Huge Retaining Wall Failure on My Toughest Building Site Ever

[@MrBoat-me5ts]

Nice to see someone in construction actually explain what theyre doing.

[@Arno9]

As an engineer you do a great job. Good to see a building contractor who knows the job. good job

[@roido6614]

Whoever is doing the Video editing work for these videos is also a Star. Awesome Work both the editing and construction!

[@william7802-o6v]

Big fan of seeing the whole process of this build, you break it down so nicely 👍

[@DiscoFang]

Awesome stuff. This one definitely needs a cost summary of these different stages. This is not an untypical build for Wellington so it would be great that people have an idea of the actual "hidden" costs that go into builds like this.

[@Tony_7791]

The owners must have literally won Lotto to build that, on that site..

[@rorymitchell6159]

Couldn’t imagine the cost of the siteworks

[@Tangaroa775]

And a view of what??? Other house roofs😂😂😂 nah I’d only spend that money if it was a view of the ocean or snow cover hills

[@toast47624]

This is not a bad site actually. They get real expensive when you need to rock anchor the concrete floor in place. I no longer do this work because you can make more money in less time doing simpler jobs but yes they cost a fortune.

[@garytharago-kemp7614]

Great commentary Josh, and being a builder who has built on sites like this, it takes a lot of sleepless nights, planning, communication work, and then the build process itself, and of course when your batter banks cave in on your completed foundation dig out, Doubles the work and efforts, Will watch with interest.

[@UnstableAgenda]

Wife and I looked at this section...... this video re-enforces our decision to not....

[@SILENT-P-66]

Re consider but look at dincel wall systems. I have.been on jobs which used 6m retaining walls with house built using wall as foundation

[@kirkzweibruck]

Lol its like a million before you build your house

[@jeffilott2467]

Good effort Josh! I hope the land was cheap!

[@stryka777]

Bah, bet the neighbours love the retaining wall comparison in front of the whole internet. But then all over my area you see those walls failing everywhere so they are in good company. Love your videos, scale of everything is amazing.

[@francineetmarcmastin9696]

Félicitations. Je suis épaté par vos compétences techniques et votre savoir-faire. J’ai travaillé 42 années dans la construction en France et je n’ai jamais vu autant de précisions lors des études préalables aux travaux. Bravo

[@keshavsinghchauhan010]

I'm waiting for the next part, I am very excited to see this project

[@jessejohntuiomanufili3232]

I love that Hikoki steel bender. Saves so much time.

[@paulgilliland2992]

Big steep learning curve when site logistics are woeful. No room for anything so essentially you lose 30% initially on your labour productivity and that slowly decreases to about 12% . We’ve actually studied this extensively for an equitable adjustment claim on a job in Los Angeles called the Getty museum. And it wasn’t the only problem site we had multiple problems on . I hope you’ve got a detailed schedule or a friendly client. Costs seem to explode out of control and it looks like you’ve already experienced that with the site work especially that retaining wall.

[@thethomas7654]

Interesting that the engineering plans for the retaining wall specifically note "Existing Ground no slope" (@ 2:11) however there appears to be a very steep slope in front of the wall (@ 3:35) which will significantly reduce the capacity of the poles. I am surprised the inspecting engineer signed this off given this is noted on the plans.

[@brynsmith414]

I noticed that as well, not sure how this was signed off

[@MrHavokman]

Where the slope stops is treated as the start of ground?

[@thethomas7654]

@@MrHavokman Yes, this is one way to look at it but in this case it looks like it slopes all the way to the road so the retained height will be much larger than its designed for plus your embedment depths would need to be taken way down too.

[@MrHavokman]

Just the first of many plan amendments I assume

[@remiewatkins8032]

Great job Josh just love your videos thanks for posting

[@Longtack55]

Good to hear you say you're drilling a decent depth into rock. No "yeah/nah" on this job. In the 80s I worked on a 13 story project in Miami, and ever since when I reflect from my home in Golden Bay, I expect to read about it pan-caking because what the engineers drew wasn't always followed. 37mm car park ramp deck rebar being installed into a 3" deep column (brrr.) So cosmetic.

[@addrock7695]

We have those consents with disappearing and appearing features here in Blenheim.. Amazing what magic happens when a council employee moves into the street.. Keep up the great work!!

[@MrMuzzle123]

Looks like a fun project to be on hopefully they got section cheap enough my god that's a lot of earthworks

[@mikekeenan9867]

well done on the project so far Josh. Looks like a logistical nightmare but you're tanking it.

