What to Expect When You're Constructing

Managing expectations is a great way to have a successful construction project. If you are having work done on your property it is good to know what to expect so that you can make sure your needs and expectations are communicated to the contractor. Because of this, I thought that it would be helpful to walk you through the steps of our project.

First, when you sign the contract and send us your down payment, we will contact you as soon as we receive it. We'll let you know that we have your contract and we will put you on the schedule soon.

Once we have processed your contract and have you on the schedule, we'll give you a call the day before we start work to let you know that you can expect us. If you have a desired date to start the work it is a good idea to let us know well in advance so we can plan our schedule around it. Although it may not always be possible to honor your scheduled date due to weather and project constraints, we will stay in touch with you if we need to reschedule.

On the day of your project. Expect our crew to arrive early. Our work day starts at 6:30am during the season which means we may be at your property as early as 7:30am! Unless we specify, there is no need for you to be home during your project. If you have pets or delicate items in your yard, near our worksite, you may want to bring them inside while we are working.

We will bring our materials to the site and get started on your work! Our crews work hard, and it is distracting if they constantly get interrupted. If you have questions or concerns, its a good idea to direct them to our project manager.

Your yard may look messy while we are working. At the end of the day, we will do our best to tidy up as much as possible.

When your project is completed, we will give you a call to make sure you are satisfied. For larger projects we may schedule a walk through with our project manager. For most projects we try to save you money by putting seed and straw on the ground that we have disturbed. You should have grass within a few weeks. If you would like, we can put down sod so that your project looks picture perfect as soon as we are done.

If you have any questions about our service. Please don't hesitate to give us a call at 301-603-1080

Retaining Walls: What material should you choose?

Often times when we schedule a retaining wall estimate, we will ask if the home owner has a material in mind. You see, there are lots of different types of material retaining walls can be built from. Today I wanted to go over a few types of materials and discuss their pros and cons to help demystify the selection process:

1. Wood- Wood is usually the cheapest option. So if budget is the most important aspect this may be a good choice for you. However, wood is more susceptible to rot, weather and insect damages. It's lifespan will be about 10-15 years. If you plan on staying at your property for a long time, this might negate any cost savings.

2. Segmental Blocks- Segmental blocks are interlocking concrete blocks that fit together like a puzzle. Most segmental retaining walls come with a lifetime guarantee on the material. Segmental walls are also durable and can last a lifetime if installed correctly. The downside is that they are slightly more expensive than a wood retaining wall.

3. Cinder Block Wall with Veneer- Cinder blocks are more durable than wood but slightly less durable than the interlocking system. It rarely comes with a lifetime warranty and may cost more than segmental blocks. This type of wall usually requires a good design and engineer to ensure stability. However, the wall is versatile and you to put your personal touch on it by choosing virtually any finish.

4. Natural Stone Stacked- Using natural stones is the most natural solution as it uses materials directly harvested from the earth. These walls can be very costly because of the number of stones required to make the wall. It is also difficult to create curves in this type of wall.

5. Green Wall- Green alternative to regular retaining walls, incorporates plants into hardscape. Self irrigating and low maintenance. Can be more expensive due to materials and labor costs.

While there are more types of materials these are the basics. I hope we have helped to clear up any confusion regarding retaining walls. Good luck on your project. Feel free to give us a call if you'd like to set up a consultation 301-603-1080

Retaining Wall Installation

Just like with paver installation, as I talked about in my last post, we follow nationally recognized standards for retaining wall installation. With both paver and retaining wall installation there can be subtle nuances to the jobs. For example, the type of soil and slope of the earth will play a role in how installation goes and what is required. Many retaining wall projects also require a local permit and certified engineered drawings.

However, I think that is is very helpful for property owners and home owners to know what to expect so that they can make sure their retaining wall is installed properly and that their investment lasts.


We often use Nicolock pavers and this is taken directly from the Nicolock website:

Walls up to 3 feet in height (2 ft. 6 in. for Sierra) are attainable without the need for soil reinforcement (Geogrid). Recommended installation procedures should be followed to ensure the life of your wall structure.

1. Wall Cap
2. 3/4” Crushed Clean Stone
3. Top Soil
4. Existing Site Soil
5. Reinforced Soil
6. Filter Fabric (as required)
7. Geogrid (as required)
8. 3/4” Processed aggregate Footing
9. Drainage Pipe (as required)
10. Foundation Soil

IMPORTANT! Illustration shown is not for construction purpose. Please confer with your local engineer for proper placement of geogrid.

IMPORTANT! Walls higher than 36" above grade, terraced walls, weak soils and other loading conditions require special considerations in design and construction. This should be done by a qualified engineer & a professional contractor. Check with you local building department for code requirements.

The following Installing procedures apply to all Nicolock Retaining Wall Units constructed as a conventional Gravity Wall system.

PREPARING / EXCAVATING. Before beginning excavation, make sure there are no utility lines in the wall area. Excavate area to the proper depth. For geogrid-reinforced retaining walls or for more detailed information, consult your local distributor or contact Nicolock.

TRENCH EXCAVATION Excavate a trench a minimum of 6" beyond the front and back of the wall block. Dig trench 9” to 14” deep, enough to create a 6” thick leveling pad and to bury at least one whole wall block below grade. Compact the soil at the bottom of trench. Shape the slope behind wall to allow for 12” of drainage material.	TRENCH FILL Place filter fabric in trench and up the cut slope. Fill trench with clean, graded aggregate and compact.	BASE BLOCKS Position a level string line at the straight face of the unit to maintain alignment. Place the wall units side by side in the center of the prepared base. Bury the first course of block to a depth equal to 10% of the height of the wall, measured in inches. Level units from side to side, front to back.
DRAINAGE SET-UP Fill the space in front of wall with clean fill to grade to hold units from shifting. Place a perforated pipe behind wall on top of base for drainage. Fill drainage area with clean aggregate keeping filter fabric in place. Backfill soil on outer side of fabric and compact.	STACKING UNITS Place successive courses by fitting the keys and grooves onto the units in the row below (if applicable).  Keep the tops of each course clean to maintain a level surface. Stack units in a running bond pattern (crossing joints).	BACKFILL & FINISHING Continue building the wall to the desired height. Backfill with clean aggregate behind each course as completed. Backfill and compact soil. Finish the wall by securing the wall cap with a suitable masonry adhesive.