MASSIVE CONCRETE BLOCK Retaining Wall Begins 2,400 Lbs. Ea.!!!

Retaining Wall Playlist - • 77,000 Lbs. of Massive...
Today we put up 2/3rds of our massive concrete block retaining wall! These blocks are made at the concrete plant from returned concrete, and weigh 2,400 Lbs. each! They go together using cast-in indexing pins so the wall will go together fairly quickly, but please note - the blocks are far from perfect.
Each block requires a bit of tweaking, and you need to use heavy machinery to place them, but the end result id a super durable concrete retaining wall that is totally vertical! There is no setback with these ginormous blocks!
In our case, this retaining wall allowed us to make our woodshop at least six feet wider tan we could have with a tapered hill in that area, so we gained a good deal of shop space and reduced the lawn maintenance on a steep hill - a win/win situation 😁
The rest of the wall will go up as soon as they make the blocks. It could take a month or more!
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Massive Concrete Block Retaining Wall -- • 77,000 Lbs. of Massive...
The Frost Protected Shallow Water Line Playlist -- • Frost Protected Shallo...
The Woodshop Build Playlist: • Busting Concrete and C...
Woodshop Build Tool Links:
Stabila 35712 Extendable (7 to 12 foot) Plate to Plate Level - amzn.to/3iGdpwP
Stabila 30035 Plate Level Case for 7'-12' Plate Level plus 24-Inch, 48-Inch Level - amzn.to/3AETnZQ
Woodford Y34-3 Yard Hydrant Freezeless - amzn.to/3AHE5Dr
Johnson Level & Tool 116 16 Ounce Plumb Bob - amzn.to/3jKIj6k
True Temper 00221400A Wood Wheelbarrow Replacement Handles, 60-Inch - amzn.to/3xLU4Pc
Starrett-C33H-12-4R Hardened Combination Square -- amzn.to/2KL3YOu
DEWALT Metal Shears Attachment -- amzn.to/3l8aYoq
DEWALT 20V MAX XR Compact Reciprocating Saw -- amzn.to/3nKHVFG
DEWALT ATOMIC 20V MAX Reciprocating Saw, One-Handed, Cordless, Tool Only ― amzn.to/2Msu21r
Legend Valve & Fitting T-5500 Lead-Free Brass Curb Stop, 1" - amzn.to/3jU9VpO
12 Ah Battery -- amzn.to/33JN48U
9 Ah Battery -- amzn.to/2SKUQwN
6 Ah Battery -- amzn.to/3odC6BW
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#MassiveConcreteBlockWall
#HugeRetainingWall
#HugeConcreteBlockWall

[@PlanetMojo]

Here is the link to this series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anmuZWODdtl_bMk

[@tinyhouse534]

These blocks look like an awesome way to get a retaining wall quickly, and I like the look a lot better than the little blocks! Awesome job Mojo!

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Tiny House Designer! I agree, all of this little blocks would look far too busy!

[@ccrx6700]

Pretty cool how that guy dug out a shelf for the top block on that short wall! he's a pretty good operator on the skid steer, that scary when you carry that kind of weight and being on a slope. Wall is looking very good, much better than many I've seen. You did right in getting that first layer perfect. Job well done sir

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Dave! I designed the wall with the shelf so I can get a stairway at the end of the wall at some point. That block may tip in a bit as it settles, and I may need to mud jack it a bit, but I need it there to act as a stairwell at some point. I agree, RD (the operator) is a bit crazy with the machinery!

[@ccrx6700]

@@PlanetMojo 👍

[@ShedHomePro]

That's a beautiful wall! Nothin dainty about it either 😉

[@PlanetMojo]

I agree 100%

[@adenvet2830]

Hi Mojo, you made some real progress, and looks like you got a fair share of rain, great job

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Larry. It would have been nice to not have to build a gigantic wall that needs extensive insulating right before building the shop - but it is coming along nicely 😉

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

Liking the look of your lego wall! I’m amazed at how precise they can be laying those huge blocks. They make it look easy and I know it’s not easy.🐝🤗❤️

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Deborah! There is actually a good deal of fidgeting but in the end, we got it to go together pretty good so-far. We still have about 1/3 to go, and there will be a building in the way for that so that should be pretty interesting!

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@@PlanetMojo Good luck with the remainder!🐝🤗❤️

[@pattyprice2644]

Wow that's beautiful love it Cant wait to see the outcome

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Patty! The whole area will be greatly improved for sure 😁

[@drue4574]

Wow, those are massive blocks!! That retaining wall will be gorgeous when you are finished.

