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SIDEWALK & RETAINING WALL.

This project really begged to be done. While the flower bed looked wonderful, the perimeter really took away from the appearance. There was more urgency to the project since the flower bed could now be seen from the road with the removal of the spruce tree. We decided on interlocking stone as a wall and interlocking brick for the landing in front of the steps. 

What complicated this project was the loose pillar forming the end of the arch. The bottom had separated from the footing and it was hanging from the truss. It had been like this for at least twenty years, hidden since it separated just below the ground. The solution was to build a wood wedge to fill the gap between the two and then let it rest determine which if the assembly would move. I did not know how deep the footing was. I did this job in stages over two years. The pillar was jacked up slowly to prevent cracking the stucco. Also, old wood doesn't like to be bent quickly so spacers were added over the course of the summer and the wood allowed to support the load gradually. I added mortar to flatten the top of the footing for the pressure treated wood spacers. Once the spacers supported the arch at its original height I drew some scribe marks across the stacked assembly for analysis over the two years. It was unsightly to look at but necessary to determine if there was any movement. In the final onslaught I fabricated a permanent tapered wedge, drove it in the space, locked it in place and covered it with cement parging similar to the rest of the house. Now that the perimeter of the pillar was established I could build the retaining wall and brick landing under the arch. 

SIDEWALK - The sidewalk landing in front of the porch had sunk about 10 inches over 26 years.  It was a bit difficult for the elderly to make that first step up to the porch.  I temporarily placed some cement blocks for them to step on but they didn't look all that great. So I chopped the whole works up with a sledge hammer into tiny pieces that could be used for aggregate under the new bricks. It helps to get mad to do this justice. I also slammed my knuckles into the stucco, ouch. Why don't I wear gloves? I smashed up the old cement that was the landing into 2" diameter chunks. They were then pounded into the ground to pack them for the bricks. Water and light gravel was added to pack it tighter. Some back filling was done to in minor depressions and under the porch. In fact, I filled the hole under the porch with aggregate to prevent the sidewalk from sinking into it. We walked on the tamped surface for several months to determine if it would sink. I then made a form, similar for pouring cement, and used it to screed the surface smooth at the correct slope. This can be quite difficult in the tight constraints of this landing area. It is so much easier if you can back up from the work area for an overall view. I learned a lot about using a screed. The actual laying of the bricks went so quickly that it it was anticlimactic. The bricks against the sidewalk and future retaining wall were cut with a diamond wheel stone cutter I rented. Swept some sand over them and cracked a beer open. On to the wall. 

RETAINING WALL - Interlocking stones are really quite simple to lay. Pack the ground at the correct slope, pour some sand or gravel and start from one end, working your way to the other end. A laser light can be really useful here to create a smooth slope. The trick in laying the bricks accurately is to use a string along the top of the bottom layer. The first wall I built went from the arch, along the sidewalk to the corner of the house. The end bricks rest against a wall so were cut with a diamond wheel stone cutter I rented. The next wall I built was in front of the living room window around the east side of the house. Then we added three kidney shaped shaped walls to surround the spruce trees in the front yard. The inside was filled with landscaping cloth and washed gravel. It was a convenient way to deal with the dead grass that always develops under a spruce tree.

All in all, these job were so typical of many others, all preparation and little final assembly. Sure looks nice. We receive many comments from neighbours. Several of them have installed similar walls. Oh by the way, the bricks along the sidewalk widen it quite nicely.