Mike, I think you are one of the teachers I have found on the internet. You have a real gift in how you explain the material you present. Thanks for all the time you put into your YT videos.
When people ask me where i got my education i tell them I am a student of M.H.S.O.H.K. Thank you mike for your honesty and wisdom, It has been a help to me.
Mike. I can’t say enough how much I enjoy your craftsmanship. I’m Landscaper from New Jersey I do probably almost 50k sq ft of pavers a year. Now I’m a small guy I only had two guys at work with me. But when I’m working my earbuds in and I’m watching your videos because you keep me going brother. Thank you so much for all you do. I hope you keep on making videos
Mike, for what it is worth coming from someone with only basic masonry skills, I think you are a true master of your craft. You explain how to build proper retaining walls exactly as my squad learned many decades ago from an old WW2 engineer while I was in the army. Glad to see the craft is still known by some :) Take care, stay safe, and thanks for all these great and informative videos! They are a real treasure.
Just loved this video Mike. I was thinking of replacing the railroad tie retaining wall in the back yard with stones. However, now after watching your video, I’m just going to slope the soil and not have a wall at all. Makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing all your great wisdom. And I feel for those poor soldiers that died in the train wreck :-(
This video saved me a ton of work. Instead of a wall I just sloped the grade and added some big rocks at the bottom, all from my property in western NC. It looks great and my back feels fine.
You generally prefer when your back outlasts the results of the project you are working on, at least then you are around to advise or work on the fixups needed in twenty years time.
For a placer goldmine, a retaining wall is perfectly alright, all the gold in the wash or vein will be extracted within ten years (and any additional work will have moved on) and the wall can be left to slump.
Thanks Mike, great info!! I purchased a lake house where the previous owner installed a gabion wall as a sea wall. Not only was it falling over but the chain link on the bottom rusted away and the rock was just pouring out at the bottom. I had to cut away as much fence as I could and create a rip rap sea wall. (much cursing involved) I lost about 6" height on the sea wall. I'm now trying to decide if I should tier the increased slope of my yard with small stone walls or use the slope as you suggested. Thanks again for the ideas.
Mike your video make me open my eye to observe the way different people do concrete work and block work and like you say there are many difference way. Thanks you for you time to point all this out.
Hey Mike, You are a good man to listen to. I appreciate your faith that you express as well (the rock of our salvation as it were). Take care. I am a fan.
I was born in Sweden, my wife in China and my friend and colleague in Denmark. Here I am watching you talk about all 3 countries. What are the odds. Haha. Kudos to you and the way you teach.
Thanks Mike a great video with awesome advice... thoroughly enjoyed the video once again and you are the best teacher out there. Always look forward to your videos.
We made retaining walls on our property (Finland), we had a lot of rock blasted loose since the bedrock was exposed in many places, the rock was some kind of slate and made for huge table like slabs. Had an earth mover tip them over to make a pretty long "backwards leaning" rock wall, there's gravel behind and below and french drains around the buildings and a drain that goes under the wall to a ditch. This was in 2014 so it's still pretty new, will be interesting to see how it fares up but so far it looks solid.
Mike I used to use a product called Geo Mesh and a lot of 3/4 washed gravel and put a lot of drains or weep hole into retaining wall some of my walls 10 to 15 ft tall.Using these products and techniques had no problems on several types of retaining walls What I have seen is where people build wall straight up they look nice for awhile. Thanks for letting people know what they might be in for.
The retaining walls I have seen that I like are usually made from large natural stones, no mortar and not very tall. I think they are beautiful and can last for centuries if done right. Lately in my area here (Kansas), I have seen a lot of retaining walls go up using huge limestone or sandstone "bricks" that are about two and a half feet long, 8 inches tall and maybe 18" wide. The walls are beautiful, but I wonder how long they will last. Anyway, great videos. Love your work Mr. Haduck.
My brother said I didn't want my walls level. He said I should pitch them back a little on my level so the wall could settle in. I love your videos! Thank you!
I worked for a landscaping company and we only built retaining walls out of railroad ties. So I can't speak about masonry walls. However, I remember it being important to build the wall so that it leans back against the hill. That way, when the soil behind the wall expands, the wall doesn't get pushed beyond vertical. A problem with many/most retaining walls is that they are built perfectly vertical. So when the ground heaves, the wall gets pushed beyond vertical and then its a matter of time before it falls.
Down here in central Texas, we don't have to deal with ice expansion affecting the retaining walls, but what you did with your paper models still rings true.
Mike, I completely agree. I'm always pointing out to my wife failing retaining walls that don't even serve a purpose. Sometimes I think it's landscapers over selling, or people feel it dresses up their property. I just think they are a headache unless absolutely required!
Thanks for the informative and entertaining videos Mike. Love to learn how the old timers did it, keep up the great work! If only we had more hardworking, intelligent and thoughtful people with integrity like yourself in the world..
This is very helpful. 👍 Many houses in Midwest USA, I see retaining wall tilting and/or coming loose. I like the idea of building dirt slop last longer?
Mike I live in PA (Media) and I appreciate the insight, I have a steep hill behind my place and now I'm thinking of just lining with boulders so I dont have any issues.
Mike- Next time you are in Florida, check out Hillsborough State Park for some "precedent". According to the ranger there, the CCC, in the 1930s, put in walls along the river. They were made out of bags of concrete. A few have had to be repaired here and there but they still look great! I would love to know how these were done vs the one you showed from Florida.
