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Allan Block Retaining Wall With Geogrid
January 1, 2014 / Allan Block, Construction Tips, Geogrids, Small blocks
This is a really good video. It hits all the main points in under 4 minutes. I frequently recommend this video to wall contractors (even experienced ones) and to homeowners, as well.
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Hand Tools Needed to Build a Retaining Wall
December 20, 2013 / Construction Tips, Small blocks
Retaining walls can be constructed using some simple hand tools. You’ll need: shovels, rakes, brooms, tape measure, string line, level, hammers and wheelbarrow, and gloves! Joseph Kowalski, P.E. www.RetainingWallExpert.com Current State PE Registrations
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Wall Construction Time Lapse
January 1, 2013 / Construction Tips, Small blocks
The lapse footage showing a recent job we completed. This video will be featured on our website. This difficult project located in Windham was quite a job. Interstate Landscape started with the removal of an old deteriorating timber wall. The homeowner wanted to create more living space in their back yard so after the wall was removed we excavated back 8ft of the hillside and removed about 120 yards of fill. When we were excavating we ran into three large […]
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How to Build a Retaining Wall in 2 Minutes!
February 2, 2011 / BIG Blocks, Construction Tips, Featured
In this video, we will mass-excavate a jobsite, make a trench, add a drainage pipe, install gravel, place wall blocks, geotextile and compact lean clay cap soils to make a beautiful retaining wall … ALL IN UNDER TWO MINUTES! FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR PROJECT PHOTOS Joseph Kowalski, P.E. www.RetainingWallExpert.com Current State PE Registrations
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Retaining Walls – Construction Review Services
September 30, 2008 / Construction Tips, Engineering
Everyone involved with a retaining wall project benefits when the wall is constructed properly. To make every effort that a retaining wall is constructed according to the design drawings, the Owner should hire the Design Engineer to visit the site. During Construction Review, the Engineer should compare the actual field conditions and materials to the design drawings. This video is a little longer than most (it’s about 7 minutes) but I promise it is full of good information! Joseph Kowalski, […]
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Retaining Wall Base Course Installation
September 25, 2008 / Allan Block, Construction Tips, Small blocks, Uncategorized
To have a level, attractive, well-built MSE wall (block retaining wall) the first course of wall blocks MUST be perfect. The first course must be straight and level, both side-to-side and front-to-back. Any errors in the base course become amplified as the wall is built up. For the leveling course, you need to use a well graded stone that is compacted in place. After compaction, each block should be carefully installed making sure that it is level and it is […]
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Retaining Walls – Layout and Surveying
September 25, 2008 / Construction Tips, Engineering
One of the most important things you can do when building a retaining wall is to ensure that the wall is in the correct location, and at the correct elevation. You never want to have to “move” a wall because it is a few feet from where it should be, right? Also, you want to place the blocks to ensure that you have sufficient room to install the geogrid layers. This video shows some easy ways to help you with […]
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August 22, 2017 at 2:11 pm / Allan Block,Engineering / by Joseph Kowalski
Large Tiered Walls, Christ Hospital, Cincinnati
This 60-foot grade change was achieved using tiered walls and slopes. Maximum geogrid length was 50 feet long. Deep undercuts to shale and limestone bedrock were required to achieve global stability.
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July 24, 2017 at 10:18 am / Engineering,Geogrids / by Joseph Kowalski
Geogrid Interaction Flexibility
This is an interesting concept presented by Huesker. Well done video explains how flexible geogrids can improve soil-geogrid interaction. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE
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March 21, 2017 at 12:40 pm / Uncategorized / by Joseph Kowalski
Need a wall? Call Kowalski Engineering! 513.403.5657 JoeK@RetainingWallExpert.com
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March 25, 2015 at 2:07 pm / Construction Tips,Uncategorized,versa-lok / by Joseph Kowalski
Retaining Wall Installation – Standard unit
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January 27, 2015 at 9:07 pm / Allan Block,Design Ideas,Engineering,Featured,Pier-Shoring Walls,Small blocks,Uncategorized / by Joe Kowalski
Retaining Walls Supported in Sliding Soils – How to Prevent a Failure
Global Stability includes the stability of the soils BELOW the retaining wall. If the foundation soils are sliding on a sloping surface of bedrock, then the retaining wall could begin to slide downhill! This 2-minute video shows two ways to prevent this type of global stability failure. Joseph Kowalski, P.E. www.RetainingWallExpert.com Current State PE Registrations
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January 13, 2015 at 3:24 pm / Engineering,Geogrids,Uncategorized / by Joseph Kowalski
Strata Systems Geogrid Video
Some excellent animations in this video on the layering that occurs during construction of a reinforced soil wall! Author: Strata Systems, Inc. www.geogrid.com
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February 20, 2014 at 8:48 pm / Pier-Shoring Walls / by Joe Kowalski
Shoring Wall, Wood Lagging, and Allan Block Veneer
Soldier pile walls with wood lagging can squeeze right up to the property line – and can look GREAT when a segmental block veneer is added to the face. At this property, vertical steel beams were installed. Next, wood lagging was installed horizontally between adjacent vertical steel beams. Geogrid was looped around these wooden lagging panels and then Allan Blocks were connected to the geogrids. Joseph Kowalski, P.E. www.RetainingWallExpert.com Current State PE Registrations
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February 12, 2014 at 12:51 pm / Engineering / by Joseph Kowalski
Retaining Wall Network
We specialize in the design of retaining walls, especially the kind of walls that are reinforced with high-strength geogrids, steel strips or steel mesh. We also make articles and videos about our retaining wall projects. Our videos have been viewed nearly 600,000 times, and Google analytics shows visitors from all over the world, but a majority of these visitors are from North America. Because we work on projects across the US, and in Canada and Mexico, it was necessary for […]
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January 11, 2014 at 8:16 am / BIG Blocks,Stone Strong / by Joseph Kowalski
Stone Strong Installation Video
With headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska USA and a fast-growing international network of licensed dealers, Stone Strong Systems has earned a solid reputation for technical innovation, precision manufacturing, superior design, unmatched quality, and unparalleled customer support. These traits have helped make Stone Strong Systems the ideal solution for many diverse projects, from shoreline protection and erosion control applications to the most challenging retaining wall installations.
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January 3, 2014 at 12:44 pm / Featured,versa-lok,Wall Failures / by joe@allaccessconstruction.net
Versa-lok Retaining wall project Bay area
Wood retaining wall had to come down after 40 years . Poor design, no drainage but hey it was 40 years ago… There are many factors that go into building a retaining wall. How tall should it be? Does it need to be engineered? Does the contractor have experience? We can take the guessing part out for you. At All Access we stand ready to serve you and answer any and all questions that may come up during the project. […]
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January 2, 2014 at 11:05 pm / Timber walls / by Joseph Kowalski
Time Lapse Timber Retaining Wall – Andrew Yaniuk
Fans of timber retaining walls: you will really appreciate this video. The camera work done by Andrew Yaniuk is amazing. Timber walls are good walls, when designed and constructed appropriately. Generous use of well-drained granular backfill will prolong the life of a timber wall. Remember, even pressure-treated timber will eventually decay. The appeal of timber walls is based on aesthetics, cost and ease of construction. (Video notes from Andrew Yaniuk: This is a Time lapse of a retaining wall being […]
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