Building a Retaining wall start to finish #1

We build an engineered retaining wall with an unusual stair system built in.

[@corycourneyea6802]

Pretty fortunate to have a guy like Alex come to you guy's. He is awesome. One man band right there.

[@Dirtmonkey]

For sure 👊👊

[@robk2670]

Thanks for the video. Can't wait for the next one. Have to do the exact same thing in our drive way plus pour new concrete $$$. I love those steps. Wasn't sure what we were gonna do for steps but those were beautiful.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Awesome man sounds like it’s gunna turn out great

[@evilvet]

20 year old me thought retaining walls were just a bunch of blocks and dirt. 50 year old me figured out it's an art and science. it's amazing how a well done one adds such awesome value to a property. i think i'm a wall snob now. i know what to look for now. so many little details i'd reject if not done as fabulous as these.

[@jimwednt1229]

Physics and knowledge of the elements and about the materials you're working with. 💪

[@Dirtmonkey]

"i think i'm a wall snob now. i know what to look for now. so many little details i'd reject if not done as fabulous as these." Im the same- its hard to look at a wall without seeing issues BUT when I do find a good wall- man can you really appreciate it then.

[@glennwolfe1663]

Interesting build. Looking forward to the total project. Thanks for sharing👍👍👍👍👍😺🤗🐺

[@Dirtmonkey]

Happy to share! Glad ya like it

[@gordonglover8964]

Juat started our excavation business and have been watching your videos wow this will be a tremendous help

[@matthewdeaton7961]

Love timelapses. Should do this for each job along with the regular video. Id watch both haha.

[@tfrogginhfroggin]

Wow, really nice transformation. I hope the next video shows how to deal with the gutters and drainage in that corner.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Good idea

[@whiskeypapa8842]

Thanks for the entertainment Stan. Loved the video.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@paulsabotig]

Good rant about building on a poured slab base as well👍

[@stephenfriend3780]

I love watching these videos. I learn so much watching them. thanks for your efforts

[@Dirtmonkey]

Glad you like them!

[@schafflandscaping]

Big job. Interesting to watch. Love to see a video on how you went about estimating this project

[@Dirtmonkey]

we break weach part down so we understand the process and thats how we start our estimating

[@MrCAcompora]

Love it! Been missing this type of stuff.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Love to hear it!!

[@tonnyplaysgames220dailygam5]

My favorite kind of video. Hard Work Time Lapse is way to go. Great Explanation!

[@Token_Civilian]

Nice, an old school DM retaining wall vid. Sweet.

[@Dirtmonkey]

You know it

[@rodyewell2267]

Man keep doing what you are doing! From one pollock to an other. Your content on you tube are much informative. Thanks for the information and entertainment! Salute.

[@Dirtmonkey]

🙏 Thanks for tuning in and the feedback. Glad you enjoy the content!

[@paulbetka6477]

That's why I LOVE watching you. Subscriber's learn from your video's. Dirt perfect 👍🏻 is a teacher To ❗ so is French drain man from Michigan 💪🏻👍🏻 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Dirtmonkey]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@jxrdnz]

I really applaud that driver for actually taking the time to put his tarp on, so many dumps roll around throwing debris out its unreal

[@Dirtmonkey]

True that 🙏👍

[@willb3018]

Interesting to see what goes into a quality built retaining wall. That was a nice KW buy the way.

[@Dirtmonkey]

That KW was pretty sweet

[@danholmblad9925]

I love what you do. You do everything buy the box. Love you for that. Teach the boys what a 4/1 bucket can really do. God bless.. still love the cowboys hate.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Dan 👊

[@rodyewell2267]

Ya got to get the base down to standard proctor for retaining and then divert the water flow to maintain the integrity of a structure. You guys do a great job demonstrating all of this! Pat your selves on the back for job well done.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you sir.

[@zeuz4218]

Perfecting timing I am trying to do a retaining myself. Keep up the good work

[@Dirtmonkey]

You got it 👍

[@michaelmillsap952]

Great Video !!! Thanksforsharingthe knowledge !!!!

[@Dirtmonkey]

No problemo! Thanks for caring

[@dennislamers986]

So much pre work goes into making this wall what it is. The 1st course is gotta be spot on. Do you use any laser equipment? I didn't see any story poles. You guys are artists.

[@Dirtmonkey]

we use smart levels and laser levels to get the base close and then do the rest by hand.