Mike, what do you think about footer poured retaining walls back filled with gravel and drain tile for redirecting water? does that keep it dry enough to prevent the expansion contraction cycles and subsequent weathering and deterioration of the wall? load anchors for the top of the wall using rebar 10 feet back into a poured cement anchor post?
Hi Will. I think that if God did not build it. (Like everything) it is only a matter of time,, and it all depends on how long you expect it to last, so hard question to answer, thanks mike
Yes! I have built several that are still sweet. 10 foot tall. We use a 6 ft wide footing with full height dead man walls 4 feet deep, every 10 feet. All wall poured concrete walls.
Hi Pacific, I worked on a lot of those in the union back in the 80s, and in a lot of instances like road work it makes sense, it is one of the reason I put the definition of precedent at the end of the video, thanks for the comment , mike
Pretty cool mike you were walking not far from my neighborhood. My parents live a few blocks from where you were at over near bunker hill in a stucco home that was previously owned and built by a local mason back in the day. It’s got a large beautiful 6ft high blue stone wall in the front and the back is got a nice sized patio that has a wall wrapped around it with a stone fireplace all still standing after all these years. Although my father did end up having the front wall redone a few years ago because the 6’ high corner next to the driveway was starting to pull away. Not sure if you knew the mason or not, I believe his name was Robert or John Dench. Sadly if my memory serves me right, he committed suicide in the home years before my parents ever purchased the place… but seems like he was good at his craft looking at all the masonry around the home still standing strong today
You definitely want to have a really good bed of stones under and behind to handle the water flow and make extra sure that it’s got the ability to flow through and around. These guys that build up the wood ties without a couple foot or gravel behind them and throw a little 6” to a foot of stones behind a five foot high wall and definitely not aware of exactly how much force that our clay soil pushes against a wall.... a couple years and they are already going over.... lots of hacks! LMFFAO! ✋😊. You definitely have great quality videos and are a really good teacher!
Do you recommend using geotextile cloth between the gravel and the uphill soil? I have heard that is stops or slows the soil from infiltrating the gravel and preserves it's ability to let the water drain through it.
Hey Mike you know the secret of the old brick retaining walls? Lime mortar! Before ww2 in Britain all mortar was lime and sand no cement. This type of mortar allow water to pass through it. And allows movement of the wall without cracking. Walls where I live are well over 100 years old and built with blue engineering bricks / lime mortar.
Hi Lee. I heard do much about that. around here it falls apart unless it is under cover, hard to even find it, once they started using portland everything changed in my area, thanks mike
Dang, I would have thought the concrete footer under the retaining wall would be really strong, but now I realize the futility of trying to fight Mother Nature.
Mike I wanted to ask you because I know your an expert. I am going to build a 8x8x16 cmu retaining wall that will be faced with veneer stone. I dug footer to frost line. Pouring 12 inch concrete footer. Should i fill the cores of the block and seal the back of the blocks ?? I am going to install gravel and drain pipe behind the wall. The wall will have about 3 ft of hill behind it as a surcharge. Thanks Mike !
Hi Never, hard question to answer, but coating the back of the wall will deter it from efflorescence in the front, I can’t see how filling the blocks would hurt, but once those walls start moving they won’t stop , lots of gravel in the back end helps for sure, every situation is different, thanks, Mike
Never heard a better explanation of retaining walls! Unfortunately I have one that is already existing, old, and necessary as it retains the soil of the alley leading to my garage. My property sits on a hill with my garage at the rear of the property sitting on a higher elevation than my house. There is a small (approx 3'H x 7'L) cement block retaining wall built from the end of the garage across a portion of the property, holding back the alley which leads to the garage. Some blocks are now starting to break into pieces and fall out, leaving ~5" holes, etc. I dont want the wall to collapse, and therefore the alley. Any suggestions?? Thank you kindly!
Hi Dee, its impossible to answer, I would look around what others have done in the same situation, if it's possible not to have a wall there you might be better off, I hope it helps, Mike
Do 4 inch drain holes placed every few feet along a wall help with the problem of having them pushed over? I'm guessing they would help when it rains heavily, but maybe they don't help with the freeze/thaw cycling, right?
We are back to the water? You make a solid wall water gets behind it and pushes it out. Stacked stone no mortar; The water cannot push on it, it just goes thru like a sieve. I really enjoy your videos - Thanks
Another great video Mike. You talked about putting gravel behind the retaining wall. Is it possible to save an existing retainer wall by removing the dirt behind the retaining wall and adding gravel? Thanks
Hi Da, I guess you could, I have in the past dug behind them and pushed it back but that is very rare, usually by then they are shot and have to be replaced. Thanks mike
Mike, brilliant explanations! Thanks so much for you knowledge, this all makes a lot of sense. I’ve had a question for you in regards to this type of wall construction you show with your illustrations. Could you build a wall using this same method but out of concrete instead? So using the same amount of gravel below and behind the wall, earth over the top of the wall, but pour the concrete wall right on top of the gravel? Instead of traditionally digging below the frost line and pouring a footer so as to prevent this classic type of heaving. Let me know what you think. Thanks so much, very much appreciated!
Hi Sam, everything depends on what the inspectors will let you do whether you can or not. But I am not a fan of concrete retaining walls, so it's a hard question to answer, thanks mike
Great videos, I think I've seen them all. My question is on the railroad and other sloped rock walls; what is the minimum angle and what is the maximum angle (best). Just bought a 1938 cottage in western nc with a sloped 15 foot wall that has mortar cracks but no rocks are cracked. In preparation for repointing, I want to know if the original mason had it right.
