Pwtr02ss home build
- Thread starter pwtr02ss
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
Little more progress. This was in September.
They were going to thin out the back of the lot where we're building. They cleared a little more than we expected, but whatever. This gave us a little better lay of the land
The avalanche is parked where the garage is going. I'm standing in the trees where the house is going
They were going to thin out the back of the lot where we're building. They cleared a little more than we expected, but whatever. This gave us a little better lay of the land
The avalanche is parked where the garage is going. I'm standing in the trees where the house is going
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
Next up, the front hill was still too steep, so I had them hammer more. This got the entrance down to a more manageable slope and carried it back around 140'. Total hammering was about 8' deep and 35-40' wide. More trees were taken out as well. Looks like I-40 east bound going through here...
Steph for scale. This is when I realized we didn't have enough land to simply grade out the difference and we'd have to install a retaining wall
Steph for scale. This is when I realized we didn't have enough land to simply grade out the difference and we'd have to install a retaining wall
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
More hammering and more grading.
They used the material they hammered out to build up a little low spot. They blended the area into the second hill nicely. It's built up about 4' in through the middle
Little more hammering..
Starting to take shape
They used the material they hammered out to build up a little low spot. They blended the area into the second hill nicely. It's built up about 4' in through the middle
Little more hammering..
Starting to take shape
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
By this time, we're already into December. We've met with our builder and he says he can start after the first of the year.
They started cutting on the second hill and getting the front entrance ready
Rained started in November, so we were working on it as we could.
Second hill, looking towards the road
Looking toward home site
Geo fabric laid, we're at rough final grade
They started cutting on the second hill and getting the front entrance ready
Rained started in November, so we were working on it as we could.
Second hill, looking towards the road
Looking toward home site
Geo fabric laid, we're at rough final grade
I'm curious, it's hard to tell but how much elevation gain/loss from the road to the house?
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
More grading on the second hill. This post will wrap up 2024
By this time, I'm over the rain and I'm over project managing this shit. Hopeful that 2025 will dry out and we can get my responsibilities over with...
Hopefully by now, you can tell what's looking towards the road and what's looking toward the home site...
Casey is 6' 2". Quite a bit of material has been cut
By this time, I'm over the rain and I'm over project managing this shit. Hopeful that 2025 will dry out and we can get my responsibilities over with...
Hopefully by now, you can tell what's looking towards the road and what's looking toward the home site...
Casey is 6' 2". Quite a bit of material has been cut
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
From the road to the top of the second hill is right at 75'
Rise to run?
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
Not 100% sure on the run. It's somewhere around 500' from the road to the top of the second hill. The house will be almost 1,000' off the road.
It's been a process for sure. Some of the work we did was probably unnecessary to most people, but I wanted it to be right from the start. The second hill is still a little steeper than I'd like, but when you buy a mountainous piece of property, you can only do so much before it loses the characteristics that made you buy it. I considered doing another retaining wall and cutting it more, but as nice as the wall looks, it would have been twice as big (length and height) as the front wall and it's just not fitting.Looks like a lot of money and work to get that driveway right. And the party hasn’t started yet.
I'll get some more progress pictures when I get some time.
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
Here's where we were at the start of 2025. Rain and snow really slowed progress. We got the entrance graveled, more cut on the second hill and got the head wall set. This takes us to the end of January.
As you can tell, it's a muddy mess and we decided to focus on the front until we better weather.
The snow gave us a glimpse of what we were working with over all. It was pretty satisfying to see it in a different light. Not just a mud hole
More mud after the snow but they pushed through and did what they could.
Shortly after, we got the headwall set and some of the pipe hauled back there. That's 18" RCP
As you can tell, it's a muddy mess and we decided to focus on the front until we better weather.
The snow gave us a glimpse of what we were working with over all. It was pretty satisfying to see it in a different light. Not just a mud hole
More mud after the snow but they pushed through and did what they could.
Shortly after, we got the headwall set and some of the pipe hauled back there. That's 18" RCP
Last edited:
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
Have I mentioned rain and mud?
Since it kept raining, we decided to go ahead and get the front of the property shaped up.
Oh, rock. I've mentioned rock a few times.
