03/07/2026
"Work harder not smarter". Isn't that the saying? Wait, maybe it's work smarter not harder. Heck. I don't know. I think I chose the first one on this beast. 39 of the last 56 days were spent on this project, (284 man hours total) the other days were spent mowing properties and somewhere in between, I got some sleep. Been 8 weeks of 7 day work weeks lately. Losing your best employee Kaitlyn the day you sign a project like this means only one thing, time to man up and git 'er done.
STATS:
Remove three 30 yard dumpsters (equal to 4.5 quad axle dump trucks) of old garbage, rotting railroad ties, overgrown brush, etc..
Excavate 375 cubic yards of soil in preparation for the new walls (s) (was able to relocate on-site which saved the client 5k in trucking)
Install 1390 segmental retaining wall block ( a cool 77 lbs. each equaling 107,000 lbs.)
Install 288 retaining wall caps and 16 steps
13 quad axle dump trucks of clean stone used for footings and proper backfill for the retaining walls.
This project may have seemed quite daunting for one guy, but in all honesty, I couldn't have asked for a better scenario. I had to start on the end along the pool and work my way back out of the backyard, down to the driveway (where my access point was over where the second phase wall would go) and then around the back of the garage for the third wall phase. So it really broke the project up nicely where I would excavate, build some wall, topsoil and seed my way backwards. So that broke up my process and it wasn't like 3 weeks of heavy blocks, or a week of raking topsoil, etc.. Was kinda a good mixture. So I was happy about that.
So, when you want something done, you just go get it done. No excuses.
Customer was very pleased with everything as was I with them. Very easy to work with considering I felt like the year started with one as***le after another. Customer followed the project along and added the lighting. Project fell just short of six figures for cost.
Good way to end the season (well, close to ending) with a great and appreciative customer. If you know someone looking for hardscape work, I'm here and have been for 25 years!