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Cindy, It's going to be very different that's for sure - in a very good way 😁

[@simmonslucas]

Hoping previous video explains the foam board he has behind it

[@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE]

Thought you were building your own pyramid there! Planet Pharaoh!

[@PlanetMojo]

It certainly seems that way! 😊

[@NewWoodGuy]

That wall looks like it will last forever!

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Hobo!

[@dustinbrandel59]

I want to build a house out of blocks that big. Megalithic block house will last thousands of years.

[@NewWoodGuy]

@@dustinbrandel59 That would be pretty cool!

[@cordellscott]

I wonder if you could build a home from these blocks since they're so cheap

[@PlanetMojo]

It wouldn't pass code, but I've seen them stacked 7 or 8 high so you could build some type of shelter for sure.

[@cordellscott]

@@PlanetMojo Thanks for the reply! I was thinking I might do it off the grid where there are no codes. Although, cost to deliver them would increase. I wonder what the best way to prepare the foundation would be with all that weight? Gravel or compact the soil to the depth of so many feet?

[@Sea-Doopilot]

What did you put down for base/footing and how much? I'm getting ready to build one of these. It will be about 6 blocks high. Thanks for any info.

[@PlanetMojo]

For something that tall you would need to have it engineered. This wall is on 6" of compacted crushed stone, and is 2-high with caps. At 3-high you need to burry half of the first block and place it on compacted crushed stone as well. All walls also need washed stone behind them for drainage. I know taller walls require geofabric tying them to the backfill, but can't tell you where or how much. You will need either ask the concrete company or an engineer.

[@Sea-Doopilot]

Thanks for the quick reply and the info. I usually overkill on the geogrid tie back. I may end up building 2 and step them. Anyways thanks again. Always enjoy your videos.

[@modestosantiagomerino3957]

Saludos dsd GRO México. Quiero conocer - observar el molde de ese bloque de concreto para hacerlo yo mismo.

[@PlanetMojo]

Not sure where to buy them, but all of the concrete companies have them. They use their returned concrete to fill them. Maybe do a search for concrete suppliers?

[@modestosantiagomerino3957]

No entiendo inglés, sólo español

[@laboy401]

Where do you place these block in between neighbors yard, or it will have to put them on your side or Half in your side and half of your neighbors side?

[@PlanetMojo]

They are entirely on our property. We have thirty five acres of land, and the nearest neighbor is about 700 feet away.

[@user-qm1gf5xs6v]

Very nice wall mojo. Can you please send me the link where you bought them from , I am doing a project like yours in Italy. Thanks Francesco

[@PlanetMojo]

The blocks are made locally. you need to check with local concrete companies and see what they make. They are made from the concrete that is returned to the plant.

[@douglasholman4193]

Can I stack those on a level footer in my river bank About 6 feet high

[@PlanetMojo]

You should be able to just fine. They require a bit of them buried n the ground, and they are two feet tall. The caps are one foot tall. Anything over three tall requires some form of stabilization.

[@stevenpringle7813]

what is the point of the fabric?

[@PlanetMojo]

The landscaping fabric keeps the washed stone from silting-up. When it rains - no matter how hard - the water just comes out the cracks between the blocks, and does not build-up pressure behind them.

[@stevenpringle7813]

@@PlanetMojo You would think that the water would still come down the lawn picking up fines and then come down under the cloth that is wrapping your clear stone and eventually end up migrating fines in the clear stone that is under the blocks. You have wrapped the clear stone in the fabric but water can still get under the fabric. I am no expert, but that seems like a possible scenario. I am building a wall like that right now but I am not sure if I will put the fabric down. If I did it I think the only way of keeping the fines from getting into the rock is to bury the fabric under the earth (under the sod) behind the wall so that the water carrying fines can't get behind the fabric and into the clear stone. Not sure though. After time I think the fabric will just end up covered in silt (fines) that didn't get through it and it will plug up the system anyway. Instead of having the clear stone plugged with fines, the fabric will catch it all and get plugged. It's like the sock on a weeping tile. The fines won't get into the weeping tile but it will still plug up the sock on the tile and stop allowing water to pass though That's my thinking anyway. We will both likely be dead by then though, fabric or no fabric.

