Cheap, Hidden Retaining Wall: Recycled Concrete Debris Done Right

You need a 2–3 ft retaining wall along the house. Never seen. Want cheap + 20-year life. Photo didn't come through.

Best Low-Cost Material: Broken Concrete ("Urbanite")

• City sidewalk demo projects, road contractors, demolition companies.
• Uniform thickness = easy stacking.
• Heavy = stable.
• Often free if you haul it.

Build Method (Gravity Wall)

1. Trench 18" wide × 12" deep. Compact gravel base.
2. Set first course on end (vertical), tilted 15–20° back into slope.
3. Backfill 50% height with gravel.
4. Second course behind first, overlapping 18".
5. Repeat to height + 6" extra.
6. No mortar needed if width allows 2:1 base-to-height ratio.

Tools Worth Buying

600-lb appliance dolly with fat tires ($60). Saves your back. Useful forever.

Caveats

• Check local codes—some classify >2 ft as engineered.
• Drainage behind wall: gravel + perforated pipe to daylight.
• Tree roots nearby? Adjust alignment; don't cut major roots.

Send photos to sdward79@hotmail.com if you want eyes on the site.