Hi Buzz, every wall builder, thinks different , And it all depends on the situation, The height, What is built out of, etc etc, As long as it’s sloped and it’s not moving sounds like he had it right, check out my videos repointing an old stonewall, that might help, I appreciate it Mike
Will the gravel be enough to keep the column from shifting? I know gravel is a very good base for heavy downward pressure like the train tracks. How deep should I dig for my gravel? This is just a no fault question It will be my responsibility because it is my home. Thank You,
How would you fix this problem? My house has a drain in the street right across from my front yard. There is no side walk. There's about 3 feet of some flower cane bushes growing in front of it, deviding my land from the next house . The 3 feet of bushes don't belong to me or the other house. And maybe was put there to control the flow of water! You see, every time it rains,the water puddles on the street, water runs to the drain, but is not enough to control the water flow. So 10-15 feet from my house, I have a river running in between the bushes. When I moved in, the land by the house was about a foot higher. Now that river is getting closer to the house . I was thinking of putting an L shape 2-3 feet retaining wall, so the water would stay away from my house and divert it self in back of it with out getting in to my side yard. Would that work? And what kind of retaining wall should I use? I love looking at the water going down from my window , I just don't want it on my house.
Hi Carmen, I cannot help you there that’s a thing between you the neighbors and the borough, retaining walls often cause more problems than they help, I would talk to the borough first, I am not there to see it, I hope it helps thanks Mike
I have 11"x 6" garden blocks bought at lowes, called flagstone Ashland. I leveled the first course with QP and place the other two course on top. I dont know should I leave, glue or mortar the blocks down.
Mike I have watching many of your videos and I think they are great. I would like to build a garage myself on the end of my house. The ground slopes considerably from the front to the back of my house. My house has no basement So I would like to put a basement under the garage. I would like the cars to enter the top garage from the front but the basement part would have a door on the opposite side for storage and a small shop.I would like it to be about 32X 36. I have a backhoe to dig it all out and could build it myself but I was wondering what you would suggest for walls? 8" block , 12" block , filled concrete blocks or solid poured walls? I would be using large I beams under the top slab with posts in the basement and pilasters under the beams. I would use those steel trusses made with angle iron and the round rod with the steel deck pans on the top to pour the top deck on. Or do you think it would be better to use the precast slabs like spancrete. I would appreciate any opinions you have.
HI James, anymore It would not matter what I say, with the inspectors and code officials you got a lot of hoops to jump through and it is up to them what is acceptable, just the way things are, I would talk with them first and they might want to see plans from a architect, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Mike thanks for the reply. I have another question. Ive watched a lot videos and they usually lay up a basement wall and then pour the basement floor. Is there any reason you couldnt lay one course of block and then pour the floor. This way you would have a nice flat surface to work form while laying the rest of the wall.
Hello Mike , i was looking for building an so called "earthship" without the use of tires, but by using stones... A sort of retaining wall... Could you make a video on this idea?
Mr. Haduck, I just started a small masonry and remodeling business and your videos have been a lot of help. I really appreciate all the hard work you put into them. Any advice on a new guy trying to come up in the business?
HI VROD, I never met a rich mason, but it will lead to a lot of good things to keep you and your property up and running, and in "all labor there is profit" a biblical thing, and if you keep trying new things to see what works and what is not, I am sure you will do well, thanks mike
Hi Mike, Andy from the UK here, really useful, balanced and helpful video as they all are. We have many hundreds of miles of dry walls over here some are hundreds of years old and still doing their job, some of them incorporate stones previously used in other buildings such as chuches etc and lotsof them even have useful features like pull out stones where people hid money! But the point is Mike that those old timers would have been nodding away if they could have watched your video!
Hi Andy, nice to hear from the UK, I was just over there and filmed conwy castle, Those guys knew how to build for sure, in my area frost is so bad, I seen it move railroad bridges, But no doubt in my mind the UK builders know what they were doing, I appreciate it thanks Mike
Thanks for the videos! Question about 6x8x16 bought and delivered. Is there anyway to compensate for the 2 inch difference in the corner? No starter corner block available. 2 inch difference not like the 8x8 lines up. Help! Giles
What would you do in the case of brick 🧱 joints would you grind them out or going right over the old joints and what bag or mix and do you wet the joints with glue /Portland paint or ?
Hi Mike! Thanks for the vid. U were a major help in designing and deciding on what to build my house out of! Any chance I can sweet talk u into coming to Canada for a visit when it's all done? Maybe make a vid?!
I just had a neighbor build a new house out of ICF Styrofoam blocks, re-bar and concrete. He's got the thing so well insulated that, in the summer (and we're in the NE), the slab concrete floor of his house is only one degree cooler than his attic. For heat/ac, he uses only one(1) geo-thermal well.
A Stanton1966 I'm thinking slipform stone. With a foam core. Basically the same idea as ur friend. I worked on a icf house here last summer and had a long convo with the owner. Everything about it is less expensive and far better then traditional houses. I am also in the ne lol so I feel his heating and cooling pain lol. For heat I have settled on a masonry wood stove and passive solar. Thanks for the reply!
Thanks for the reply. Personally, if I were building a new house today, I would design it around a big wood stove. Don't get me wrong, I would have a heating system for water and heat back up. However, nothing gets as low-tech as a wood stove. If fact, it makes for a great back up heating system if you every lose power or your furnace dies. Before my wood stove insert, our furnace died at 3:00am on a Sunday morning in February when the temperature outside was 6 degrees F.