[@philliptaylor5981]

Thask again for the time and information. This video started well. Would of like to see more information about the base layer.

[@tomstradinger5958]

That was nice dump truck, I've worked for both Detroit Diesel when I graduated, then Michigan Kenworth after I retired. At KW Cummins was my favorite engine. Cat was to picky on cores. Most guys ran Cat. Thanks for nice vids.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Im a cummins man myself. Love those engines.

[@cachevalleyshedsinhydepark7102]

Great project! Looks awesome!

[@pcatful]

So much great information for those looking to get ahead in the trade!

[@Dirtmonkey]

🙏👍😃 Thank you

[@douglasmorton6121]

Such a great crew! Love these videos!!!

[@realjoshuacoyle]

Saw you and Alex on a NEXT Insurance KZbin ad! Looked like you guys were on this exact job site. Pretty cool!

[@Dirtmonkey]

we were! good eye. That was filmed on this site.

[@MrDan1509]

AS fast as this year is going you should be plowing snow by next Wednesday! Lol

[@Dirtmonkey]

😂 It feels like its coming quick.

[@joshchavee5395]

Maybe you could show a process of measuring materials and how to find out how much you need? I don’t do construction, but I do landscaping. Sometimes getting started is more intimidating then doing the job. Love your videos! Thanks for all the content!

[@joshchavee5395]

@@Mixcellaneous1 I appreciate it, I tend to overthink materials part, better to err on a little more material than less. Thanks!

[@Dirtmonkey]

I try to dial in a few different formulas for materials and use those consistently to make life easier.

[@ogsxl]

Youve inspire me to try a small wall project that will act as a mini stage

[@ricksardella3436]

Nice job boys!

[@Dirtmonkey]

🙏😃👍 Thank you sir

[@josephrottina1901]

Need more of them kind of video .👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Dirtmonkey]

I'll keep making them

[@1965ace]

Unlike poured footings where adjustments can be made as you go with a block wall, the base for a retaining wall is the beginning and the end. I think that's what Stan was saying.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Yup basically 👍

[@Dirtmonkey]

Yup basically 👍

[@brentsmith5647]

Brilliant people love the videos thank you ❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@wesleemiller]

Great video.

[@stevestokelylandscaping7981]

Please do a show on how you find your awesome crews.

[@Dirtmonkey]

😃👍👊

[@brentsmith5647]

The man in the grey T-shirt is a fantastic man👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jeffmech1]

Hey Stan! I know you have probably answered this in the past, but where do you find your music? You have such an amazing collection. Is it your personal stuff, do you have an idea what you want, then searcha database that you have? When I started watching you, I would take screen prints of each song, but there are so many, it became quite the project. Love the music, your crew is amazing! Their professionalism and making sure that the job is done right is truly wonderful. When they placed the first block by that side door, it took perhaps 10-15 minutes. They measured many times, checked level, many times. Did things over and over to make sure it was spot on. I never tire of watching them work. You can see the passion they have and you can see the respect they have for you. You take the time to listen to what they offer without being the “I’m the boss, and you WILL do it my way”. Kudos to you and your team. I’d hire them in a second

[@Dirtmonkey]

The music is my own mixed with having an idea then searching for the right one. Glad you see the genuine respect in the team too. It’s not always easy to find those qualities in workers but when it happens and we got the right team going everything works out pretty smoothly 😊👍

[@Pepper_brooks]

Love the videos where the camera is on the ASV! Awesome job guys Wanted to know if anyone has had any experience with a u25-3 kubota? Thinking about getting one and wanted to know some real world opinions about them Thanks in advance

[@Dirtmonkey]

I have not tried one of those kubotas.

[@stanhensley3082]

Dig baby dig!! THANKS 😊.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Workin hard 👌

[@paulnelson9907]

That why Stan you have bigger machines to load trucks like that one. Without the bigger loader you still have the ramp to deal with. I learned in Chicago where we needed to load semi trailers, straight trucks where hard to come by and they got more per hour than semi's dumps. And Stan it's time to retire that mini excavator! Pourable setting beds (flowable fill is not one of them) do work if made of the proper material. Flowable fill behind a retaining wall does work but for really tall walls you still need a lot of compaction that flowable fill will not provide a proctor test of 95% or greater for the structure to become monolith for the H x D2,

[@Dirtmonkey]

I have never tried flowable fill but have heard of it. Sounds like something I need to look into

[@XOCHITLW]

Wishing your company was in California!

