Thread: rubble berm?

What would you call this, besides ugly? A berm? It's not really a retaining "wall".

Originally Posted by John Arnold

What would you call this, besides ugly? A berm? It's not really a retaining "wall".

JA: It is a pile of concrete debris that should be removed from the lot prior to constructing a proper retaining wall.

Because of the porous nature of the construction this retaining wall may perform adequately. I would not call it a berm, as berms are usually mounds of soil piled to make a hill and not as a retaining wall. The only concern could be soil washing out from between the concrete chunks if there has been no filter clothand or crushed stone behind it. The angle of repose looks adequate judging by the photo.

Rather than remove it and if it is a concern a sectional retaining wall could be built in front of it with crushed stone and filter cloth behind the new wall.

The question that needs asking is the age of this wall and whether there is any subsidence of the driveway?

Looks like it might be riprap. Generally stone, but can be concrete rubble. Generally used to control erosion.

I would note: as an area that need caution for Kids and elderley...

Is it over 30 Inches ?

Best

Ron

... not to mention the Mother-in-law!

I agree with Aaron first, then, being as it was brought in (or left on site and used), ...

I agree with Raymond and Gunnar.

There is no reason to bring in concrete debris from another job (I doubt that was generated there) and then use this construction site as a dump (landfill).

It creates an interesting conglomeration of dangerous slip, trip, and fall surfaces. At least 'point it up' with mortar to create a smoother surface without all those jagged ends.

Also the concrete rubble is no different then large rocks placed in a like manner to achieve the same thing.

The entire area could be covered with a layer of earth and graded out to create a slope that is stable and then sodded.

Originally Posted by Raymond Wand

Also the concrete rubble is no different then large rocks placed in a like manner to achieve the same thing.

Except that most concrete has reinforcing steel in it, and that reinforcing steel sticks out and creates sharp ends when the concrete is broken up.

Even concrete without reinforcing steel usually breaks with sharper edges.

Covering up as you said also works to 'remove the hazard' from being accessible.

Up north where the Canadian shield is exposed large granite rock is used almost exclusively used for retaining walls, riparian protection, and its quite jagged and rough and never covered for protection from the sharp edges just as a point of interest.

John

Before you can determine if it is functional you need to ask the homeowner why was it placed there.

• Was it to help stop erosion?
• Was it placed to retain material?
• Was it placed to prevent the vehicle tire from dropping off?

After you determine it's purpose then you can decide if it is working as intended, otherwise just state you don't know the purpose of the material and recommend the buyer ask the seller. Home owners do the strangest things, usually from watching too much HGTV.

It is simply a roughed-in driveway. As somebody already said, "They're really rockin in Boston, Pittsburg PA".
It needs landscaping or "landscaping is incomplete".