Hey Mike thanks for the link on patching around the swimming pool. I got another one coming up. What was the video you produced witch explained how Portland cement reacts to H2O? Basically the question goes like this, what is the mystery in science about Portland cement. Why is it that you can take Limestone versus granite or any other stone or rock or mineral, pulverise it, bake it in the Kiln at 3000 degrees, and then re pulverise it and then simply adding water turns it back into a rock? Your video explained that the baking it in a kiln at 3000 degrees remove the hydrogen and oxygen and so when you add H2O it turns back into a rock. Gordon Ramsay would say beautiful. And what was that video? I wanted to like it and send it to a bunch of business associates. And thank you for your help.
@@MikeHaduck Is there any chance you could send me a link so I don't have to go look for it? My God you've got so many educational videos What unique about this hydrogen clinker oxygen video is it explains how the fusion occurs through ion Exchange and it proves to the skeptic that Portland cement can be bonded. 30 years in the Floor Care maintenance industry, no one has ever explain that like you have. You deserve a gold hat
Mike,
I think you are one of the teachers I have found on the internet. You have a real gift in how you explain the material you present. Thanks for all the time you put into your YT videos.
thanks K. comments like these keep me going on, I appreciate it. mike
You took the words right out of my mouth, K. Moran. Great vids!
I have learned alot from him too as well..
When people ask me where i got my education i tell them I am a student of M.H.S.O.H.K. Thank you mike for your honesty and wisdom, It has been a help to me.
thanks Mr Krasker, I appeciate it. I am always a bit worried about what I do, so I appreciate the kind comment, thanks mike
I tell them I got it from Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Who Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too.
Mike. I can’t say enough how much I enjoy your craftsmanship. I’m Landscaper from New Jersey I do probably almost 50k sq ft of pavers a year. Now I’m a small guy I only had two guys at work with me. But when I’m working my earbuds in and I’m watching your videos because you keep me going brother. Thank you so much for all you do. I hope you keep on making videos
Thanks John, I appreciate hearing that, comments like these keep me going on, Mike
Mike, for what it is worth coming from someone with only basic masonry skills, I think you are a true master of your craft. You explain how to build proper retaining walls exactly as my squad learned many decades ago from an old WW2 engineer while I was in the army. Glad to see the craft is still known by some :) Take care, stay safe, and thanks for all these great and informative videos! They are a real treasure.
Hi Martin, thanks for you guys passing it on, thanks, mike
Martin S. Stoller
Just loved this video Mike. I was thinking of replacing the railroad tie retaining wall in the back yard with stones. However, now after watching your video, I’m just going to slope the soil and not have a wall at all. Makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing all your great wisdom. And I feel for those poor soldiers that died in the train wreck :-(
Thanks Vijay, I hope it saved you a lot of time and money, I appreciate it, thanks Mike
This video saved me a ton of work. Instead of a wall I just sloped the grade and added some big rocks at the bottom, all from my property in western NC. It looks great and my back feels fine.
Great arlington, I am happy when things work out, thanks mike
You generally prefer when your back outlasts the results of the project you are working on, at least then you are around to advise or work on the fixups needed in twenty years time.
Loved your description of the three types of retaining walls.
thanks, very true, I appreciate it. mike
These videos are gold. Your whole youtube channel is gold. Thank you and your team for producing these.
thanks ninja, I appreciate it, mike
For a placer goldmine, a retaining wall is perfectly alright, all the gold in the wash or vein will be extracted within ten years (and any additional work will have moved on) and the wall can be left to slump.
Thanks Mike, great info!! I purchased a lake house where the previous owner installed a gabion wall as a sea wall. Not only was it falling over but the chain link on the bottom rusted away and the rock was just pouring out at the bottom. I had to cut away as much fence as I could and create a rip rap sea wall. (much cursing involved) I lost about 6" height on the sea wall. I'm now trying to decide if I should tier the increased slope of my yard with small stone walls or use the slope as you suggested. Thanks again for the ideas.
Best video on retaining walls! You're the man Mike. Now I get it!
Thanks Kyle, mike
Mike your video make me open my eye to observe the way different people do concrete work and block work and like you say there are many difference way. Thanks you for you time to point all this out.
thanks Davjo, I appreciate it. mike
This channel is a gem. I just came across it today. Thanks Mike.
Thanks BIrd, I appreciate it. mike
Thank you Mike, I am in Connecticut and you channel is a school for my coming project.
cheers and Thanks for teaching us.
Thanks David, mike
Hey Mike, You are a good man to listen to. I appreciate your faith that you express as well (the rock of our salvation as it were). Take care. I am a fan.
Thanks Clifford, Mike
I was born in Sweden, my wife in China and my friend and colleague in Denmark. Here I am watching you talk about all 3 countries. What are the odds. Haha. Kudos to you and the way you teach.
Thanks Richard, Mike
The Retaining Wall Days with my Father, it was 8x8x16's with Rebar layout, Wow! Thank You Mike!
thank you Jaime, mike
I’m looking at buying a house that will need some foundation and wall work. Thank you so much for your info!! You are a life saver
Thank you, Mike
Only thing better then listening and watching to learn how would be lucky enough to work and learn from you.
Hi Tim, Don’t know how to answer this one, just do it with the old-timers showed me, I appreciate it, Mike
Thank you you’re a great teacher!!!
thanks Mireya, I appreciate it. mike
One of the few channels I watch twice.
Thanks Strat, mike
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experiences and common sense.
Thanks I appreciate it, Mike
Thanks for all the help Mike, really appreciate it!
Thanks Jeremy, mike
Hey Mike,
As always Outstanding presentation.
Your knowledge is amazing. Thanx for sharing.