[@beeslandscaping]

Thanks great video

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you!

[@stewartbrown7783]

always a great show..thank you stan.

[@c-v-n3322]

Nice work

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@cigarcaptain]

Ryan sent me, cool channel , subbed

[@mj6922]

Nice video

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks bud

[@aaronward4790]

Thanks stan! Have a blessed day!

[@Dirtmonkey]

You too!

[@ActionJackson2360]

Looks like you need to get Alex a JCB Teleskid.

[@Dirtmonkey]

we had one- couldn't sell it fast enough.

[@joshlane37]

This kind of stuff I like to see 😎

[@Dirtmonkey]

Heck yeahhh

[@Rapunzel1212]

Ur The MAN Stan! A+++

[@Dirtmonkey]

🙏👍👍👍

[@MrDan1509]

Wow....that turned out killer, nice job team Dirt Monkey!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Much appreciated

[@Gilman23]

Great vids, I’ve been watching you for months. I also do landscaping/ hardscapes mainly for 13+ years. All the Geogrid that I’ve used been a thin Plastic based grid. My honest opinion is that by you not putting the block dead level, but at an angle to compensate for the grid it’s overthinking it, and making it harder to install for the worker. My thinking is that when the blocks are in direct sun or even partial sun they are going to heat up and then all the weight on the grid is going to soften the plastic and make it thinner. So my opinion is start off with the wall dead level and if the grid would push it in the opposite direction ,the sun and heat in a long time make it lean towards the correct perfect level. Now I’m probably overthinking it. My mind just always on hardscapes, block or brick work. What’s your thoughts ?

[@Dirtmonkey]

"What’s your thoughts ?" The way you described is fine. You don't have to compensate for the thickness of the geogrid as long as the wall is under 10 feet tall. BUT we started to get into the habit of compensating the block on walls over ten to 20 feet tall and the habit just stuck. we know how to dial it in for whatever the height of the wall and so we do

[@IRAKLICHIKHLADZE]

That's when JCB skid leader would shine! It can extend the bucket

[@douglaspohl1827]

Hand rail missing... next video? Nice work...

[@Dirtmonkey]

The hand rail is not part of our contract on this site.

[@aaronwilcox6417]

It's nice looking and I like that footing. I'm not a fan of those walls for the most part or engineered walls as they call them. They really don't hold ground and move well. I live in an mountain valley with an lot of old mining operations and its incredible how an cribbing type of retaining design holds ground so much better and for l9ng amounts of time because the cribbing has some give to it and it can take movement. There's hillsides with old timbers over 100 yrs old still holding even when it rots. Cement and iron ties cribbing can last an long time too.

[@matthewrogers94mr]

Ooo another retaining wall video, altho this ones a little different lol.

[@Dirtmonkey]

every job is a bit different

[@matthewrogers94mr]

@@Dirtmonkey that is very true.

[@hazadus2u]

So you're hiring Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon hybrid s now! 😂😂😂😂

[@Dirtmonkey]

😂👊👍

[@brentsmith5647]

Love it when the man explains everything to the audience👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@adamhenninger]

Need a JCB Teleskid Stan!

[@nashcobb3056]

here to help

[@Dirtmonkey]

👊👊👊

[@bjcoppola]

Give me an Ole Detroit 8V71, I'm in heaven.

[@Dirtmonkey]

I have never ran a truck with a detroit deisel.

[@jackaffeldt]

Hot dog I love landscaping

[@Dirtmonkey]

Me to!

[@benjiang6493]

Love you video~🎉 seems in this project you didn't put geogrid, any reason?

[@TradingVibrations]

I was interested in the steps - I'm putting some down to our lake on a slope...make a video for that damn it! lol jk of course love your vids....from Zimmerman!

[@Dirtmonkey]

step video coming up!

[@TradingVibrations]

@@Dirtmonkey haha awesome

[@airrick8850]

Awesome retaining wall video as always. I gotta ask though.. is there a CERTAIN type of fill dirt that needs to be used when backfilling these? Obviously clay is a big no no but was just curious what you guys look for in the fill dirt that makes it an acceptable fill dirt

[@Dirtmonkey]

we use structural fill. a combo of compactible clay with sand and nor organics

[@marknunya3035]

Leave it to Stan to turn a landscape video into a dump truck tour 😂😂

[@Dirtmonkey]

Gotta do what ya gotta do 😁

[@marknunya3035]

@@Dirtmonkey I get the impression that you sir could sell ice to Eskimos 😆😆😆

[@robertvannicolo4435]

Stan nice project only thing would of done different used excavator to load quad dump moving dirt twice instead of once your funny totally underestimated price of new truck that's why used equipment $$$ value is so much now

[@Dirtmonkey]

Its been a long time since I priced out a new truck. The last new truck I bought was only $125,000. Its doubled on me since then.

