Stabilizing a hill side?

[Brent Dowell]

In front of our house we have a little embankment about 100' long by about 15' wide at a 25 degree angle.

Recently, something called dirtlocker came up on my facebook feed and it seems like it might be a good/easy way to terrace and landscape the hillside.

Dirt Locker


The cost for this system would be about 4k, not including extra fill dirt.

Just wanted to what you guys thought about this idea. I really do need to do something, but I can't even imaging trying to do concrete blocks. I've done that before, and while they work, oof my back.

 

[Bill Satko]

It is an interesting idea and one that would also fit some areas around our house. I notice that it is made of HDPE and my memory of installing HDPE piping is that it needed to be buried to prevent degradation from exposure to sun. I wonder just how long it would last. Of course at my age it wouldn't have to last too long.

 

[Ted Calver]

Don't you have really rocky soil? Is erosion the problem? You might be able to do DIY gabions to terrace at about half the cost if you have a good supply of rocks.

 

[Jim DeLaney]

Interesting. I've seen roadside areas that were terraced something like that, but using concrete rounds instead of the plastic.

FAQs on their website says 10 year UV protected, and 5 year installation warranty if you follow their instructions, so you should be okay in those respects.

 

[Brent Dowell]

Don't you have really rocky soil? Is erosion the problem? You might be able to do DIY gabions to terrace at about half the cost if you have a good supply of rocks.

That is an interesting idea. I might have to think about that...

 

[Jonathan Shively]

Around here for silage pit walls, they have started using the large concrete blocks with interlocking features. They are made of the extra concrete returning in trucks. https://www.valleyblockandconcrete.com/block/big-blocks-v-lock-2/
Could paint them or decorate them, even drill and install plant hangars or whatever your heart desires.

 

[Don Baer]

I had a hill side like that in the last house I had n Kalifornia only it was a little steeper. I used the native rocks from the area BUT that said if I had it to do all over again I would use railroad ties.

 

[Dave Hawksford]

In front of our house we have a little embankment about 100' long by about 15' wide at a 25 degree angle.

Recently, something called dirtlocker came up on my facebook feed and it seems like it might be a good/easy way to terrace and landscape the hillside.

Dirt Locker

View attachment 129549
The cost for this system would be about 4k, not including extra fill dirt.

Just wanted to what you guys thought about this idea. I really do need to do something, but I can't even imaging trying to do concrete blocks. I've done that before, and while they work, oof my back.

A friend did this on a ridge top to widen his ridge. I'll look for some pictures.

 

[Darren Wright]

This is a timely post. I was also looking at doing a retaining wall behind the guest cabin soon. I was looking at castle/retaining wall blocks, but with the abundance of rocks we have, another solution is certainly welcome.

 

[Dave Hawksford]

You can see how much hill side Al reclaimed judgfrom the back left corner.

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

You can see how much hill side Al reclaimed judgfrom the back left corner.

Soil-filled blocks with no mortar between them or grout pumped into the cells are very likely to move over time.

 

[Dave Hawksford]

Soil-filled blocks with no mortar between them or grout pumped into the cells are very likely to move over time.

I know he dug out for post supports, It's taken him a few years to get the hillside stable.