Bob
Thanks Mike a great video with awesome advice... thoroughly enjoyed the video once again and you are the best teacher out there. Always look forward to your videos.
thanks Fresh, I appreciate it. mike
We made retaining walls on our property (Finland), we had a lot of rock blasted loose since the bedrock was exposed in many places, the rock was some kind of slate and made for huge table like slabs. Had an earth mover tip them over to make a pretty long "backwards leaning" rock wall, there's gravel behind and below and french drains around the buildings and a drain that goes under the wall to a ditch. This was in 2014 so it's still pretty new, will be interesting to see how it fares up but so far it looks solid.
Hi 1873, I know the Finland folk know their business, I am sure it will last, thanks mike
Your awsome mike, keep on teachin. I love the oldschool ways.
Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it, mike
thank you for this superb anthropological introduction to many varieties of retaining walls
thanks Thor, I appreciate it. mike
Mike I used to use a product called Geo Mesh and a lot of 3/4 washed gravel and put a lot of drains or weep hole into retaining wall some of my walls 10 to 15 ft tall.Using these products and techniques had no problems on several types of retaining walls What I have seen is where people build wall straight up they look nice for awhile. Thanks for letting people know what they might be in for.
Thanks Robert, I agree there are a lot of things to add to the mix to help, and experience is the best preventative, I agree, thanks mike
The retaining walls I have seen that I like are usually made from large natural stones, no mortar and not very tall. I think they are beautiful and can last for centuries if done right.
Lately in my area here (Kansas), I have seen a lot of retaining walls go up using huge limestone or sandstone "bricks" that are about two and a half feet long, 8 inches tall and maybe 18" wide. The walls are beautiful, but I wonder how long they will last.
Anyway, great videos. Love your work Mr. Haduck.
thanks David, I appreciate it. mike
I appreciate your videos sir. I am redoing my retaining wall and your providing me with everything I need... thank you so much!!
Thanks Jerry, mike
Mike, Loved that Non-PowerPoint Presentation with the little drawings. Most effective. Thanks!
Thanks, I appreciate it, mike
Mike Haddock, thank you for this creative video, your opinions, drawings, and some of your law school training.
Thanks Len, Mike
My brother said I didn't want my walls level. He said I should pitch them back a little on my level so the wall could settle in. I love your videos! Thank you!
thanks crissala, I appreciate it. mike
The term they use for the pitch is "batter."
I worked for a landscaping company and we only built retaining walls out of railroad ties. So I can't speak about masonry walls. However, I remember it being important to build the wall so that it leans back against the hill. That way, when the soil behind the wall expands, the wall doesn't get pushed beyond vertical. A problem with many/most retaining walls is that they are built perfectly vertical. So when the ground heaves, the wall gets pushed beyond vertical and then its a matter of time before it falls.
Hi Yaddahay, I agree, thanks mike
Very nice stuff. It's good to share your experiences and you are doing a good job for the new generation to come. Thank you.
Thanks Paramhans, I appreciate it, mike
Thanks Mike you helped make my mind up on a small retaining I think no in my situation your the best looking forward to more videos.
thanks Mc Griggs, I appreciate it. mike
I've learned a lot from all of your videos, thanks Mike 👍🏻 keep em coming
thanks Ephesians, I appreciate it. ,, God bless, mike
Mike Haduck Masonry welcome sir 👍🏻
Down here in central Texas, we don't have to deal with ice expansion affecting the retaining walls, but what you did with your paper models still rings true.
Thanks Nathan I appreciate it Mike
Another good video by mike, I’ve learned a lot and have accomplished many things because of you sharing your knowledge. Thank you
thanks Orange, I appreciate it. mike
Thank you Sir, very interesting work and your passion for it shows. Thanks again
Thanks Michael, Mike
Thank you Mike, sound advice from a true master craftsman.
Thanks Robert, I appreciate it mike
Mike, I completely agree. I'm always pointing out to my wife failing retaining walls that don't even serve a purpose. Sometimes I think it's landscapers over selling, or people feel it dresses up their property. I just think they are a headache unless absolutely required!
Thanks James, I agreed, mike
Thanks for the informative and entertaining videos Mike. Love to learn how the old timers did it, keep up the great work! If only we had more hardworking, intelligent and thoughtful people with integrity like yourself in the world..
thanks Jimmy, they are some big words, I am just passing along what the old timers taught me, I appreciate it. mike
Please consider making a video on winter masonry tips. I’m sure you have some great insight! Thanks and keep up the good work
thanks swimmsstone, I always had alternate way and different jobs instead of working winters outside, maybe marry a school teacher, lol, mike
Mike Haduck Masonry yet another great piece of advice from your fountain of knowledge lol cheers
Always very informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
thanks renny, I appreciate it. mike
You have great stuff to share thank you for your insight. It helps me.
thanks Xavier, I appreciate it. mike
This is very helpful. 👍
Many houses in Midwest USA, I see retaining wall tilting and/or coming loose.
I like the idea of building dirt slop last longer?
Thanks, Mike
Mike I live in PA (Media) and I appreciate the insight, I have a steep hill behind my place and now I'm thinking of just lining with boulders so I dont have any issues.
Thanks Lawrence, I appreciate it, I seen a lot of retaining walls fall over in the past, I wish you well thanks Mike
Love your videos Mike. I don't do masonry but somehow I keep watching.
Thanks L.M. I appreciate it. mike
thank you again Professor Mike. so many incredible vids.