[@aaronrodriguez6833]

Awesome wall design! Quick question. You put down your 3/4" gravel base then set your first course. After that base course is in why do you put dirt on top of the gravel? Shouldn't the gravel go all the way up almost to the top of the wall?

[@georgeking5746]

You might call that a “Wisconsin” truck, here in NC we call that a normal truck. They are all that size if not bigger, I’ve seen some with three or even four drop axles instead of two. Nice KW.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Minnesota doesn't allow the heavier trucks to run on their roads

[@bigbilly7865]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Big Billy

[@johnnyt5347]

We always gotta watch for power lines , branches , etc when loading trucks. We’re county and gotta watch for crazy drivers that never want to slow down even when they can see ya way ahead in the road. They’re in so much of a hurry and bout drive right into ya .

[@Dirtmonkey]

I know what you mean. It seems people don't slow down for road workers enough

[@Treasures776]

I wonder how much a job like this costs

[@scottdonbrosky5968]

Why no geo grid or text tile fabric? Also, can you tell more about the red grace measuring device used at the 24:30 mark? Who makes it, how does it work?

[@tonynewton7902]

Nice one Stan. Where’s Sam? 👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Dirtmonkey]

he is still working

[@yardvarkslawncare7866]

I need an Alex. Dudes a BEAST! How has customer service been w/ ASV?

[@Dirtmonkey]

The ASV has been great. No issues

[@jeremyb66]

Wow I had no idea what that dump truck in the video cost over $200,000. I purchased back in January of 2022 a 2008 international dump truck with a max force 10 engine. Ya I know about the motor. But I’m loving it. It has 61,000 thousand miles on it. It can hold 15 tons. I’m working on building my bobcat/dirt work bossiness. My main job is quiktrip and I’m working of getting my company up and running. But with everything going on im taking it very slow.

[@Dirtmonkey]

all that equipment gets expensive fast! best of luck with launching your business.

[@vikings844]

Big job! I'm guessing this cost around 75k.

[@Dirtmonkey]

It was a big one. Those steps made life interesting.

[@paulwatson5965]

I drove off and on for 25 years and thought about driving independently for years but dump trucking is a money losing proposition. Too many people working for nothing.

[@ConaCoachGreg]

Hi, I'm new to retaining walls and have been researching different products. I know you are partial to the Versa-Lok product but do you ever install any other brands? Each Versa-Lok piece is 6" tall and 16" wide while most other retaining wall blocks are 8" tall and 18" wide. This adds to the cost of the project. The pricing for each block is also about $2 more. Both of these factors increase the material cost about 30% for the project. If you use another product with the Geo Grid and install it correctly, is that wall more likely to fail before the Versa-Lok wall? I'm just trying to figure out if the Versa-Lok product is worth the extra cost. I appreciate your videos and any feedback. Thank you!

[@wood_dirt_grease]

How do you like the smart level vs a laser? A video on that would be great.

[@Dirtmonkey]

I did a video n that topic last fall. They- the guys- like both.

[@cindysullivan4265]

Hi Stan, I have a question about how you handle billing calculations when a client has purchased the block already.. I have a client that was unaware of permitting, Surcharge, load bearing walls slope etc... We were recommended by a previous client to intervene and do this right.. There is about 225 feet of wall, highest point 11 ft, shortest approximately 3.5 ft.. I can use our normal calculations, but am curious how you handle things like this.. I feel like I may leave money on the table because we typically have our margins on materials Delivery etc.. Just a comparison and It may help others as well. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR VIDEOS AND VERY INFORMATIVE PROJECTS! Don Sullivan GC.. Custom Designs Construction LLC Denver Colorado

[@vikings844]

Stan, would DM force do work in Duluth!

[@Dirtmonkey]

possibly. I do live in Rutledge just south of Duluth 50 miles

[@mowerjeff8990]

No that’s what we call a real truck in Indiana.

