Still working on removing a section of the retaining wall, which is taking longer than I anticipated. The top two or three courses of blocks are easy enough, but the backfill starts collapsing as I go lower. Have to stop and clear it away periodically. Also, the bottom course of blocks is below ground level, so those have to be pried out with a long iron rod.
It may look like the old foundation is being undermined, but it isn't. The old garage was there long before the retaining wall was installed. It used to be just a steep, rock-covered slope below the foundation. In the background, my power pole and transformer can be seen.
I've got about half of what needs to be removed out at this point. In the new garage, a poured concrete wall will sit in this area between the upper and lower bays.
The blocks of course can be reused. I always was a good block-stacker. That's 112 blocks @ about 90 lbs. each. Over 5 tons, not counting the cap blocks, which I didn't count.
The underground utility locators finally show up, and confirm what I already suspected: the underground electric feed from the pole runs right under where I want to build. A new one will have to be run around the perimeter of the new construction. Ouch! The wife is going to have to put in some overtime to fund that!
Sleepy, are you still jealous?
:):)
