Lay First Courses of Modular Blocks and Integrate Geo-grid

4:07

17:37

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At 4:07 in

This SHADY home builder cut corners

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What happens here

Once the base is prepared, the first courses of modular retaining wall blocks are installed. Lay the first block carefully on the compacted gravel, ensuring it is perfectly level both front-to-back and side-to-side using a hand level. Subsequent blocks are placed tightly against each other, following the string line for straightness and continuous leveling. As courses are added, the area behind the blocks is backfilled with crushed gravel, which is then compacted with the plate compactor. Geo-grid reinforcement is strategically placed between certain courses, extending back into the compacted gravel, to enhance the wall's stability and resistance to overturning.

Goal: Construct the initial layers of the retaining wall with proper drainage and reinforcement.

Tools and materials

Geo-grid — Reinforcing the retaining wall structure by extending into the backfill
Hand Level — Ensuring each block is perfectly level during placement
Modular Retaining Wall Blocks — The main structural components forming the wall face
Plate Compactor Bomag — Compacting the gravel backfill behind the wall
Rubber Mallet — Gently adjusting block positions without damaging them
Shovel — Moving and distributing gravel backfill
String Lines — Maintaining straight alignment for each course of blocks
Tape Measure — Ensuring consistent block placement and wall dimensions
Crushed gravel — Backfilling behind the blocks to provide drainage and structural stability

What they say

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[Music] w [Music] check it out one over there we got a fresh fresh cicada and Zach just spotted another one here look at those things man those things are cool now I was young in my career and this happened to be one of the first home builders that I had an opportunity to connect with and to deliver time and time again meaning I was hired by him to dig all of his basements in Minneapolis the writing should have been on the wall when after I'd finished my first basement the foundation was in I did the Finish grading I got everything prepped and ready and it came time to do the sod now I was the dirt work contractor at that point I wasn't the finished landscaper and I wasn't the one doing all of the final grading but of course he asked me to do it because a shady contractor that's screwing his customers is going to figure out a way to screw his subcontractors as well and oh boy did he he hired me to go ahead and do the finish grade and install the sod the red flake should have been there when I went to put the sod in and I asked him about the black dirt and he refused to put black dirt below the sad this was pure clay and I says well how are you going to guarantee that this s is live oh we're going to water it we're going to take we're going to get it established for the homeowners I was young and dumb and I should never have believed him so I went ahead and laid the sad knowing that he took responsibility to make sure that that side would live here's where the story gets really interesting I had done about 25 maybe 30 homes for him before this caught up and bit me in the butt at the end of the season I handed him an invoice for all of these homes because not only would he not lab black dirt down he wouldn't even pick up the garbage off from the Lots so I would go through and pick up all of the garbage from all of the other trades I would go through and pick up all of the nails all of the broken glass all of the debris I would get the yard rigged and cleaned and spotless all the Contours laid out and then I would lay the side I never got paid for any of that work I never got paid for any of the uh I got left holding the bag for $12,000 of just finished grading on multiple homes that he refused to pay me on and I could have went through and did a lean waiver on each individual home but here's the kicker these were all individual homes that he was building meaning that I would have had to individually apply a lean to each home and not the Builder himself…

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