On Tuesday a truck should be arriving with several hundred retaining wall blocks of two types and a load of retaining edging and spikes for the patio. I have about three quarters of it laid but have to take a small diversion to break up a small set of stairs I had poured 18 years ago when I first scaped the yard. The steps have subsided quite a bit in one corner and in doing so pulled away from the cement block forming some of the wall of the well. These are three steps which descent to a landing before a turn to descend the rest of the way to a basement door entry. It is a shame to have to destroy the steps really, I did a rather good job, they are formed inside a sort of box. Clever though the design was, it is a lot of cement to bust up. I rented a big bosch electric jack hammer for the week-end, hopefully it won't kill me, so far I have removed the bottom step and about a third of the second step which is solid to the bottom. I think I'll quit for tonight.
I believe I'll line the well again but this time with retaining wall stones to include risers for the steps. I will fill behind with sharp sand and compact it firmly then cap with caps stones and probably stick them down with some heavy construction adhesive.That way, if they fail again all I need do is dig 'em up and lay them again. That hammer gets mighty heavy for a little chap after four or five hours I can tell you. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
