In ,
Walter E. typed:
"trader_4" wrote in message
...
On Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 11:16:41 AM UTC-5, Walter E. wrote:
I have a 2' tall retaining wall in my garden. It consists of 6x8
railroad ties, set on edge. The rr-ties are laterally supported by
treated 4x4 lumber
posts, imbedded about 1' into concrete supports poured into the
soil on the
low side of the wall. there is no concrete footing for the RRties,
they are
set on the soil.

All this is now 30 years old. The RR ties are still in good shape
but the treated 4x4 have rotted/broken-off at the base of the wall.
Therefore, the
RR ties are slowly being pushed downhill, collapsing the wall.

If I could replace the 4x4 posts in their cast concrete bases, I
could easily re-align the RR ties. How can I replace the 4x4 posts,
set in concrete? Do I need to dig out the concrete base and re-pour
new concrete around a new post? That's hard work for an 85 year old.

Thanks for any help

Walter

--

www.rationality.net

If the old 4x4's have broken off at the cement line or can be cut off
there and covered up with some soil, mulch, whatever, then it's
probably easier to just put new 4x4's embedded in concrete in new
locations. That way you don't have to remove the concrete that's
there. That assumes that visually it's OK, ie that it won't look
like hell because the area of the wall where the old 4x4 were
doesn't look different, etc. Curious though how you're going to "easily"
re-align the railroad
ties. If they've shifted, with dirt behind them, that typically
isn't easy, unless maybe you have a tractor to push it with.....


Yes, there is probably no easy solution. Will have to bite the bullet
and dig new holes for the posts. As to aligning the RR ties: I will
have to dig out part of the hill behind the ties, lift/push the ties
into the proper location and then just leave a narrow gap behind the
ties to avoid future lateral pressure of the soil.

Just out of curiosity, I would be interested in seeing a couple of photos of
what you have now if you are able to do that.