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Answers (11)
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21458
I personally like the keystone blocks for two terraces, and leaving the remaining sloped. Perhaps one can do both cut and fill to minimize imported dirt.
It is hard to measure the slope from that photo angle. Any side photographs up near the house?
I originally though you could do it with a small bobcat... but it looks from the photo that you need something a bit bigger.
I usually take numbers from RS-Means; but there are other estimating sources that could be used. But RS-Means books are not that expensive to order.
It is hard to measure the slope from that photo angle. Any side photographs up near the house?
I originally though you could do it with a small bobcat... but it looks from the photo that you need something a bit bigger.
I usually take numbers from RS-Means; but there are other estimating sources that could be used. But RS-Means books are not that expensive to order.
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26826
That is a massive job. I would consider terraces, or a property on a flat property if you need a large flat area for the human puppies to play.
- Dunes....
- Contributions:3894
In the Pacific Northwest one might wish to consider what impact filling will have..There are enviromental impact laws and requirements in Many Northwest Communities/Counties
Cost...hidden/unknown often Depends on the Laws/rules/report results/some State/County Employee doesn't like your Tie
Sometimes it's just better to find the Flat piece of Property or become very aware of the Laws/Rules/Codes for fill ect. in that specific location....
Cost...hidden/unknown often Depends on the Laws/rules/report results/some State/County Employee doesn't like your Tie
Sometimes it's just better to find the Flat piece of Property or become very aware of the Laws/Rules/Codes for fill ect. in that specific location....
- Gordon Stephenson, "Gordon"
- Contributions:772
Spencer, I know this property and I agree, it would be nice to have a bit more level yard area. There is an easier and cheaper way to accomplish what you've described than building a 30' vertical retaining wall. In this municipality, I believe you're allowed to do a 6' wall without requiring it to be engineered. You can pick a point and do a series of 6' walls -- creating a set of terraces, using keystone blocks or even just a rockery. Just like the Aztecs. Less fill is required, and more importantly, you don't have a four story drop off at the edge of the yard! Downside: You lose some of the horizontal yard area required for the terraces, but not by much.
- Dan, "the_country_hick"
- Contributions:4695
Spencer, if I was considering this I would include the cost of getting a survey. You do not want to pour dirt on the neighbors property.
Assuming you want to do this you would need to build a huge retaining wall. 30' of dirt is a lot to hold up. That will be pricey. Ask your insurance agent about liability involved with retaining walls and the increased premiums.
As a cubic yard of dirt is 3'x3'x3' you are talking massive amounts of material to make this work.I would think you would be better off to consider maybe going back 30' to 50' and letting the rest remain slope.
Actually, if you do not want that slope you would probably be better off to keep looking. I expect this leveling job would cost more than a new diesel ton truck to get done. You would never recoup the costs involved for this job.
Assuming you want to do this you would need to build a huge retaining wall. 30' of dirt is a lot to hold up. That will be pricey. Ask your insurance agent about liability involved with retaining walls and the increased premiums.
As a cubic yard of dirt is 3'x3'x3' you are talking massive amounts of material to make this work.I would think you would be better off to consider maybe going back 30' to 50' and letting the rest remain slope.
Actually, if you do not want that slope you would probably be better off to keep looking. I expect this leveling job would cost more than a new diesel ton truck to get done. You would never recoup the costs involved for this job.
- Spencer Rascoff, "spencer"
- Contributions:2093
Here's a photo. 
- Spencer Rascoff, "spencer"
- Contributions:2093
Thanks for the advice everyone. The area in the backyard that I'm referring to is a triangle backyard which is about an acre in total, where the longest point is about 50 yards away. The elevation difference is about 30 feet from the lowest point to the highest point.
- Dan, "the_country_hick"
- Contributions:4695
If the property has a septic system you also need to get professional advice about dumping more dirt on top of it. That might not be a good idea and may cause damage. It may be perfectly acceptable. As there are often plastic parts in a spetic system to much weight on top might be a problem.
