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Beautiful Residential Retaining Wall for Estate Home in Georgia

Project Name

Claire Rose Lane House

Customer Name

BWC Properties

Design / Specifying Engineer
John Paulson of Redi Engineering, Alpharetta, GA

Block Manufacturer
Piedmont Precast

Wall Installer
MSE Site Solutions

Project Location
Sandy Springs, GA

Year Built
2007

Project Scope

When a high-end home builder outside Atlanta bought an "unbuildable" site with 120 feet of grade change from the rear of the property to the front, he was faced with a challenge. He needed to find a way to support the foundations of a French-style estate with a retaining wall that could match the upscale look of the house.

The developer had looked into erecting a 30 ft. tall poured-in-place wall covered with a stone veneer but found it too expensive. He had come in contact with Redi-Rock at an Atlanta trade show that the local Redi-Rock producer Piedmont Precast had attended and liked the natural look and dramatic shadows of the Redi-Rock signature cobblestone face. The developer also liked having the option to stain the walls to match the other hardscaping he had planned for the site. When the price estimate for the Redi-Rock walls came in 35 percent lower than the poured-in-place options, the functionality of the massive segmental retaining walls system coupled with the cobblestone look made Redi-Rock the perfect solution for this developer’s retaining wall needs.

"I saw a Redi-Rock display at a home show and this application just screamed for it. The site needed an engineered, structural retaining wall with a high-end look and this product delivered," the developer said.

The builder of the home had already poured the foundation of the house and begun building when Piedmont Precast arrived at the site, so the entire wall needed to be built from below, providing a challenge for the installer. The project design originally specified two Redi-Rock retaining walls. However, once the developer saw the first big wall go in, his imagination took over. He envisioned a castle look with turrets, then he began to add walls in the side and back yards. The original project was slated at 5,500 sq. ft. but ballooned to 9,800 sq. ft. after the installer got started. The project utilized a combination of Redi-Rock 28 in., 41 in. and 60 in. retaining wall blocks, freestanding blocks, columns, steps and caps.

"After a while, people coming up the drive started saying, 'Look at the mountain they built that house on' before they said, "Look at that house,'" Frank Bowen of Piedmont Precast said. "It's been great exposure for us."

To create a polished look at the front of the house, Piedmont installed column blocks integrated with wrought iron fencing to top off the 39 feet tall reinforced wall. The same look follows down the driveway with freestanding walls, columns and fencing. In the steeply sloping backyard, gravity retaining walls create level areas for gardens and support a waterfall feature. Used in conjunction with natural stone and pavers, the backyard hardscaping creates a peaceful oasis for relaxing or entertaining.

The French Chateau was awarded the Silver Award for best home in the category of $5 million and above at the annual OBIE Awards from the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association in November, 2008. The OBIE Award is the highest recognition a Builder can receive for new home construction in Atlanta. The real estate office listing the $5.9 million home features the 10,000 square feet of “European Cobble Walls” as a selling point for the Authentic French Estate. The home sits on a private 1.5 acre lot and its landscape features a heated swimming pool, spa, waterfall, fireplace, patio and gardens.

"It was great to work with this developer and know that our product is up to his high standards," Bowen said. "If the look meets his standards, it could work in any high-end development."

Case Studies