[@christiaanvanderwesthuizen321]

Great work! How did you get around not having a traffic management plan for the concrete trucks and construction work? I had to do a concrete driveway, literally had to block off the whole entire road for a 4 hr pour 🤔

[@warrenlancaster286]

The earthquake seismic retaining loads are very high in wellington, hence the block pilasters I assume at very close centres. Might have been better to start with an insitu concrete wall say 1.0 m high with the 25 series for the rest . This would have made the tanking a lot easier and cheaper to build as well .

[@shaunray6660]

How is the retaining wall up the back 10:22 youd hope thats been done very well!

[@AnubisIlI]

How come the blockies didn't have to do any clean outs on the first course of blocks? a cut out at each vert steal to clean out any dropped mortor that has fallin down the cavity/centre of block.

[@ytzpilot]

Our retaining walls built in 1980 are slightly leaning now, so nearly 45 years old now

[@thejokert8]

Do you vibrate the concrete that goes into the block walls

[@matauricht4268]

Impressive work…! Wow

[@toast47624]

He is a good engineer because he trusts you. The same engineer is a complete bastard on another site I guarantee it! Good video.

[@Mr_Ashley]

Cool to see Kiwis working with steel, I naively thought everything was timber framed out there 🙈.

[@glengee4462]

I’m amazed they built this wall from timber rather than steel or concrete…doing all that work/prep only to put in materials that won’t last the test of time is in my opinion insanity.

[@Albertouy]

H6 Timber piles go in the water just fine,, with the right treatment or the right wood it can last a long time

[@Eschatonin6666]

This land screams "land like this would never be developed anywhere else) so loud this has to be in Wellington

[@GimbloBlimfby]

Brave project, but that slab will likely stabilize the hill for all the neighbours. They should be thanking you.

[@thinklist]

Bloody love your content Josh, AWESOME build. How come you didn't use steel post for the retaining wall? Also, how is your videographer?

[@nzbuilder]

Thanks a lot! My videographer is the man

[@Justyburger]

The land would have to be cheap, because this build is going to cost a fortune. I hope the views are worth it. We have a section in New Plymouth, which sits on old swampy ground. Thankfully we bought it 25 years ago very cheap. There's an old house which we did up and got repiled, but there is enough space for another property, but it has to be compact and multi level. We had Geotech done and they said piles would have to go down 10m to the hardpan. We were going to build a modern Japanese themed townhouse over 3 floors, but the budget was 1M, so we sat on the idea. Now we are thinking of a multi level tiny home as an Air B&B. The plan is a 4.5 x 4.5m footprint over 3 floors with an additional 4th floor loft space. We can build up to 11m with a discretionary 12m maximum height, which means if we built this, it will be a mini skyscraper. The views from the top floor will be very good, but it's going to be interesting to see what an Engineer says. My Wife is an Engineer, but not structural. We might need some steel? Not sure? Maybe fine with 145mm thick studs, braced with ply and colorsteel on the outside. It's not going to be cheap, but it won't cost 1M.

[@DiscoFang]

Investigate hammering railway lines down the 10m. Cheapest way to go down that depth in either swampy ground or hill sites.

[@Justyburger]

@@DiscoFang The geotech guy did say maybe it needed H beams. We have a high water table too, so drilling a hole will be like drilling a well.

[@DiscoFang]

@@JustyburgerYep lines are h or I beams. And you don’t drill, you drive. Could be done in a matter of days.

[@DiscoFang]

@@Justyburger40 years ago when I was first introduced to spec building, a mentor used used railway lines here on steep sites in Wellington. And I mean steep, not like Josh’s here. They were cheap, good quality steel, and again, cheap. I think they were 5 or 7m standard length, and you just weld another on as required until bearing resistance is met.

[@antsbantsb8430]

excellent mate!

[@lucasyoung6791]

I could be wrong, but it looked like 2/3 of the block will be a driveway, with a house tucked away up the back. Surely there is a better use of that space? Its their money I guess

[@GoldiefromMahia]

Is that Gary Dalton boring those holes?

[@konaguzzi1]

McCarthy Grove ?

[@goldenbay69]

We are just about to start building on a slope this scares the shite out of me lol😂

[@menameisanthony]

That’s pretty booty for residential! I was a residential structural engineer in Wellington and this looks like the higher end of things.. pilasters and all!

[@gregj7916]

I guess the membrane on the slope will eventually breakdown, unsure what happens then? It takes a brave man to price a job like that.

