priced a large and awkward retaining wall job recently.
Massive house, new build, crammed into a plot. on a slope.
side entrance involves a series of twisting steps and narrow stretches. No machine access here
other side of house, 1.9m drop from front level to side of house See below.
so priced for a scafold ramp to allow access for machinery
Driveway so tight, no access for grab lorry, so skips only
12 skips to be removed for the retaining wall
Wall is 1.55 high, and holding back this height of ground, and the neighbours fence etc. 37sqm alltogether. Plus a returf of the garden afterwards
Anyway i advised the client a structural survey is required, but would price for what i thought was needed. LLL kindly advised me too.
Priced for reinforced footing, hollow concrete blocks, with rebar horizontal and vertical, mass filled with concrete. Drainage behind wall, weepholes, facing bricks in front, and the usual brick on edge finish.
Concrete has to be pumped. around 7m alltogether
Client swooned at the price and said she would get others.
I went on holiday, and by chance, she trawled the local thompson (i don't advertise in any such book, i came recommended) and got a mate of mine to quote.
he turned up,and knew i had quoted already.
She told him i was "taking the p***" with my price, and that they had cheaper quotes, but they were building a 9" wall, flettons behind, facings to the front.
My mate told her that was no good, but she was insistant.
My only query is what happens when the clown builds this inferior wall, and it fails later in life, who pays to rebuild it?
There is no way i would be prepared to build such a thing, especially as it is next to a lawn where young children will be playing!
Edited By dig dug dan on 1241631495
Dan the Crusher Man
01442 212315 www.crusherhire.co.uk
"a satisfied customer? we should have them stuffed!"
Doesn't BC have to check the calcs for a retaining wall? - I'm sure we had to provide calcs when we did a "Kriblok" retaining wall - admittedly this was a few years back.
"Meet the new boss - same as the old boss - We all get fooled again"
I wonder how much the *client* values hers and her loved ones lives?
when walls fail, it tends to be fast
I spoke to a qualified engineer about this one with 40 years experience,he said the biggest issues with retaining walls is rotation,he said to do it right would need a site study ,and a designed wall maybe starting at 450 mm thick and getting thinner as it gets higher,the foundation would likely be 900mm wide with l-bars
none of this is cheap ,but no doubt some clown wil build a wall on a 450 wide footing ,225mm brickwork 1.5M high and hope for the best
i just hope no-one gets hurt
LLL