Thanks Thor. Mike
Mike- Next time you are in Florida, check out Hillsborough State Park for some "precedent". According to the ranger there, the CCC, in the 1930s, put in walls along the river. They were made out of bags of concrete. A few have had to be repaired here and there but they still look great! I would love to know how these were done vs the one you showed from Florida.
Thanks Kathleen, I will, mike
Mike, what do you think about footer poured retaining walls back filled with gravel and drain tile for redirecting water? does that keep it dry enough to prevent the expansion contraction cycles and subsequent weathering and deterioration of the wall? load anchors for the top of the wall using rebar 10 feet back into a poured cement anchor post?
Hi Will. I think that if God did not build it. (Like everything) it is only a matter of time,, and it all depends on how long you expect it to last, so hard question to answer, thanks mike
Yes! I have built several that are still sweet. 10 foot tall. We use a 6 ft wide footing with full height dead man walls 4 feet deep, every 10 feet. All wall poured concrete walls.
Hi Pacific, I worked on a lot of those in the union back in the 80s, and in a lot of instances like road work it makes sense, it is one of the reason I put the definition of precedent at the end of the video, thanks for the comment , mike
Love your videos!
thanks Pacific, I appreciate it. mike
Pretty cool mike you were walking not far from my neighborhood. My parents live a few blocks from where you were at over near bunker hill in a stucco home that was previously owned and built by a local mason back in the day. It’s got a large beautiful 6ft high blue stone wall in the front and the back is got a nice sized patio that has a wall wrapped around it with a stone fireplace all still standing after all these years. Although my father did end up having the front wall redone a few years ago because the 6’ high corner next to the driveway was starting to pull away.
Not sure if you knew the mason or not, I believe his name was Robert or John Dench. Sadly if my memory serves me right, he committed suicide in the home years before my parents ever purchased the place… but seems like he was good at his craft looking at all the masonry around the home still standing strong today
Hi ,I don't know of the guy but if his work is still standing that's a good thing , thanks Mike
You definitely want to have a really good bed of stones under and behind to handle the water flow and make extra sure that it’s got the ability to flow through and around. These guys that build up the wood ties without a couple foot or gravel behind them and throw a little 6” to a foot of stones behind a five foot high wall and definitely not aware of exactly how much force that our clay soil pushes against a wall.... a couple years and they are already going over.... lots of hacks! LMFFAO! ✋😊. You definitely have great quality videos and are a really good teacher!
Thanks again David, I appreciate it, mike
Do you recommend using geotextile cloth between the gravel and the uphill soil? I have heard that is stops or slows the soil from infiltrating the gravel and preserves it's ability to let the water drain through it.
Hi J, I guess it all depends on the situation, thanks Mike
Hey Mike you know the secret of the old brick retaining walls?
Lime mortar!
Before ww2 in Britain all mortar was lime and sand no cement.
This type of mortar allow water to pass through it.
And allows movement of the wall without cracking.
Walls where I live are well over 100 years old and built with blue engineering bricks / lime mortar.
Hi Lee. I heard do much about that. around here it falls apart unless it is under cover, hard to even find it, once they started using portland everything changed in my area, thanks mike
Dang, I would have thought the concrete footer under the retaining wall would be really strong, but now I realize the futility of trying to fight Mother Nature.
Hi Chris, I agree. I appreciate the comment, thanks mike
Love your videos Mike, keep them coming.
Hi John, I appreciate it. mike
Mike I wanted to ask you because I know your an expert. I am going to build a 8x8x16 cmu retaining wall that will be faced with veneer stone.
I dug footer to frost line. Pouring 12 inch concrete footer. Should i fill the cores of the block and seal the back of the blocks ?? I am going to install gravel and drain pipe behind the wall. The wall will have about 3 ft of hill behind it as a surcharge. Thanks Mike !
Hi Never, hard question to answer, but coating the back of the wall will deter it from efflorescence in the front, I can’t see how filling the blocks would hurt, but once those walls start moving they won’t stop , lots of gravel in the back end helps for sure, every situation is different, thanks, Mike
@@MikeHaduck the front will have veneer stone so I dont want any water weeping thru
Thanks Mike for another awesome informative video.
thanks Abraham, I appreciate it.. mike
Never heard a better explanation of retaining walls!
Unfortunately I have one that is already existing, old, and necessary as it retains the soil of the alley leading to my garage.
My property sits on a hill with my garage at the rear of the property sitting on a higher elevation than my house. There is a small (approx 3'H x 7'L) cement block retaining wall built from the end of the garage across a portion of the property, holding back the alley which leads to the garage. Some blocks are now starting to break into pieces and fall out, leaving ~5" holes, etc. I dont want the wall to collapse, and therefore the alley. Any suggestions?? Thank you kindly!
Hi Dee, its impossible to answer, I would look around what others have done in the same situation, if it's possible not to have a wall there you might be better off, I hope it helps, Mike
Excellent recommendations Mike. 👍🏼
Thanks James, mike
Do 4 inch drain holes placed every few feet along a wall help with the problem of having them pushed over? I'm guessing they would help when it rains heavily, but maybe they don't help with the freeze/thaw cycling, right?
Hi Loren, a big part is to have the water go away from the wall, and any water that does get behind to give it a quick way out, thanks mike
We are back to the water? You make a solid wall water gets behind it and pushes it out.
Stacked stone no mortar; The water cannot push on it, it just goes thru like a sieve.
I really enjoy your videos - Thanks
thanks Jake, I appreciate it. mike
Great explanation on retaining walls at 10:00
Thanks Brandon. Mike
Another great video Mike. You talked about putting gravel behind the retaining wall. Is it possible to save an existing retainer wall by removing the dirt behind the retaining wall and adding gravel? Thanks
Hi Da, I guess you could, I have in the past dug behind them and pushed it back but that is very rare, usually by then they are shot and have to be replaced. Thanks mike
Mike Haduck Masonry Thanks for the reply Mike!