If you are on city sewer this can be disregarded. The only issue there is a little longer time to dig up your pipes when the time comes.
The other issue regards trees. You can not cover up part of a tree with dirt and expect it to live. You have to build a well to keep the dirt away usually circled with stones to keep the tree alive and well. Do NOT bury anything organic (like extra unwanted boards or trees) as in time it will rot and create a slump in the lawn where the material used to be. Do not bury anything like metal as it might come back to the surface. At least up here with frost it happens.
If you are on city sewer this can be disregarded. The only issue there is a little longer time to dig up your pipes when the time comes.
The other issue regards trees. You can not cover up part of a tree with dirt and expect it to live. You have to build a well to keep the dirt away usually circled with stones to keep the tree alive and well. Do NOT bury anything organic (like extra unwanted boards or trees) as in time it will rot and create a slump in the lawn where the material used to be. Do not bury anything like metal as it might come back to the surface. At least up here with frost it happens.
- Bob Brandt, "BobBrandtRealtor"
- Contributions:1019
Dirt dumped in the driveway by the truckful is not too much. Wheelbarrows and shovels are cheap enough. Sounds like good honest work. Changing the way the lawn drains should be given careful thought.
- Dan, "the_country_hick"
- Contributions:4695
Spencer, how much slope has to be removed? How big is the lot? A 50' lot will be a lot cheaper than a 500' lot would be. It will depend a lot on whether the leveling requires a 20' retaining wall or a 3' retaining wall.
You also need to consider the effects of grading on site drainage. In the city you probably also need to think about the effects on the neighbors property from your site work and the resulting drainage.
The real issue is cost of fill and building a retaining wall. The higher the amount of fill needed and the higher the wall has to be the more it costs.
Also consider the legal ramifications of putting in a retaining wall as someone could get hurt falling off it being stupid and you pay for that stupidity. You may find you choose to simply have a slightly steeper slope at the end of the lawn instead of a wall as it is cheaper with less liability
.
If you do not need to bring in much (if any) fill it is just machine time to push the dirt around. At $4 a gallon and probably 50 gallons or more an hour for a good bulldozer it could be pricey. Then the contractor adds in money for both profits and repairs with the payment for the machine and paying for the operator.
The best way to find out is to talk to a contractor. If you can figure out the amount of fill needed and the cost per yard for fill you know the material costs. Then it comes down to labor added to smooth it out unless you want to spend a lot of time with a wheelbarrow and rake doing it yourself. I would use grass seed instead of loam for reseeding.
You also need to consider the effects of grading on site drainage. In the city you probably also need to think about the effects on the neighbors property from your site work and the resulting drainage.
The real issue is cost of fill and building a retaining wall. The higher the amount of fill needed and the higher the wall has to be the more it costs.
Also consider the legal ramifications of putting in a retaining wall as someone could get hurt falling off it being stupid and you pay for that stupidity. You may find you choose to simply have a slightly steeper slope at the end of the lawn instead of a wall as it is cheaper with less liability
.
If you do not need to bring in much (if any) fill it is just machine time to push the dirt around. At $4 a gallon and probably 50 gallons or more an hour for a good bulldozer it could be pricey. Then the contractor adds in money for both profits and repairs with the payment for the machine and paying for the operator.
The best way to find out is to talk to a contractor. If you can figure out the amount of fill needed and the cost per yard for fill you know the material costs. Then it comes down to labor added to smooth it out unless you want to spend a lot of time with a wheelbarrow and rake doing it yourself. I would use grass seed instead of loam for reseeding.
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26826
HI Spencer:
Size of yard? Amount of slope? How much work are you willing going to do yourself (or with a pizza party for friends)?
Size of yard? Amount of slope? How much work are you willing going to do yourself (or with a pizza party for friends)?
How expensive is it to make a sloped lawn level?
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- 0.0/5.0
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