tumbling down.

From my shop, take Hwy 41N, Hwy 96W, 2 miles past Hwy 76 take a right on Spring Valley Rd . to N995 West Lake Ct.

I finally figured out who Nebbe is, what's up Jeff!!!

[Stonehenge]

Shhh.... I think "nebbe" is trying to keep a low profile.....

I thought the 2x4's were just laying there - I didn't think they'd actually use them for support!

[Bill Schwab]

Don't you love it when the homeowner who misused the product calls you, you estimate the cost of repair, and, they argue with you as to why the wrong size block can't be reused?

Paul is exactly right. SRW's of any type should not be sold to home owners. Personally, I like Unilocks approach. If you aren't a contractor, they won't sell to you directly. That is not to say someone won't go hit a garden center and misuse the product as well.

[CountyMaterials]

Paul - while I agree with you sort of, how can you regulate it? Unilock has distributors and I could go down the street and buy any Unilock product I want and I am not a contractor. I think people just see themselves as smarter than they really are.

Now, the flip side to that is, I have had retail customers come in that know more and can do more than SOME of the contractors that come in. Every body and their brother is a "landscaper" if they have a truck, a shovel and a wheelbarrow.

Homeowner has not called, but what can he say? We gave him all the information on how to do it and he chose to ignore it and try and save a buck by doing it himself.

[nebbe]

Jason, Not trying to keep to low of a profile. I saw that wall and just had to chuckle. Another homeowner trying to save a buck. Whats funny is that I drove by on Sunday dropping off a welder at my uncles and saw a lawn care or landscapers trailer in the driveway and one of the wall up by the house was some what fixed (stress some what).