Step 12 - Grouting the Retaining Wall

Our second concrete pour was very much like the first, but faster. We only needed about 3 yards of concrete, so a smaller mixer was sent. Mark Kennedy did the pumping again. The purpose of grouting is to fill all the blocks of the wall from bottom to top with concrete. The pictures show Mark Kennedy aiming the hose down into the block as the concrete is pumped in. Al Frazer filled in some of the low spots by hand from a bucket. Mike Rossi did the trowel work to get the top smooth and to clean up the spills.

Some rebar is left sticking out where it will go into other concrete that will be poured later. While the concrete was still wet but starting to firm up, Mark Stanfield and Al placed threaded anchor bolts into the top of the blocks. When it is time to start the framing, the bottom plate (a pressure treated piece of lumber) will be secured to the top of the retaining wall with nuts and washers. But that's later. For now the concrete just has to dry and harden a few days before we move on to the next steps. Concrete reaches 90% of its maximum hardness after 7 days and we don't want to risk damaging it before then.