Recent content by Pavedog

Thank you this is helpful!

I have not contracted yet. We are still going through Fairfax County and the engineer. Once I have I will post it here with pictures of the build.

Thank you for the pics. I am leaning more towards your solution with the wall and the concrete and then just a normal build. Any additional info you have on the retaining wall I would be interested.

If I have to go to the route of the retaining wall I will look into the blocks. Is there a name for the blocks you used, or just 2 ton stone blocks? I assume it had some sort of porous material behind it with a tile/drain?

So if you had just done retaining wall and built with a slab and studs it would have been cheaper than engineering a poured wall that could hold the static load of the dirt?

I have been on your posts, great home and garage project you have. I need to look up how you did the access panels especially if it becomes all poured concrete. Is there any reason I couldn't mix block and poured concrete to save a little? I figured where it is supporting the hillside it could...

Thanks for the engineering diagram, makes more sense now.

I really appreciate all the replies and ideas. I will meet with the GC and engineer next week if all goes well. I will use the comments as a list to bounce off the GC. I am fortunate that I have an area that I can put all the dirt removed into.

Unfortunately not in the budget.

Thanks a lot to consider here. So why would a block garage wall be an different than a block basement wall below grade? When you say two levels of drain tail one would be at the footer level, what would the second level be?You are recommending backfill the entire wall with gravel?

I assume a retaining wall would have to several feet behind the structure? I might not be able to meet setback requirements but will consider it.

Hey, Would love to get lessons learned on building into a hill. I spent the weekend looking at some older posts but did not cover all my concerns. Because of my property layout the best place is to build into a hill on the other side of my driveway across from the house. I am planning on a...

I have been unable to find parts for the motor/pump so I am going to try and find a used or new 1 - 1 1/2 hp motor and pump to swap it out. Any recommendations? How do I bend the copper tubing once I have the new pump? Do I need to use anything special on the tube coming out of the pump into...

Restoring Old Gast Bell & Gossett Compressor I went by an electric motor repair shop today and was told that even though it says it is Bell and Gossett motor and pump it is made by Gast. I have been searching on the internet and contacted the manufacture but can't seem to track down anyone that...

Re: Restoring BELL AND GOSSETT Oil-less compressor/Melben Tank I was able to pry off the fan, broke it but I should be able to repair it. As you can see when I open up the compressor there is rubber gasket type material on the inside, I assume this a diaphragm? Most of it is still flexible...