Great video! The name of a retaining wall engineer is typically known as a Geotechnical Engineer. As a geotechnical engineer myself, I have designed over 1000 retaining walls. Your videos show the correct ways to construct projects properly. As an engineer, I help my contractors understand the proper way to do these things and why to do it. That way they learn and can carry it on to other jobs that may not need engineering and continue the good habits. This is apparent that you and your crew do this in all your jobs. I greatly appreciate your videos showing the proper way to do things as many contractors don't understand and it leads to problems. To further help your audience with regard to the geogrid, there are 2 main types: Uni axial and Bi axial. Uni axial has strength in one direction and is installed perpendicular to the wall face. The stronger direction of the geogrid is typically the wider or thicker strands of the grid. In the video, you were using a uni axial grid. The biaxial grid has equal sized strands and has the same strength in both directions. I applaud your construction of the corner wall. Having that extra block tail extend out rather than cutting it off gives that corner additional structural integrity. I also want to mention to your viewers the importance of the drain section behind the walls. It is necessary to relieve the hydrostatic pressure (water) buildup behind the wall as it is the #1 reason for wall failure. The hydrostatic pressure is similar to a hydraulic jack that you use to change a tire but also acts horizontally, The groundwater builds up and pushes against the wall and can push it over. The drain section behind the wall pulls the groundwater away and relieves the pressure. This is similar to lowering a car after changing the tire with the hydraulic jack by turning the relief valve and letting the car down. The drain section acts as an open relief valve and drains the water away so the pressure can't build up and topple the wall. The backfield behind the wall also needs to be properly compacted as Stan shows in the video. If the backfill is put in loosely, water will settle it and you can have a large slump of soil shift and blow out the wall. I hope this is helpful and explains a few things that most people don't know. Keep up the great work on your projects and your videos. I look forward to watching more of them. Cheers!

You and your team are top notch. I’m a Carolina boy living in Los Angeles and I can’t for the life of me find a team, company or foreman that takes as much pride in their work as you all do. I’d nearly kill to have you guys in our area. Keep up the great work and videos. You guys give me enough knowledge to know when I’m dealing with unqualified people. THANKS!!

I'm in the UK on lock down at the moment. Your videos have saved my sanity. Love them, you've got a great team. If you were in the UK you would be my go to builders. Everything on camera, nothing hidden. I wish you and your merry band of men all the best. Please keep posting.

Love it, it’s the difference between a penciled whipped engineer and a practical engineer. Just because you understand the physics of how to build a wall doesn’t mean you have the experience of working with the people on the ground who have to install it and the manufacturers who build the materials.

I'm a home inspector in Hawaii. I just want to say that i love your content. It is very entertaining and informative. Please continue to make more videos

@19:00, the reason we state not to compact within 3 feet at the top of the wall is to prevent any expansive material from causing excessive damage to the top of the wall. The structural fill is relatively isolated from the weather, and maintains the same soil moisture levels within a few percent all year round. The top few inches to a few feet depending on your region experiences wild variations in moisture content due to rain, humid weather, dry spells, baking sun, and the like. In northern climates, you get an added complication of frost heave. By leaving the top relatively loose (not so loose as to cause a person to sink in, but not packed solid either), natural settling will leave room for expansion and contraction of topsoil which tends to have higher expansion coefficients to boot. You have done a fantastic job sharing an often overlooked and underappreciated element of engineering. A stone wall will stand the test of time built right, easily into the generations, possibly centureies. "Modern" homes will rot or burn to the ground long before.

I absolutely love this videos for the amount of detail you put into your explanations. So many people skim over important things or just don't use all of the proper techniques and science. By far the best retaining wall videos on youtube. Thanks so much and keep making them if there's somehow any way to add new information!

I've watched lots of your videos. Yours are the most detailed and educating of any I've found. You supply the needed and essential information that has guided me to build my wall correctly, the first time: and showed me the things to avoid! Good job!!! THANK YOU!

Stan, with regard to the formula for rock tonnage, you're making things more difficult than they need to be. sq.ft.X200/2000=sq.ft./10 Simplify and just divide your square footage of wall surface by ten and that gives you the needed tonnage of rock. that 64 tons or rock told me that the square footage of the wall in question is 640 square feet without calculator, or paper and pencil, simply because, mathematically, times 200 divided by 2000 equals divided by 10. Try it both ways and tell me I' wrong! I know you're here to help make things go as smoothly as possible for everyone in the business, so here's my contribution to that concept! I lone your channel, especially as a fellow native Twin-Citian myself, and I'm glad I subscribed! God bless!

I have watched 3 segments and have learned so much. KEEP showing the details!!

