DIY Retaining Wall

[@jeepcj3b436]

nice video. Your daughter in the background with her little wheelbarrow helping is adorable. Reminds me of my little girls helping with projects.

[@ramohino]

Railroad ties have been used the past few decades as a cheap solution for retaining walls in residential homes and commercial properties. What homeowners don't realize, is that these cross ties are not only harmful to the environment, but they pose a huge health threat! Ensure they've been responsibly sourced and properly treated for residential use, particularly if you're planning to use them in a vegetable garden or close to water sources. The risk of using railroad ties, treated with creosote, a known carcinogen, primarily comes from direct contact, inhalation, or ingestion. Here are the precautions that should be used when handling railroad ties: Handling: When handling creosote treated wood, wear gloves and long sleeves and try to minimize time spent working with ties. Work in well ventilated areas and avoid working in hot conditions when vapors are most potent. Children: If children play on or around the ties they may get creosote on their skin and clothing and could subsequently ingest small amounts. Exposure to skin can cause irritation and rashes. Ingestion in small amounts while not life threatening, is a health concern. Gardens: Plants have shown only limited potential to take up creosote but some compounds have been shown to attach to roots, which could lead to elevated creosote levels on tuber vegetables. For this reason, it is advisable not to landscape with railroad ties directly in contact with vegetable gardens. Water Table: Some components of creosote are very sticky and not water soluble and will stay on the ties; however, other chemicals are water soluble and will dissolve and move with water. In areas where moisture levels are moderate, these chemicals may wash into surrounding soil with rain, but will likely decompose with time. However, in areas where the water table is very shallow or where a lot of surface water is present, there is more potential for transport of the chemicals into groundwater. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid using railroad ties for landscaping in very wet or shallow ground water areas. Disposal and Fire: Creosote treated wood should not be burned, since burning volatilizes hazardous chemicals in the smoke. One currently suggested disposal method for treated wood is in sanitary landfills. However, check with your landfill first to inquire about local policies. Another currently suggested method for disposal is burial. However, if this option is chosen it is critical to consider surface and ground water movement in your location to minimize the possibility of creosote getting into water supplies.

[@johnnywirtz4905]

ok Karen

[@Mukunda16108]

Great job ! Backfilling with clean gravel would help reduce hydrostatic pressure against the wall so it could resist being pushed over even more. A simple landscape fabric between the gravel and the earthy slope will keep the gravel clean and working optimally.

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Awesome advice! I will make sure to include that in my next retaining wall project :) Thanks!!

[@SteveHartmanVideos]

Simple and right to the point. Thank you.

[@randenbarajas4939]

This is what I needed to see, and the comments are helpful too. Thanks for the info! Looks good

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks so much! I’m happy to know my video was helpful! :)

[@slimjim7411]

Another idea when doing a stepped wall like this is cutting the ends where it steps down at a 45 degree angle. It'll make it blend with the landscape more visually and not be so blocky.

[@WarEagleTimeMachine]

My back is already hurting watching this! Great video though - I will be tackling a project similar to this very soon.

[@gavproductions]

What size of drill did you use for the rebar pilot holes?

[@nightmarejr]

Normally gravel would be tossed under the wall, about 4 inches in that area. Helps the wood last longer and with the leveling

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks for the tip! I will try that is my next one.

[@rdftx2990]

Thanks for that! And thanks for keeping it simple!!

[@SimonSaysDIY]

You’re very welcome! Thanks! 😄

[@JesseJames-vc2bm]

Looks simple as apple Pie at 2x speed. Good work!

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks! 😁

[@annaelliott2016]

You should talk about where to get supplies and more info on the drill bit you used.

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks for the tip! I will remember that for future videos! I would recommend checking with local landscape supply stores, they should have railroad ties. If not they probably could tell you where you can find them. I got these railroad ties from Ace Hardware Landscaping Supply store.

[@lourak613]

You should use a 2 x 4 on edge to test if the ground is level before placing the railroad tie. If you don't do that, you will not know whether the railroad tie is making contact all along its length.

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks! 😀 I will have to try that next time.

[@TheDenisedrake]

That looks fantastic. Thank you for showing this.

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks!!!

[@alegrefeliz7579]

Good job!!👏

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks so much!! :)

[@timclough8402]

This was very helpful. Thank you!

[@SimonSaysDIY]

So happy to hear that! Thanks! :)

[@jesseryandiy]

Great video! Thank you so much!

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks I appreciate it! Your very welcome!

[@nolongerhave-couth4771]

Wondering if backfill behind wall should be crushed stone to allow water to flow away and not freezing behind wall?

[@SimonSaysDIY]

That would help with drainage for sure. I believe the higher the wall the more important drainage will become. Also, we don't have much freezing here where I'm located. For a short wall like this, it should be alright. Thanks for the suggestion and watching!

[@CynthiaHoffmanRealtor]

Super helpful! Thank you!

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Your very welcome! I’m glad the video could help! :)

[@royaltyb1837]

I have a retaining wall made with railroad ties that frame my small stairwell. All the ties are weathered and water damaged. It looks like termites have gotten to them as well. Are there a type of railroad ties that are weather and bug resistant? Thanks

[@SimonSaysDIY]

They all should be however, all of these railroad ties are used and are no longer fit for the railroad supports. It depends on the seller but many of them will be in great shape and last many more years. However, you will want to avoid the more damaged ones.

