quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
Being in this area, you can also buy directly from some of the manufacturers. Kirchner/Midwest Block & Brick for example.

I'll second that.
I had a really big retaining wall to build about 10 years ago, that takes quite a bit of water pressure behind it, so it had to have some drain pipe behind it and I had to use 'square footers', the big ones from versa-lok.

I did get a great deal on some cosmetic 'blemished' block at their "yard sale", (basically color swirls where the color didn't mix completely) but they still look great. I just buried most of the blemishes in the first course and saved a bunch of money on the whole project. They were very reasonable on delivery and placement at the site of 10 large pallets of block.

Yours seems more cosmetic so your choices may be much more variable... but I think it will be worth your time to go out there and talk to them:

Kirchner Block & Brick Inc
Landscaping Supply Store
Bridgeton, MO
(314) 291-3200

Back filling those beds against the house brick can cause water infiltration through the mortar joints of the brick if the water can't get out of the bed fast enough.

quote:

Originally posted by BigWhup:
Back filling those beds against the house brick can cause water infiltration through the mortar joints of the brick if the water can't get out of the bed fast enough.

The top level of the wall will be even with the lower most brick, so I will only be backfilling against the concrete foundation, not brick. Or at least that's my plan....

That's the best bet. I have used Thompson's to seal the mortar sort of as a better than nothing option, but definitely not below grade.

My mom's house had some water infiltrating into her patio room, so no know where it was coming from I sprayed some Thompson's on the first couple of brick layers above the slab.