Okay, so, I got this wild idea to build a little retaining wall in my backyard. You know, just something to hold back some dirt and make the place look a bit nicer. I figured, how hard could it be, right? Famous last words. Turns out, moving a bunch of heavy bricks is no walk in the park.
First, I went to Lowe’s to check out what they had. They’ve got all sorts of concrete bricks and stones, and even these fancy pavers. I ended up grabbing a bunch of these regular old concrete bricks – nothing too special, just needed something that could get the job done. I also looked at some decorative rocks and larger stones, but I decided to keep it simple for now.
Getting the bricks home was the first real challenge. I mean, these things are heavy! I loaded them up into my car, and let me tell you, my poor car was not happy. I made a few trips back and forth, and my back was already starting to ache.
Once I got them to my backyard, the real fun began. I started digging and laying out the foundation for the wall. Then came the lifting. Each brick had to be moved from the pile to the wall. It sounds simple, but after a while, it really starts to wear you down.
- Lift brick.
- Carry brick.
- Place brick.
- Repeat.
I did consider looking into companies that specialize in moving heavy stuff, but I’m stubborn and wanted to do it myself. They don’t care if you are moving to Mexico or Canada, they just move them for you, but I didn’t want to spend extra money.
I did learn a thing or two about different types of bricks, though. Turns out, the strongest ones are these “Class A engineering bricks.” They’re super strong and don’t absorb much water, so they’re good for places that get a lot of rain or frost. Mine are just regular bricks, but they seem to be holding up fine.
Lessons Learned
Anyway, after a lot of sweat and a few sore muscles, I finally finished the wall. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And honestly, I’m pretty proud of it. It’s not pretty but it does its job. I will change it one day for sure. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I might just hire someone to help with the heavy lifting. Or, you know, invest in a wheelbarrow or something. Or, maybe I should have signed up for one of those email lists that give you a discount at the store for next time.