[@PlanetMojo]

@@stevenpringle7813 Basically, this is the same as what is specified in the code for a drain tile, only vastly larger, and not buried anywhere near as deep. Code on our area calls for a 4" pipe 2" off the bottom of a washed gravel bed, with 12" of gravel over it - with the whole thing wrapped in filter fabric. The fabric needs to lap 6" at the top, that's it. Mine is over two feet square, and close to 3' wide in areas. I would guess it would last several hundred years minimum. We have two other walls like this in our pasture, with the blocks three courses tall. Those were just backfilled with dirt, and they drain just fine after ten years or so. I just wanted to be overly cautious with this wall because it is four feet from a building 😊

[@LuckyDogDog]

Great video if I may ask where did you get those blocks with the indexing pins.

[@PlanetMojo]

They are made with a form that concrete companies buy to use-up their extra concrete. Every company makes some kind of block, but it may not be decorative like these. The only way to find out is to visit a local concrete company and see what they have, and order what you need well in advance. Due to the fact that they are made with returned concrete, it can take awhile to fill a larger order. Good luck!

[@skipcatering229]

Can these be stacked 10ft high? One engineer is saying 6ft only. He may not know how they work though.

[@PlanetMojo]

two high without doing anything, at three high you are supposed to bury the first course half way (we did this on another wall), and anything higher requires that plus geotextile into the ground. That's with dirt behind the wall. The recycling place in a nearby town has blocks 12 courses high as a catchment for shredded paper, and has walls all over the place that are at least 6 high. We also have both ends return into the dirt to tie it in a bit. I have seen a three high wall tip over, but it had no gravel behind it. The gravel (wrapped in quality landscape cloth) makes a huge difference. Whenever it rains, water just comes pouring thru the cracks. Hope that helps! 😊

[@skipcatering229]

Wow. ok. The gravel needs to go how high for a 10 foot step wall? starts at 4 goes up to 10 then steps back down to 4 or so@@PlanetMojo

[@PlanetMojo]

@@skipcatering229 Not sure. We have the gravel just 5' deep on the wall I am working on in the video, that way there is drainage at the first gap. There are times water will squirt out from some areas during a heavy rainfall. If by "step wall" you mean stepping them back into the dirt, you cannot do that. They interlock and go straight up.

[@skipcatering229]

@@PlanetMojo No I just mean the wall goes from 4 foot high then goes up to 10 feet gradually then back down to the 4ft. So I guess the gravel would fill most of it as the wall grows.

[@thepathanforce5646]

So you dont need backing blocks for them?

[@PlanetMojo]

They don't need anything unless they are over three high, but what are backing blocks?

[@thepathanforce5646]

@@PlanetMojo backing blocks are supporting blocks for any retaining walls above 2 blocks ( in lime stone) , there is one long block behind at base and the laid width wise behind the face block gives far better structural capability to retaining wall.

[@therarebreeds77therarebree7]

Anybody know if these can be mortared?

[@PlanetMojo]

I'm sure they could, but they don't need it, and they drain between the blocks.

[@therarebreeds77therarebree7]

I was looking at using them for residential construction. I would want to keep all the water out in that case. curious as to the mortar type to use because of the psi and the weight of the block. seems Like you would need a really dry mortar bed@@PlanetMojo

[@LOFI_SONGS565]

How much cost in 1 block ?

[@PlanetMojo]

It's been different every year here. The first time it was $25.00, and the last ones were $55.00. It depends on demand in any given year. These are very popular in this hilly area.

[@GWCHM]

Wait did he destroy a wire @3:40.?

[@PlanetMojo]

Yes. That was the old abandoned DSL line. The one dangling out in front is the fiber optic that is currently in use. He actually cut the fiber optic as well, but that's in a different video 😬

[@DensityMatrix1]

What was the cost per block?

[@PlanetMojo]

With shipping I believe it was about $80.00 per block. The blocks themselves were $65.00 each for the base blocks and $60.00 for the caps. About five years ago we paid $35.00 per block.

[@jdc1957]

Amazing.

[@PlanetMojo]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@carlpeterson8279]

My retaining blocks weigh 18 lbs each.

[@PlanetMojo]

We'll be making one like that next summer - as well as another one of these!

[@errolilbuga108]

Great video! What’s a project like this cost to build?

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Errol! I believe it was about $6,000.00. I mention it in one of the videos. It's going to vary wildly though. The blocks are made from returned concrete, so you need to contact a local concrete company as to availability (it can take months to get them poured), and the cost is going to vary depending on where you are in the country. We are right next to the source of the raw materials, so concrete is cheaper here. Shipping, labor, and backfill need to be figured as well.

[@sorrycharlie4127]

Can't believe how hard these guys made it...

