still trying to figure out retaining wall....

We live towards the top of a hill in a hilly part of Windsor Terrace, and we can see that the retaining wall that keeps our yard from rolling down the hill is in pretty bad shape. I’ve looked in the forums, and I’m not seeing anything about this kind of work– Brooklyn is not that hilly, I guess– but if you’ve had a retaining wall repaired or built by someone you’d recommend, please pass along their name. If you even have an idea of the kind of person I’d be looking for (a mason? a general contractor?), that would help me out, too. All advice is appreciated. Thanks!

suzy

in Garden 11 years ago

9

Please log in, in order to post replies!

9 replies

Newest Oldest

dorkofwindsor | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5113 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4887 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176774"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "dorkofwindsor"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bov.472kQmY8OGlKN.dDXa5nt5gnOG0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "dorkofwindsor"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "dorkofwindsor@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(28) "/forums/users/dorkofwindsor/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:48"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "dorkofwindsor"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176774)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

someone needs to stop shilling for that ultra lame ezbz site

suzy | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5111 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5112 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "768"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BdqHSeoIIdDFw7caIuDfs/rGrQqug30"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(25) "susannahvoigt@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(768)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Thanks a lot, ventilated, for both the caveat and the links.

ventilated | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4894 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5114 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176829"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BWUCXtBMV9NDhOzLR8xPDucYhAddV70"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "cupolacoffee@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(25) "/forums/users/ventilated/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:50"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176829)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

suzy, just want to make it clear that I am loathe to recommend contractors I haven’t used. Deceased father Buscarello was a standby for many oldtimers. Sons maybe not so much. That said, I have also seen these contractors recommended on Brownstoner, but never used them: Marie-Helene, garden hardscape: www.edible-petals.com James Stephenson, garden hardscape: http://www.theartistgarden.com/ John O’Connor, mason: http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/forum-archive/2010/08/great-brick-mas/

suzy | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5112 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5113 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "768"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BdqHSeoIIdDFw7caIuDfs/rGrQqug30"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(25) "susannahvoigt@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(768)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Thanks for the recommendation, Nancy! I’ll check him out!

nancyk | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5111 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5115 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "181896"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "nancyk"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B8reto1VXYVBkZV9tFTY6URgmXmjP3."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "nancyk"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "nancykourland@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:09:32"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "nancyk"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(181896)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

i live in windsor terrace and just had a retaining wall built. my mason did a beautiful job. noel o’sullivan 718.812.8012.

suzy | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5113 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4894 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "768"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BdqHSeoIIdDFw7caIuDfs/rGrQqug30"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(25) "susannahvoigt@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(4) "suzy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(768)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Thanks, Lurker and Ventilated! That’s helpful information. This is shorter than 4 feet, so we could proceed without an engineer, I guess, but might look for one anyway, since this holds up our whole yard and the alley next to our house, and is about 3 1/2 feet tall. We don’t want it to be sketchy, that’s for sure. Lurker, good point about the survey– we’re pretty sure this is our wall, but we should check again. On the other hand, if it was going to be adversarial, making our neighbors fix the wall might be similar in cost to fixing the wall, so we’d have to be careful about that… Ventilated, the feuding Buscarello brothers sound pretty funny– but I’ll see if I can find anything out on other sites about which is the good one. I hadn’t thought of looking for a landscape architect, but will check it out.

ventilated | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5112 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5116 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176829"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BWUCXtBMV9NDhOzLR8xPDucYhAddV70"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "cupolacoffee@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(25) "/forums/users/ventilated/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:50"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176829)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Tried to edit post. That link for Kings should be: http://kingsny.com/

ventilated | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4894 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5111 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176829"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BWUCXtBMV9NDhOzLR8xPDucYhAddV70"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "cupolacoffee@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(25) "/forums/users/ventilated/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:50"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "ventilated"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176829)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

You can use either a mason or landscape architect, or you might be able to DIY using gabions. For masons, I have neighbors who have used one of the Buscarello brothers–either John (John Buscarello Construction) or James (Jabus Building Corp.). I’ve never used either. I understand that one is better than the other (can’t remember which), and that they have a bitter feud between them. I’ve seen past posts on Brownstoner from and about garden designers and landscape architects, some of whom specialize in stonework and hardscape and advertise on Brownstoner. You can also check around for recommendations by visiting a place like Kings: http://kingsny.com/ NYC/DOB download on retaining walls: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/tool_kit_retaining_walls.pdf

Lurker | 11 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5116 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5113 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "113126"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "Lurker"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Biam83uc193o8.v5qK1VChb9yjJ5vu."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "lurker"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "jcjedi_10003@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/lurker/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2011-01-19 18:44:20"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "Lurker"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(113126)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

DOn’t have a recommendation but a couple pointers: do you have a recent, thorough survey of your property? While it might seem obvious it’s your retaining wall it may in fact belong to the bordering property and only a land survey can tell you that. Also maybe someone else can chime in on specifics but I believe if it’s taller than 4 feet you’re supposed to file permits for structural work with the city, get an engineer to design the structure and have soil experts chime in etc. It starts to get pricey. Granted people make repairs all the time without filing, and I’m sure someone could do it fine without, but just a head’s up. Best of luck.