Tell me this isn’t going to be structural.....

[trivetman]

Heres some pics of the falling apart timbers at the bottom of the hill behind my pool. The pool deep end is on the other side of the fence up top.

does anyone know enough about landscaping to be able to say the hill isnt going to erode away without those timbers there (bringing the pool down with it)? I can't imagine they're providing any actual support in their condition but what do I know??!! the pool and deck are level. no sign of erosion up top.

 

[Jimrahbe]

T-man,

How far from the fence to the water???

I am surprised that you don't have a retaining wall.

But just like you, I have no background in that area, so let's see if we can get some other inputs.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[trivetman]

How far from the fence to the water???

Not far. Maybe 4 feet. Small strip of garden, 3 feet of concrete deck then the pool

 

[kellyfair]

Did you build this pool, or did it come with the house? Is it possible there is structural support under the dirt, and the sloped beds are just cosmetic?

 

[trivetman]

We’ve been here four years. The pool and rotten timbers from many years before. I know the pool was built in the 80’s. We did replace the deck a couple years ago. The prior one wasn’t exactly level but the settling pattern did not suggest that it was slipping downhill. No sign of any structural support under the dirt (not that I know what that would look like).

 

[JamesW]

It's probably going to continue to move.

I would recommend reinforcing the area with a retaining wall.

You should get an expert opinion and an engineer to design a proper support.

 

[trivetman]

Well the hill itself isn’t moving.....yet. It’s not going anywhere fast but we’re here for the long haul.

What would the professional title of this sort of expert be? I have a landscaper who knows how to build a proper retaining wall. I don’t know if he is fully qualified to say it’s definitely needed or not in this situation.

 

[JamesW]

A professional landscaping contractor/architect or a geotechnical or structural engineer would be the best choice.

 

[mguzzy]

The slope of the garden area looks to be less that the angle of repose.. that is the dirt isn't sliding downhill on its own unless something pushes it. If its been there since the 80's.. then I think you would need to worry about plate tectonics if it were to move much more. Still it wouldn't hurt to put in new timbers to hold up your flower beds and that will help the dirt from slumping down the hill. Did they put in a big footing to support the fence?

 

[trivetman]

If you mean the aluminum fence up top...no sign that the fence is in concrete. It actually would not surprise me if the aluminum posts are just hammered into the dirt.

I was thinking.... if I pull out the timbers cause they are rotting away....does that lead to the first six inches of dirt at the edge falling down. Those six inches are holding in the next six inches and so on....

 

[mguzzy]

Dig out the dirt behind the wall It should hold for a bit, unless there is an optical illusion making it look as steeper than it appears. Rebuild your little retain wall for your beds and shovel the dirt back in. I bet if you pull the timbers out the dirt will just stay there, compacted. If you watered it down first a little then it would hold together like working on a sand castle. If you didn't do anything to it, it would eventually slump over to its natural angle. I'm guessing the timber wall is 18 in high or so? The fence looks like its about 4 ft high.

 

[trivetman]

Your measures sound about right. The hills not falling over immediately even if I pull the timbers out. Its just a question of whether I do that now or let them rot away for another year. Then just leave it bare, more timbers or go through the expense of a retaining wall.

Sounds like putting something in to replace it will be needed at some point.

 

[Newdude]

If you watered it down first a little then it would hold together like working on a sand castle

Dude..... I love it when you get existential with your metaphors

 

[mguzzy]

Your measures sound about right. The hills not falling over immediately even if I pull the timbers out. Its just a question of whether I do that now or let them rot away for another year. Then just leave it bare, more timbers or go through the expense of a retaining wall.

Sounds like putting something in to replace it will be needed at some point.

If its not an eyesore for you.. leave the timbers there until you are ready to put in something to replace it.. . You could easily build something with retaining wall blocks, railroad ties or whatever.. depends on the look you want

 

[sktn77a]

Well the hill itself isn’t moving.....yet.

Good. Get a proper repair done to the retaining wall structure and the pool will be fine.