Mike, brilliant explanations! Thanks so much for you knowledge, this all makes a lot of sense. I’ve had a question for you in regards to this type of wall construction you show with your illustrations. Could you build a wall using this same method but out of concrete instead? So using the same amount of gravel below and behind the wall, earth over the top of the wall, but pour the concrete wall right on top of the gravel? Instead of traditionally digging below the frost line and pouring a footer so as to prevent this classic type of heaving. Let me know what you think. Thanks so much, very much appreciated!
Hi Sam, everything depends on what the inspectors will let you do whether you can or not. But I am not a fan of concrete retaining walls, so it's a hard question to answer, thanks mike
I really enjoy your videos and good common sense advice!
Thanks Jon,, mike
Great videos, I think I've seen them all. My question is on the railroad and other sloped rock walls; what is the minimum angle and what is the maximum angle (best). Just bought a 1938 cottage in western nc with a sloped 15 foot wall that has mortar cracks but no rocks are cracked. In preparation for repointing, I want to know if the original mason had it right.
Hi Buzz, every wall builder, thinks different , And it all depends on the situation, The height, What is built out of, etc etc, As long as it’s sloped and it’s not moving sounds like he had it right, check out my videos repointing an old stonewall, that might help, I appreciate it Mike
Thanks for another great educational video Mike
thanks JOHN, I appreciate it . mike
Will the gravel be enough to keep the column from shifting? I know gravel is a very good base for heavy downward pressure like the train tracks. How deep should I dig for my gravel? This is just a no fault question It will be my responsibility because it is my home. Thank You,
Hi Ray, everything depends on what your doing , where you live, and where you are doing it, impossible question to answer, thanks, Mike
How would you fix this problem? My house has a drain in the street right across from my front yard. There is no side walk. There's about 3 feet of some flower cane bushes growing in front of it, deviding my land from the next house . The 3 feet of bushes don't belong to me or the other house. And maybe was put there to control the flow of water! You see, every time it rains,the water puddles on the street, water runs to the drain, but is not enough to control the water flow. So 10-15 feet from my house, I have a river running in between the bushes. When I moved in, the land by the house was about a foot higher. Now that river is getting closer to the house . I was thinking of putting an L shape 2-3 feet retaining wall, so the water would stay away from my house and divert it self in back of it with out getting in to my side yard. Would that work? And what kind of retaining wall should I use? I love looking at the water going down from my window , I just don't want it on my house.
Hi Carmen, I cannot help you there that’s a thing between you the neighbors and the borough, retaining walls often cause more problems than they help, I would talk to the borough first, I am not there to see it, I hope it helps thanks Mike
I have 11"x 6" garden blocks bought at lowes, called flagstone Ashland. I leveled the first course with QP and place the other two course on top. I dont know should I leave, glue or mortar the blocks down.
Hi k, I think that would be your choice, I would lay them in and wait a while and see if it really needs it, I did a video on a garden wall, mike
Ok thanks
I looked at your garden wall video, but my blocks dont have that lip which keeps them in place
Mike I have watching many of your videos and I think they are great. I would like to build a garage myself on the end of my house. The ground slopes considerably from the front to the back of my house. My house has no basement So I would like to put a basement under the garage. I would like the cars to enter the top garage from the front but the basement part would have a door on the opposite side for storage and a small shop.I would like it to be about 32X 36. I have a backhoe to dig it all out and could build it myself but I was wondering what you would suggest for walls? 8" block , 12" block , filled concrete blocks or solid poured walls? I would be using large I beams under the top slab with posts in the basement and pilasters under the beams. I would use those steel trusses made with angle iron and the round rod with the steel deck pans on the top to pour the top deck on. Or do you think it would be better to use the precast slabs like spancrete. I would appreciate any opinions you have.
HI James, anymore It would not matter what I say, with the inspectors and code officials you got a lot of hoops to jump through and it is up to them what is acceptable, just the way things are, I would talk with them first and they might want to see plans from a architect, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Mike thanks for the reply. I have another question. Ive watched a lot videos and they usually lay up a basement wall and then pour the basement floor. Is there any reason you couldnt lay one course of block and then pour the floor. This way you would have a nice flat surface to work form while laying the rest of the wall.
Mike that's simply superb 👌👏
thanks BC3012, I appreciate it. mike
Is sandy fill as good as gravel for retaining walls?
Hi Joe, I would never use it, especially up north, Mike
Hello Mike , i was looking for building an so called "earthship" without the use of tires, but by using stones... A sort of retaining wall... Could you make a video on this idea?
Hi Spiegel, maybe if I ever come across that, thanks, Mike
Mike, good advice enjoy your videos.
Thanks, Mike
Another great and useful video, as always Mike :)
thanks, I appreciate it. mike
Mr. Haduck, I just started a small masonry and remodeling business and your videos have been a lot of help. I really appreciate all the hard work you put into them. Any advice on a new guy trying to come up in the business?
HI VROD, I never met a rich mason, but it will lead to a lot of good things to keep you and your property up and running, and in "all labor there is profit" a biblical thing, and if you keep trying new things to see what works and what is not, I am sure you will do well, thanks mike
Mike Haduck Masonry thanks a lot for taking time out of your day to reply and for the advice. Keep the video coming sir.
thanks VROD, I appreciate it. mike
VROD, having been in business for 30 yrs all I can say is SAVE YOUR MONEY. There will always be a slow time and you need to be prepared for it.