[@PlanetMojo]

And what is your super easy way of doing this?

[@ONDGAS..]

Can a house be built out of these blocks?

[@PlanetMojo]

Not a legal one...

[@fleaniswerkhardt4647]

@@PlanetMojo What size foundation is required?

[@PlanetMojo]

@@fleaniswerkhardt4647 Our 'foundation' is just 4" of tamped gravel on virgin soil.

[@fleaniswerkhardt4647]

@@PlanetMojo OK. I should have been more specific. I was wondering what sort of foundation would be required if those sized blocks were used as the main spine wall of a dwelling.

[@PlanetMojo]

@@fleaniswerkhardt4647 It would be the same I guess. We have our haymow on top of a block wall, and it's been there for about seven years with no problem. You wouldn't be able to pass code though.

[@jonathanpeterson1984]

This is exactly how they built the pyramids.

[@PlanetMojo]

Exactly!

[@raybeckner1478]

You should’ve put in French drainage pipe

[@PlanetMojo]

A French drain is not needed or desired. The washed backfill works perfect.

[@PlanetMojo]

There is a new time lapse video that show all of the videos in this series all in one place: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJC3nIOZpcZjrLc It begins! The big, massive, gigantic, huge wall was started today!!! It can be a bit harry dealing with swinging 2,400 lb. concrete blocks, but if you remain alert and never have any part of your body in a pinch point or drop point! These blocks are quite sloppy in their dimensions, so you need to constantly adjust things as you go! We put up all of the base blocks that we had, and most of the caps. We need to adjust things a bit with a concrete saw to continue so we left that for the next batch of blocks. Make sure to subscribe and come back to see that as well! The playlists are listed below along with some of the tools we used on this job. You can do this yourself and save a LOT of money! Massive Concrete Block Retaining Wall -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/anmuZWODdtl_bMk The Frost Protected Shallow Water Line Playlist -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHnUfGWqqNWlnqc The Woodshop Build Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp3NYXWFgd98iNE Woodshop Build Tool Links: Stabila 35712 Extendable (7 to 12 foot) Plate to Plate Level - amzn.to/3iGdpwP Stabila 30035 Plate Level Case for 7'-12' Plate Level plus 24-Inch, 48-Inch Level - amzn.to/3AETnZQ Woodford Y34-3 Yard Hydrant Freezeless - amzn.to/3AHE5Dr Johnson Level & Tool 116 16 Ounce Plumb Bob - amzn.to/3jKIj6k True Temper 00221400A Wood Wheelbarrow Replacement Handles, 60-Inch - amzn.to/3xLU4Pc Starrett-C33H-12-4R Hardened Combination Square -- amzn.to/2KL3YOu DEWALT Metal Shears Attachment -- amzn.to/3l8aYoq DEWALT 20V MAX XR Compact Reciprocating Saw -- amzn.to/3nKHVFG DEWALT ATOMIC 20V MAX Reciprocating Saw, One-Handed, Cordless, Tool Only ― amzn.to/2Msu21r Legend Valve & Fitting T-5500 Lead-Free Brass Curb Stop, 1" - amzn.to/3jU9VpO 12 Ah Battery -- amzn.to/33JN48U 9 Ah Battery -- amzn.to/2SKUQwN 6 Ah Battery -- amzn.to/3odC6BW

[@dustinbrandel59]

I want to build a house out of blocks that big. Megalithic block house will last thousands of yrs.

[@PlanetMojo]

That would be pretty awesome.😊

[@dustinbrandel59]

@@PlanetMojo For real tho, its totally possible. Examples worldwide. If done right, a megalithic building WILL last thousands of yrs. And if the new forbidden archeology is true, then tens of thousands of yrs. I want so badly, for ten thousand yr construction to be a modern thing.

[@freedomtowander]

Cool

[@urielgomez-ortega1052]

What size of blocks are those ?

[@PlanetMojo]

They are 24" tall, 24" deep, and 48" long, and weigh 2,400 lbs. each.

[@user-ol1qm9ey7g]

มันสวยแล้วก็ง่ายดีแต่คนก็จะขี่รถผ่านไปเฉยๆเขารู้ว่ามันเป็นของไม่แท้

[@PlanetMojo]

I don't think anyone will think it's fake.

[@GeneracionGoshen777]

What is the cost of each one?

[@PlanetMojo]

It depends on the price of concrete. One wall we paid $35.00 each (about six years ago), last year we paid $65.00 each, and this year we paid $50.00 each.