[@ac7438]

You might want to try using Alaskan yellow cedar. Very good with ground/weather.

[@WeiseGuy91]

Man I've been binging all these videos since I found our channel last night. Where about are y'all located? I need to get more handy with tools, haha. Buying a new home soon and will be getting to the projects!

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Haha Thanks for watching! I live in Southeast United States.

[@EasyDoesIt586]

Curious. How many hours did it take you to do a wall this size

[@cattycat9982]

Soil will destroy the wood, you have to use gravel and membrain between

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks for the tip!

[@AnnaLaurasZone]

Can you tell us what tool you use to cut those rebars?. I need to cut a bunch and buying precut at HD are getting expensive. TIA!!!

[@slimjim7411]

Any angle grinder with a cut off wheel will do it.

[@dannyMistyVloggerga]

How would one rebar a 3-4 foot wall?

[@MrEsduke]

What size is your rebar and your drill bit? TIA

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Both were 1/2in. Thanks! :)

[@eppell]

How do you get ahold of rail road ties? Do big box home improvement stores sell them?

[@Mike_Baldwin]

Yes. Lowes > $23 per...... not terrible / not great.

[@nathanaeldouglass4206]

How long did this take you?

[@GoodMemoriesToRemeber]

the best

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks! 😄

[@scottjackisch9829]

Why not use compacted sand to get a perfect level. It's easier than trying to level clay

[@SimonSaysDIY]

That’s would work a lot better!

[@bradleyschaefer1977]

did you use #4 1/2" rebar?

[@hammaswingah1693]

Yes he did, that's #4. And use a 1/2" bit too.

[@reubenjames3651]

you have no drainage. thays why the other rotted. dig a trench underneath 8 to 10 inches fill will medium grade gravel. will make the wall twice as long.

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks for the tip!! Very helpful :)

[@nikkitalley1413]

👍❤

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks!! :)

[@nikkitalley1413]

You're welcome

[@paarsenov1]

Do you have any concerns about handling railroad ties soaked in creosote? Reading online, it seems necessary to avoid contact with the saw dust and leftover pieces, any advise?

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Creosote is toxic.This Guy is not supposed to be building anything with those railroad ties.He is also causing harm to the soil

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Your right this Guy made a terrible mistake.And to encourage other people to build with those poisoned Rail ties is Criminal.Those Railroad Ties are coated with Creosote a toxic tar.Your not supposed to be cutting and breathing those Creosote Ties.Creosote is a Carcinogen with causes cancer.Moreover he has poisoned his lawn by placing those Railroad Ties in the Soil.He needs to make another video explaining why you never build anything with Railroad ties .And remove what he built

[@paulwatson5965]

I noticed you didn’t use drainage behind the wall….

[@SimonSaysDIY]

That’s right. This was such a small wall that drainage wasn’t necessary and it’s also on a hill so most of the water just runs off down the side and wouldn’t cause any issues. Thanks!

[@aldo_domingo_2610]

Muy util, gracias. Pero debo confesar que su hija de ayudante le dio el brillo a su video. gracias.

[@V8POR]

"need to make sure it's level" ...never uses a level.

[@SimonSaysDIY]

That is true. I followed the grade of the concrete slab for my horizontal guide I also used the corner of the house as the vertical level on one side and the other had a support post for the porch I followed. If I didn’t have those to follow I would certainly need a level.

[@V8POR]

@@SimonSaysDIY While I understood what you were doing the terminology is off and could be confusing to people that aren't so DIY savvy: plumb = vertical to house / flush = horizontal to the concrete / level = the wood is precisely even in either direction. This would be better to explain to viewers than loosely use the word level. Hope that helps in future videos!

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback! I will try to clarify that better in future videos. :)

[@GamePois0n]

brave man physically handle cancer with his bare hands 😲, no mask for the cancer dust neither.

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

You made a big mistake bringing those toxic ties into your yard and honestly they look horrible sorry to say. They will rot as well. Sorry to be negative, but I spent many hours removing rotted ties from my yard that the previous owner had put all over what a pain in the rear. Get the blocks you stack after you put landscape fabric down next time.

[@mrgreengenes04]

Different opinions for different people. I think the ties look great. I'd take the ties over the blocks any day.

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

This is not a matter of opinion.It’s a matter of Safety.Those Railroad ties are coated with Creosote a toxic tar that pollutes and poisoned the soil.Remove those railroad ties immediately

[@jesseleesamples]

lol unless you bury the damn things in water they last for a LONG time. There are a couple retaining walls near my house that my dad built 40 years ago from railroad ties and they’re still holding strong and aren’t rotten either. I’d much rather build a wall like this with ties than with those stupid little blocks people stack up. I’ve seen SO MANY walls made with those things that didn’t last long at all before they fell over or leaned horribly after the ground settles. Railroad ties are awesome for this purpose and if done right will last decades.

[@westaylor5508]

I am finally replacing mine this summer after 28 years of use. As far as toxic, I don’t eat on them, and I have many plants that have lived a long and healthy live. Beauty is in the eye as mentioned in the other replies to your comment.

[@botsareeverywhere]

I like the look of the railroad ties, the wall at my house has been in for 34 years and is just starting to rot, that being said, I will be replacing them with a rock wall at dome point soon.

[@erikasanchez7972]

Grass wastes water. Plant food

[@SimonSaysDIY]

:)

[@SteveHartmanVideos]

Simple and right to the point. Thank you.

[@SimonSaysDIY]

Thanks! 😁