Assessing and Planning Retaining Wall Replacement

What happens here

The team inspects the existing, failing retaining wall near the house and discusses how to replace it. They identify rotten timbers and the lack of proper 'deadmen' (anchor timbers extending into the bank) which caused the wall to fail. The discussion includes options for rebuilding, such as using a 2x12 board against the existing block wall and then building up from there, or moving the wall slightly to avoid existing landscaping. The critical point is to create a structurally sound replacement that also functions as a privacy berm.

Goal: Evaluate the existing retaining wall's condition and plan its structural replacement.