[@Dirtmonkey]

😃👍

[@PuppyStomper87]

Hey Stanley, love the videos. We do much smaller walls and every time I watch your videos with retaining walls I find myself asking: why don't you use Crusher (with fines) for the base material? I know it's difficult to level, but isn't the compaction superior? Are we doing something wrong using crusher rather than "clean" stone? Western New York, btw. Thanks for all your hard work and production.

[@michaelmaker8169]

The fines hold back water. Any freeze/thaw will move the wall. Stone lets water out. And you saw the drain pipe they used.

[@PuppyStomper87]

@@michaelmaker8169 yeah we run drainage as well, but do the fines actually hold back water? And I'm still curious about the compaction of the clean stone.

[@Dirtmonkey]

The fines can hold water but thats not why we DO NOT use it. We have found that it can have a slightly greater chance of deflection- and doesn't bridge as well over soft or questionable soils. the 3/4 clear is great for bridging and locks into place tight and does not have problems with water.

[@PuppyStomper87]

@@Dirtmonkey hey thanks for the response Stanley.I'm slightly embarrassed to ask, but can you elaborate: what is deflection; and what is bridging? I'm just trying to see how relevant it is to the type of walls we do. We are fairly new to hardscaping, and I tend to echo your philosophy of making sure things are done right.

[@georgechristiana6050]

I’m curious if you’ve ever used 1/4” clear stone instead of 3/4 for a retaining wall base? Seems like it would be easier to level with and still have good pass through drainage. Have you ever experimented with it?

[@OldGuy70s]

WoW The Cost of that Truck......................!

[@johnfilmore7638]

Just started the video, question on fill-dirt removal, if you are removing dirt you're not gonna reuse, why not just dump it into a mini-dumpster or trailer so you dont have to re-scoop that pile of dirt and railroad-ties into a dumptruck later? Save some time, unless you think youll need to reuse it all.

[@stevencevallos3488]

Stanley, would you reccomend this type of base with a (8*8*16) cement block wall??

[@papaducky]

I'm nort' of you in the Brainerd lakes area, it's 5 feet for footers up here.

[@Dirtmonkey]

😃👍

[@woodyfpv5331]

Hey Stan great video! I've been working in the field for 8 years, and I'm been a foreman for 5 of those years. 90% of our work is hard scapes using alot of the same materials you use (versa products, willow creek products, ext). Im planning on moving back home to MN and I'd love to hear your opinion of the job market in the area! What are the chances someone with my level experience will be able to find a job that suits that experience?

[@Dirtmonkey]

I think your chances of finding employment are 100%. Just come work for us. we need another foreman asap!

[@woodyfpv5331]

@@Dirtmonkey I would be interested! Unfortunately I think my wife and I are a year or two out from moving.

[@scottc9414]

fascinating

[@Dirtmonkey]

😊👍

[@lewistaylor9546]

Hey Stan - At how many layers of grid is it necessary to start tipping the block back slightly to compensate for the added thickness?

[@Dirtmonkey]

around 3 is when we do it

[@trevoradam1946]

In manitoba canada are frost line is about 8 feet down

[@Dirtmonkey]

Wowza

[@roygrossinger228]

Make, model and manufacture of the blocks please.

[@kurtdietrich5421]

Footing depth up in Duluth/Superior area was 7 feet. Here on Long Island we are 36 inches.

[@Dirtmonkey]

"Footing depth up in Duluth/Superior area was 7 feet". we have seen frost in the twin cities Minnesota upwards of 9 feet at times!

[@billhull6842]

No big comments for you tonight. Sorry. But I did like how you said you build up to the structure and keep it separate. I will keep that in the back of my mine with future jobs.

[@Dirtmonkey]

"I did like how you said you build up to the structure and keep it separate". I learned that the hard way. I almost lost an argument to a general contractor that Didn't know retaining walls and was telling me to use rebar to connect it to a building. I had to verify the proper technique the GC was wrong!

[@billhull6842]

@@Dirtmonkey oh the fun we get to deal with. lol but by being separate if one goes the other will not go. And the whole the time customer doesn't know, and the customer is happy in the end. lol

[@mine6312]

That's a nice truck man if the dot wernt such assholes by me in NY I would love to run my own truck

[@Dirtmonkey]

I know what you mean. Making a living in a truck is getting harder and harder to do.

[@mk-xh8rm]

25 years ago. My dad and I were digging in the backyard by hand and found an old foundation. Turns out, it was from a tuberculosis ward from the early 1900s! We were told there was a chance we could find HUMAN remains!!!