I'm a civil engineer doing a masters in Geotechnical Engineering, and there's a specific class for designing retaining walls. The class is called Earth Retaining Structures, and so far we've learned about 20 different types. Yes, soil type matters, the type of backfill, soil slope above the wall, construction method, space available for construction, typical groundwater elevation, and so forth and so on. Most retaining walls are either cut or fill walls, and either externally or internally stabilized. The type shown in the video is a fill wall with an internally stabilized mechanism. The type of facing is modular block, and the soil is retained using a geogrid or geotextile. Curious enough, the blocks are mostly aesthetics and do not function as an structural element for supporting the soil

Nice level of detail - folks can always fast-forward past explanations they don't care about, but it's great to have for the people who DO care. Thanks for the quality vids.

this is definitely the type of video I want to see

Thank you, this was incredibly helpful. The last time i built a retaining wall it was 20 years ago and the materials and my previously learned methods have definitely changed.

Everyone loves it when their boss shows up in sandals and a salmon colored shirt unexpectedly

Been a mason my whole life, good to see contractors who care about their work and their customers.

This has been super helpful stan, I'm more of a paver guy, so to see and hear technicalities of retaining walls is awesome

Great explanation. I'm getting ready to do an outcropping wall so I'm looking at some of you videos to refresh my memory since I don't do a lot of walls. Thanks Stan

Hands down the most informative video I've ever came across on the topic! You explained What, How, and Why all together in an integral way. Keep up the good work!

i saw this video a year ago and was blown away and lost. but after getting the concept down I can really understand it better. you do an excellent job of explaining everything. you actually MAKE people want to build it the right way by explaining in detail. im about to do my own sloped driveway retaining wall because the cinder block and mortar one from 1969 is leaning badly. but after rewinding this video a gabillion times and really taking in everything you said...I get it lol!! A1 video bro!!!

Great video and great tips man. Thanks for all the information before I take on my own retaining wall project. Keep up the great content.

I'm considering doing a few retaining walls on my property (myself) and this video was great. Love your vids and enjoy watching them. As an amateur landscaper I enjoy them immensely!

Love your videos, you give it straight with no bs! I would love to see more on the base layer French drain. Do you have to run it off somewhere? Also a time lapse of the build up behind a wall would be killer!

Love it! Makes me much more confident for when I tackle an install of my own

We stay busy fixing improperly installed hardscaping. No geogrid, proper drainage, etc. You cannot cut any corners on installs if you want them to last. Great video Stan!

I was just flipping thru channels. After 10 of your videos, I want to build a retaining wall and redo my yard. Great explanations and looks like you have a great crew.

Best retaining wall video on youtube. I've seen a lot of your stuff before but this one got so detailed it really helped me understand. Thanks!

I've been building Versa-Lok walls over 20 years for the best instructional videos I've ever scene thank you

Instantly my favorite video I've watched from you so far. Please, more of these technically oriented videos would be great! Also, the new video camera is fantastic! Great video!

Awesome work man ! I do retaining walls and pavers ! I just recently started tuning my own crew .. we re building a sea wall now in Florida on a golf course and it’s new experience even for my company .

This is great content. Never too much detail when you are talking about building an expensive wall for a customer. Thank you and amazing work.

Love the video! Great seeing folks that take pride in what they do, do it right and align to a system. Wish we had more of.this showing the youth of today what it means to be a blue collar professional. Inspiring.

Your videos are very informative and very useful for those of us new to this area. The information you have shared is so valuable for us to understand the process, the amount of work, and material that goes into retaining walls done right. I highly recommend your videos and appreciate you sharing this information. Thank you.

Thank you for your detail explaination. I am in the process of getting ready to build my wall and all your wisdom is really appreciated. I am from Trinidad WI.

Love them I just did a job like this and you've helped me do it correctly! Thanks Brother. Good taking to you at GIE!

Setup a camera in the corner and do a timelapse throughout the whole process

Stan, your integrity and work ethic are apparent in the work you do. I loved the video. Thank you.

Details about the angle of your base block to prevent lean in higher walls is what I would like to see in a retaining wall video. Thanks Stan!

Impressive! I've been building walls for many years. I thought I tended to over-build my retaining walls. After watching this video I realize two things. One, you are a very knowledgable, experienced professional! Two, I could of done better on my jobs. Thanks for the education and motivation!

Great video! Im new to landscape install work and that was very helpful. Going to be installing a new retaining wall here shortly. Looking forward to using your tips and tricks for the job. Keep up the good work! Thank you

Include a little detail about the footing construction of this retaining wall, and drainage set up.

Your channel should get a KZfaq public service award. KZfaq make this happen and make it be given to all KZfaqrs doing something good for people.