Mark Iacampo thanks for the advice!
Hi Mike, Andy from the UK here, really useful, balanced and helpful video as they all are. We have many hundreds of miles of dry walls over here some are hundreds of years old and still doing their job, some of them incorporate stones previously used in other buildings such as chuches etc and lotsof them even have useful features like pull out stones where people hid money! But the point is Mike that those old timers would have been nodding away if they could have watched your video!
Hi Andy, nice to hear from the UK, I was just over there and filmed conwy castle, Those guys knew how to build for sure, in my area frost is so bad, I seen it move railroad bridges, But no doubt in my mind the UK builders know what they were doing, I appreciate it thanks Mike
Thank you, very helpful!!!
Thanks gail,, Mike
Thanks for the information
The retaining wall you describe at approx. 9:00, would you build it without using cement at all?
Hi Sir, I usually do it like on "how I build retaining wall (part 4 of 4) MIke Haduck" that would be my best answer, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Thanks for the videos! Question about 6x8x16 bought and delivered. Is there anyway to compensate for the 2 inch difference in the corner? No starter corner block available. 2 inch difference not like the 8x8 lines up. Help! Giles
Hi Giles, usually we would Saw it to make it fit but those systems usually have blocks to compensate for that, thanks mike
What would you do in the case of brick 🧱 joints would you grind them out or going right over the old joints and what bag or mix and do you wet the joints with glue /Portland paint or ?
I am from the school of" if it ain't lose don't mess with it," like a dentist just get the bad stuff out, my opinion, thanks mike
Ok so all Crete is good right for the joints and I’ll grind out the loose stuff that it then give it a mud job with the mud trick while it’s still wet
I forget what the rebar in the mailbox you built was for again ? Was that at the. Bottom of it to lock into the cement
Thank you for the knowledge.
thanks , I appreciate it. mike
Thank you very much for the informative video, I just learned so much just on this one video....
Thanks no bad, I appreciate it, Mike
Great info , thanks for the lesson
thanks Psycho, I always, appreciate it. mike
Smart and thoughtful,thanks.
thanks Henry, I appreciate it. mike
good video, what are the 20% of the circumstances where you'd want a retaining wall.
Hi Leo, that is a good question, I think it would be where there is no other choice, if that makes sense, thanks mike
Hi Mike! Thanks for the vid. U were a major help in designing and deciding on what to build my house out of! Any chance I can sweet talk u into coming to Canada for a visit when it's all done? Maybe make a vid?!
I just had a neighbor build a new house out of ICF Styrofoam blocks, re-bar and concrete. He's got the thing so well insulated that, in the summer (and we're in the NE), the slab concrete floor of his house is only one degree cooler than his attic. For heat/ac, he uses only one(1) geo-thermal well.
A Stanton1966 I'm thinking slipform stone. With a foam core. Basically the same idea as ur friend. I worked on a icf house here last summer and had a long convo with the owner. Everything about it is less expensive and far better then traditional houses. I am also in the ne lol so I feel his heating and cooling pain lol. For heat I have settled on a masonry wood stove and passive solar. Thanks for the reply!
Thanks for the reply. Personally, if I were building a new house today, I would design it around a big wood stove. Don't get me wrong, I would have a heating system for water and heat back up. However, nothing gets as low-tech as a wood stove. If fact, it makes for a great back up heating system if you every lose power or your furnace dies. Before my wood stove insert, our furnace died at 3:00am on a Sunday morning in February when the temperature outside was 6 degrees F.
hi theangrynewfie, maybe, who knows, I appreciate the offer, I am glad in some way the videos helped, thanks greatly, mike
Just been plastering one of these retaining walls (concrete block ) they can have challenges with damp
thanks mac, you have a nice channel, thanks mike
very good. Thanks
Thanks John, mike
Great video as always!
thanks Jerry, I appreciate it, mike
Thank you so much. Really, an amazing video.
thanks tovy, I appreciate it. mike
Hey Mike thanks for the link on patching around the swimming pool. I got another one coming up. What was the video you produced witch explained how Portland cement reacts to H2O? Basically the question goes like this, what is the mystery in science about Portland cement. Why is it that you can take Limestone versus granite or any other stone or rock or mineral, pulverise it, bake it in the Kiln at 3000 degrees, and then re pulverise it and then simply adding water turns it back into a rock? Your video explained that the baking it in a kiln at 3000 degrees remove the hydrogen and oxygen and so when you add H2O it turns back into a rock. Gordon Ramsay would say beautiful. And what was that video? I wanted to like it and send it to a bunch of business associates. And thank you for your help.
Thanks, it was, what cement should I use? Part 1, thanks mike
@@MikeHaduck
Is there any chance you could send me a link so I don't have to go look for it? My God you've got so many educational videos
What unique about this hydrogen clinker oxygen video is it explains how the fusion occurs through ion Exchange and it proves to the skeptic that Portland cement can be bonded.
30 years in the Floor Care maintenance industry, no one has ever explain that like you have. You deserve a gold hat
Hey mike, been following you for a long time. Is they a way I might be able to ask a question on a build out here in the desert of AZ?
Hi Homesteading, I can't give advice over the internet and AZ is a whole different world, I would ask the locals, but I appreciate it. mike
Hi mike it’s Valdemar the Portuguese Russian what recipe should I use for concrete when I put up walls the ones you face
Hi waldemar, every situation is different, but I am a fan of portland, others say different, thanks Mike
Okay thanks penn state mike