Hey everyone! So I had to replace a 40-foot retaining wall at my house, and it took way longer and was tougher than I thought. I ended up taking 6 days off work and worked around 55 hours on it!
I ran into some problems along the way, like discovering that my septic tank was extending more and was shallower than I expected, which forced me to change the layout. Plus, my wall was getting too close to the tank lid, so I had to angle it out a bit. Toward the end, I hit some boulders that were impossible to move, so I had to adjust the wall again, making it not perfectly straight.
At first, it looked pretty straight, but after I installed the caps, I realized I had to use trapezoid-shaped ones instead of the rectangular ones I wanted. Unfortunately, even though they had the same SKU, their depth varied from 10 7/8" to 11 1/4", which added to the wavy look of the wall. After installation, I even used an angle grinder to smooth out any sharp edges, but I still feel bummed that it looks a bit amateur after all my effort.
What do you all think? Does it look bad? Is there anything I can do to improve it? I was considering running a chalk line to cut the caps straight, but I worry that I'd lose that natural look they originally had. I'd rather have them slightly crooked and natural than perfectly straight and block-like!
Thanks for any advice!
PHOTOS: [Top view](https://imgur.com/a/jqjUDIn), [Ground level view](https://imgur.com/a/OjTHxr3)
3 Answers
To be honest, I wouldn’t have noticed anything off without you mentioning it. It looks like great work! You could add some planters along the wall to help it blend in even more; that could make a huge difference!
Looks fantastic, man! Nothing's ever perfect, and the natural look you’re going for is definitely on point. Plus, it's way better than the old railroad ties and pavers covered in moss. It’ll get even more natural looking over time!
Thanks! We definitely wanted that natural aesthetic too, so this feedback helps a lot!
Honestly, I think it looks pretty good! The slight waviness actually adds a natural touch to it. Take some time to sit with it before making any big decisions. It's easier to start obsessing over minor details than to appreciate the overall design! You’ve put in a lot of hard work, and if it’s stable, it’s doing its job!
Thanks for the encouragement! You’re right; I often stress over these details but usually end up finding something else to obsess over later, haha.
Great idea! My wife will love that too! Thanks for the suggestion!