I would love to see the full process of one of our retaining wall jobs from start to finish and that was a bad ass vid you covered a lot of info I think when I try to get into landscaping this summer I'm gunna have a pretty good bank of knowledge goin it to the feild

Love it! There's alot of retaining wall "experts" here on the youtube, but you guys are the gold standard

Always enjoy your videos and how straight up you are about doing it the right way. It's your name on line and the right way is selling yourself... I see so much crap out in the field

I really like watching your vids. I will be building or having a wall built next year I hope. Need a 10ft by 100ft wall built so its going to need to be engineered for sure. So I appreciate these vids. Very informative.

This was an excellent demonstration of an incredible retaining wall done in the most professional way imaginable. I’m fixing to erect a couple of retaining walls. One will be about 3 feet tall another approaching 6 feet. So your educating video is right on target for me! Thank you, Stan.

Excellent public service that you provide, educating everyone about this!

Great video. I built a few small retaining walls in college for my employer at the time, who didn’t teach me (and likely didn’t know) any of this information. The walls still stand today, but I wish I knew this information then.

Very nice job. I wish you were in my area of NC. I need three good size retaining walls constructed. You did a very through job of explaining the retaining wall process. Thanks for the video. Take care and God bless.

You are better than a so called skilled Instructor. I appreciate your time, knowledge and efforts to show people like me how to build retainer walls the proper way and not any old kinda of way. Shalom to you.

I really appreciate your videos. I'm a new contractor and this is invaluable info. Thank you sir and God bless!

1) how do you start base of wall? 2) how do you determine placement of geo grid? 3) What block do I need?

Yes more vids like this one. Love to watch you do the work haha. Honestly though my boss taught me to do things the same way you do them. It's cool to know that my crew does it right.

Stanley, I really appreciate all the videos you have put on here! Wish I could see one with an outside 90 degree corner with the Versa Lok Blocks to see the step by step how you do it. Doing my wall now here in Nova Scotia, near Halifax, and find that the advice I got from the company who sold me the blocks leaves me with alternating half blocks to glue together, without the possibility of putting the pins in. Hope it works well. Have lots of drainage stone (the 3/4 clear that you praise). Thanks again for these videos! Mike

i want longer videos of your jobs like you waking up loading up the tractors and like some of the driving there and unloading the machines

Love these videos they r a tremendous help. Im just learning about all this stuff and caint thank u enough for spending the time to make these videos. Me and my cousin met u at the gie this year and as there for ur talk at the jobber both on thursday and both r constering getting involved with ur mastermind group. He is going to beat me to it because i have some big financial concerns coming up and dont know whats going to happen but will be joining as soon as possible.

Not sure when the new intro started but its cool! I really like these type of videos, I get some entertainment and learning at the same time.

The wall looks good. I like the finish look. I myself, am an old school mason that builds off your typical retaining wall with rebar and concrete. They are always overbuilt to me, but I build the way the detail shows. I have never had any of my walls fail in over 39 Years. I will say this though. I have seen one of these geo grid retaining walls fail in California. The wall was built by another Contractor and was approximately 20' high and was on the (South side of the property). . The block units looks similar to what you are doing. The wall was around 1500' long with about 20 homes above it. I built a 14" retaining wall with rebar and concrete with a 10' wide x 2' thick footing with #-9's @ 8" on center at the highest part of the wall. The footing also had a 6' deep key at the toe x 12" wide with rebar also. My wall was 330' long and was built on the (West side of the property) My wall was permitted and inspected throughout. The wall was 14' high down to 3.5' high. Anyways, the geo wall that was built by others on the ( South side) failed and started to slip out. All the new homeowners had issues with there backyards slipping outward towards the hillside. They were not permitted by the city to build any pools or structures like patios during this nightmare of a time. It turned into a big litigation and I was not held responsible myself for it. After doing a walk thru with all those involved who even touched the geo wall in any way, I inspected my wall from top to bottom and it was solid as a rock. No defects at all. My point is that I am skeptical for geo retaining walls in certain situations. I would recommend 100% that which ever wall a property owner decides to build, a geo wall or a rebar and concrete built wall, is to make sure its Engineered and is stamped for that job. That way, if there is ever "Liability" it goes back to the Engineer. If there isn't an Engineered detail with a stamp, the person doing the wall assumes all responsibility. Brian M.

Amazing presentation. Held my attention making learning easier.

You are an excellent instructor!! Thanks for the no nonsense, experience based, and scientific approach! Your humor is good too.

Awesome video, always love the in depth how-to's!

Great video lots of behind the scenes information for a homeowner having a retaining wall built. Keep up the great work Stan

Fantastic video Stan!! Those walls are incredibly built.

No such thing as "too much detail". Well done. Thanks.

I'm glad I was able to watch the whole video. Very informative. Inspired me to want to sell a retaining wall project, maybe. Thanks. That first shirt you were wearing almost threw me off from watching, btw. Thankfully, I didn't judge your video based on your appearance.