To get the base built for the retaining wall, we had to hammer out more rock. Basically go down a minimum of 12" and work up the hill. We over excavated (hammered) up to 30" deep to allow for the compacted base stone for the block to sit on. This process took a while, but it was a welcome change. Rain doesn't hinder beating out rock.
We went with the "fractured ledge" pattern from Stone Strong. We utilized the 6-28 block so I could reduce excavation behind the wall. Each block is 18" tall, 48" wide, and 28" deep, weighing about 1,500 lbs per block. This particular block can be stacked up to 6' high with no geo-grid or stone wedge.
(Shameless plug.... Visit www.stonestrongtn.com Pm me if you'd like more information)
This is the end of the hammering for the wall. Base corse takes the longest.
Since it kept raining, we decided to go ahead and get the front of the property shaped up.
Oh, rock. I've mentioned rock a few times.
To get the base built for the retaining wall, we had to hammer out more rock. Basically go down a minimum of 12" and work up the hill. We over excavated (hammered) up to 30" deep to allow for the compacted base stone for the block to sit on. This process took a while, but it was a welcome change. Rain doesn't hinder beating out rock.
We went with the "fractured ledge" pattern from Stone Strong. We utilized the 6-28 block so I could reduce excavation behind the wall. Each block is 18" tall, 48" wide, and 28" deep, weighing about 1,500 lbs per block. This particular block can be stacked up to 6' high with no geo-grid or stone wedge.
(Shameless plug.... Visit www.stonestrongtn.com Pm me if you'd like more information)
This is the end of the hammering for the wall. Base corse takes the longest.
Last edited:
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
With the wall nearing completion, it was time to install the catch basin at the property line. The retaining wall has an underdrain running behind it, so I wanted to get that wrapped up so we could it into the the 18" trunk line that's running down to the creek.
Basin installed, last load of block shipping out.
Tada! We now have a retaining wall!
The void inside the block and behind it was completely filled #57 stone. This locks the block in while allowing drainage to flow to the underdrain. The stone is covered with non-woven filter fabric, then topped with top soil.
We seeded and installed straw mat. Rough grading behind the wall is also complete. The electric will need to be ran behind the wall, so this is just temporary. I was tired of mud washing in the road so this was a very welcome sight. Bet my neighbors are thankful too!
It's starting to take shape...
Basin installed, last load of block shipping out.
Tada! We now have a retaining wall!
The void inside the block and behind it was completely filled #57 stone. This locks the block in while allowing drainage to flow to the underdrain. The stone is covered with non-woven filter fabric, then topped with top soil.
We seeded and installed straw mat. Rough grading behind the wall is also complete. The electric will need to be ran behind the wall, so this is just temporary. I was tired of mud washing in the road so this was a very welcome sight. Bet my neighbors are thankful too!
It's starting to take shape...
Last edited:
Watching this is like watching a flock of fkng birds flying in a V. Instinct, purpose, like you were born to do this.
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
Brother, its felt like a cluster **** from the start....
Are there any other homes in the area where you are? I assume this will be septic and well?
I'm new to the whole well water thing. Still trying to get warm and fuzzy with it. The septic we had in NC before, but the new place we just had PERC'd for a 5-bedroom septic. Those I dont find horribly hard to deal with. The well I presume I'm going to eventually get some stupid expensive filtration system.
I'm new to the whole well water thing. Still trying to get warm and fuzzy with it. The septic we had in NC before, but the new place we just had PERC'd for a 5-bedroom septic. Those I dont find horribly hard to deal with. The well I presume I'm going to eventually get some stupid expensive filtration system.
Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
At least the water will always be cold. Great for the summer heat.
OP
OP
pwtr02ss
Full Access Member
Yeah, there's houses, all of the lots are big. I will have a septic system, but we have city water, natural gas, and fiber internet. I've already had a 1" meter installed. Running 1" pex inside 2" sdr11 for casing. I'm going to put an outdoor spigot up by the road and do a meter box every 300' with a shut off. All of my water material should be in next week. The casing was on back order.
We got a septic permit for a 4+ bedroom house before I bought the land. They told me I may as well do a permit when I did the perc test.
I'm hoping they will amend it since we moved our homesite to the back.