[@craigrik2699]

why not use concrete or steel posts? maybe the steel might have been expensive but?

[@Ms2Chill]

why not do the retaining wall with poured concrete/rebar only. The beams seem like a very high cost

[@masonpopata6888]

anyone nervous about the worker at @6:35? defo a no go zone if there is any rain!

[@scouseaussie1638]

No, you’re weird

[@toast47624]

That is a prick of a way to Deadman a wall. By far the better way is to trench a reinforced footing. Way way way faster and cheaper. I have gone to a different engineer (My engineer) and redesigned the wall and made amendments saving the customer thousands on one job. Agreed on the steel bending I too bend my own. Way faster.

[@kingfer2658]

Why did they use timber in cement instead of steel

[@rogerday6184]

My thoughts exactly!

[@zigzaggsting]

10 to 1 slope = 10mm to 1meter ??

[@scott7948]

Keen to know the cost. Looks so expensive D:

[@bololo2000]

the groundworks with the retaining wall probably cost more than the whole bungalow

[@philleach6271]

You need to find a better Reo fabricator. Put 200 tons in our last home no issue.

[@doug1381]

Few hundred k in ground works at least. Intense stuff an stressful build

[@broughxtreme]

I now back up the comments I put on the first video. Who the hell would build on such a site and who the hell in council would approve it. Just look at the hill up behind it even.

[@paulc7884]

Far out that looks expensive!

[@johnstewartrichards5922]

Heavens to Betsy. ”Engineered for Africa”? “The rain does not fall on one roof alone.” “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” - Henry Ford “Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been.” - Albert Einstein “Anticipating problems and figuring out how to solve them is actually the opposite of worrying: it’s productive.” - Chris Hadfield

[@jacksimpson259]

please tell me u are using a Viking waterproofing membrane not just mold seal as that shit dosn't work for shit

[@jacksimpson259]

it has a 50 year garters

[@milkydildos]

welcome to knew zealand if someone could build above my house they would

[@nl4402]

I might just buy a flat property.

[@nzbuilder]

Let me know when you find it ;)

[@dougfinlay7531]

It's nice to have a view but you'll pay through the nose for it! Those retaining walls and alk the engineering cost a small fortune. 😢

[@davenz000]

Drilled into rock .... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@georgevwhites9698]

Shit holes need a piling rig steel cages capping g beam on top real retaining wall

[@salochni1]

Cant you build concrete retaining wall

[@shaner403]

Braced all your retaining poles? Just call a pro😂

[@khz9000]

Where’s the failure? Baited 😅

[@nzbuilder]

Gotta love a click title - the retaining wall that failed is the neighbours one - hence the "deadman" solution to prop it up

[@rocarroll1533]

Agree,just😢 a mention of the wall next door,just click bait

[@grzeniu7246]

who came up with such a stupid idea to use wood instead of steel and concrete for this wall

[@blueman5924]

I’m guessing these treated poles have proven themselves over time, to be ok’d by the engineers. After all, they use them a lot for house supports too, as seen in his other videos. Here in 🇨🇦, we tend to use those mega concrete blocks on engineered concrete footings, even the jumbo Allan blocks work too. 🤙

[@fredio54]

Where are you from? I own a similar structure in a different part of the country. It's 30 years old and good as new.

[@g_force3857]

15 years is the lifespan in dry area, 10 years in wet area climates, easy to look at the NZ standards, this guy is doing what’s required by the engineer and government standards…

[@RichardPerfectKiwi]

The wood will be CCA treated, which is banned in the US (?) but will be good for 30-50 years and probably last longer than too.

[@SILENT-P-66]

It was very frustrating to watch this video. Most of this could have been accomplished easier and cheaper with a dincel wall . Which would have lasted longer than timber.

[@nzbuilder]

Would love your pointers - send me an email

[@rickmccaughan4241]

​@@nzbuilderIs this the concrete crib wall system?

[@markmousley5434]

Such a heavy build! Are you building for a nuclear war?. Ridiculous amount of thermal mass and and carbon produced for an ugly, cold bomb shelter

[@arangy1]

this does not look cheap. I am pretty sure that ground work will cost a bomb. I thought this look like Oriental parade or some where there is a sea view. I cannot see any. I cannot understand why the owner spend so much money on retaining wall to look at someone's roof top. I was wondering how much would the retaining wall cost? and where is the place?

[@johndarby2766]

Next time give me a call mate, I'll make the retaining easy for you. Pole Specs😊