Nice work and Stan you explained it perfectly understanding the dynamics of the environment and product to hold the load into place

YOU do a great job im sure you have mulch videos with detail just like this i will have to find them. Keep up the good work.

Great video. Very helpful as I found this video whilst beginning a paver patio remodel. Thanks for the great informative content!

Love all your videos , has helped me stay focused at work .

Great video I learned a lot so that way if I ever get this done I will know what they're doing. Watched it all the way till the end.

Much better video. Better job of discussing specifics and making sense. Wondering why that original wall material didn’t push into the block wall foundation on that house. I also like your comment that codes, inspectors, and permits don’t give a crap about keeping a wall from failing... good job!

Really enjoy and appreciate the video sharing and the Do’s and Don’t’s in retaining walls.

You have made a fan of me with your details and explanations. A true craftman can and will explain everything, including do's and don'ts. I wish you where in Los Angeles for the project I have that is similar to this one. My double retailing wall holds up a higher elevated back yard to a house. I want a single retailing wall.

I learn a LOT from your videos so _Thank_ _You_ @19:38 if someone on your crew had Carpenter experience then prior to building the retaining wall that holds the car, the vertical trim of the corner of the house could have been widened so that the slope of the retaining wall would still show only the house corner trim for the entire height instead of exposing the house wall with a slim triangle.

Excellent! I watch these because of the detail so I can learn.

Love the subject, Lots of so called contractors need to see you build a wall properly, Guys this is the RIGHT WAY!!!!!! Don't short change the client or your COMPANY'S Reputation. Back to the point Yes keep up the shows, Kevin Kevlar Construction Inc, Charlton Massachusetts

Awesome video I enjoyed how you involved specifics like formulas etc. The more detail the better in my opinion

Very educational video! Doing my first project this coming week.

Really enjoy the content you deliver. 👍. Like the engineers. Comments. Having a proper plan and sticking to it always seems to work better than flying by the seat of your pants. Didn’t see a problem with the working mans shirt.

The shirt you're wearing is perfect. You're building a retaining wall; no one expects you to be in a tux! : ) Great video, thank you!

I like these kind of videos. Thank you for sharing the information with us.

I love all the detail you provide. Please, keep it up.

Great video as always. Would love to see how to plan out such a job and the staging to get all the lines and angles right

Thank you. I love the detail. Keep the videos going please.

Full of good info. Very nice video. I never thought about not compacting the 3ft where you put the stone. I didn't know you weren't supposed to do that.

These are the best kind of video's. Informative on the issues that arise when both designing and constructing structures/projects and highlight the areas where mistakes/error/neglect occur. i will also say that i 100% agree with you on picking the correct type of engineer for the project your doing. I am a Civil Engineer that works on bridges (specifically concrete and slab systems) when i start talking to my college that handles the geotechnical side of things yea i can understand what he is explaining but i do not have the high level knowledge about construction practices (at least yet) that go into build a structure . In my experience engineers are kind of like insects we specialize in one thing, and are ok-ish at a lot of things.

Learned a lot. I think this video will help both the contractors and consumers. 👍

Two quick questions - What is the max slope you can have at the top of a retaining wall? Also, how high are the compacted soil lifts, every two blocks? Thanks for the awesome video.

Awesome video man. Super informational I really appreciate this

Stanley , you seem very passionate about walls. Love the channel. Keep it up.

Great video, loved the content. Need more info on next video on how to put together pricing for the wall and how to determine how much material will be needed

Loved the video👏 looking forward to learning more in the next!

I love these videos, I wanted to see you start the tiebacks from the start.

You guys do nice work. Thanks for the education I now know what I need to do.

Love that material!....Eventually, might get to work with it..

Perfect video. More info the better. I didn’t know how to compact and prep for rain. This caused destruction on a wall(base became soup and had to be redone) I was doing last year(first one over 4’). I learned the hard way and got kicked off the property because the home owner lost faith in me(don’t blame him). The more technical info given visually the better.

Excellent video, with great detailed explanations. Very helpful.

Well done video!!!! Stan if you could make a video of a step by step process covering every step on one of your job sites building a retaining wall, that would be great!! It would help veterans compare there process to yours and give a complete guide for beginners and homeowners. There are not to many vidoes that go in to great depth on this, and I think you would be the person who would hit the peg into the block (nail on the head) on this topic!! It would also give you some feedback from the veterans on how they do there's. Thanks Stan!!!

I cannot express to you enough how much I appreciate the detailed information you gave in this video. I will be looking at get bids for a retaining wall here in VA & always try to do as prior research as I can. I very much enjoy all your videos though. Btw, is that deck to code? It doest seem to have much center support.