Hello everyone, I’m a frequenter of /r/DIY, and wanted to post some questions about a project I’m working on for my home. Any constructive feedback or suggestions is appreciated. (This will hopefully curb any "why did you do that???" comments when I inevitably create my DIY post about this project!)I need to redo part of a drainage ditch on the side of my house.Here is a gallery of images, including some drawings of the proposed improvement. Everything below the large greenish piece of concrete near the top of the photos must be replaced.Here are some things I’m not sure about:My drawing of the wall makes it look like a poured concrete wall, but it’s just for simplicity. I’m open to blocks, bricks, whatever is the easiest and best-looking solution for the money. My first thought was to use the standard, stackable, retaining wall blocks that are so common.What would be the best way to do the curve in the retaining wall? (I also wouldn’t be opposed to simplifying with a right angle.)I do have some experience with concrete, so I’m not concerned with pouring the drain channel. I am wondering however, if I should complete the wall before pouring the drain channel?Those are things I’m not real sure about, but I would certainly appreciate any concerns or advice if you see anything else in the photos that looks like it needs to be taken into consideration.And here’s some additional info, in case you just really like reading:The ditch’s current condition is how we bought the house. The house is built on a slope, and as such has a drainage ditch on the west side that drains from the backyard out into the street. The entire run is made up of two sections. The large, greenish piece of concrete near the top of the pictures is the beginning of the “lower” section, everything below that needs to be replaced. Everything above that is still intact and moves water away from the house just fine.Basically whatever concrete was making up the lower section has been reduced to pieces, most likely from being a thin, non-reinforced pour. Looks like there also used to be some type of retaining wall on the left side, as evidenced by a couple of rotting railroad ties. Whatever else was there is long gone.Our sandy soil combined with the ditches current condition is resulting in quite a bit of erosion of our yard. There is currently a large sandy “island” in the street at our curb, that I periodically break up and return to upper parts of the property.Thanks again for any advice or suggestions! via /r/DIY http://ift.tt/2G3bXzs
