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Grapevine Creek-CS071129Mailing Address: P.O. Box 154551 Trving, TX 75015 -4551 November 29, 2007 Alex Baker 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GLENN TRACY, P.E. Consulting Engineer (972) 254 -4873 (office) (972) 253 -3933 (fax) glenn.tracy @verizon.net (e -mail) Re: Engineering Design & Consultation: Spread Footing Cast -In- Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction GT Project 2007005 Dear Alex: Office Address: 1400 W. Irving Blvd, Suite 404 Irving, TX 75061 Multiple engineering construction reviews of retaining wall construction have been performed. Construction reviews were provided as required for City of Coppell construction approval and as requested by you. The reviews were recommended and were intended only to verify: • Geotechnical design assumptions. • That the wall installer has displayed a proper understanding of the intended design concepts. • That wall installer has shown evidence of proper placement of • Cast -in -place (C.I.P.) concrete forming. • Reinforcing bar (rebar) size, strength and placement. • Retained backfill and gravel drain installation. The reviews were coordinated with you, the contractor to occur: • At completion of excavation. • Pre -pour of the concrete footing • During wall stem form installation. • After footing and after wall stem concreting. • During masonry veneer installation. • After of backfill placement and compaction. • Periodically throughout construction and as requested by you. Some review items were reviewed concurrently; some items were reviewed multiple times. Completed retaining wall structures appeared to conform to the intent of the engineering design plans: • Excavation exposed geology closely paralleled estimated soil characteristics used in the design. • Overall wall geometry closely approximated alignments specified in the original engineering site layout. • Wall lengths and bends matched proposed plan and profile alignments. • Wall heights matched proposed section dimensions. • Footing widths and depths met minimum dimensions or greater, including toe key. • Wall stem widths matched proposed section dimensions, including rear brick ledge. • Weep holes were installed to required spacing and size, or better. Engineering Design & Consultation: Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 • Rebar placement appeared generally adequate: • Rebar size and grade matched specified material characteristics. • Spacing closely approximated specified dimensions. • Lengths and bends provided complete reinforcement coverage. • Final details appeared in general conformance with design and construction plans: • End of wall alignments matched existing grades. Masonry veneers appeared well constructed. November 29, 2007 • Only isolated details remained: • Some final grading remained, especially at the face of the north end's wall bend. • Excavation for the gravel drain and gravel backfilling was yet to be completed at the final review. • Proposed privacy fence construction had not been installed. Retaining wall construction is qualitatively approved. Structure performance is anticipated to meet or exceed project requirements for the anticipated design service life. Please remember - the completed retaining wall is a cast -in -place concrete structure with footing extents five feet behind the face of wall. Refer to the typical section below for graphical description of these elements. Care should be taken to avoid heavy surcharge loads and future excavation near the footing area since reduction in structural integrity or actual damage to the wall may result. Feel free to contact me days at my office if you have questions or need additional information. Sincerely, Glenn Tracy, P.E. ...GLENN TRACY ........................... 66285 tli1% ONAL The seal appearing on this document was authorized by Glenn Tracy, P.E. on November 29, 2007. Engineering Design & Consultation: November 29, 2007 Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 /— Retained Embankment Cast –In –Place (C.I.P.) Concrete Stem Gravel Drain From Finished Grade At Toe To T.O.W., Weep Holes eRq'd -- �\ ° 2 "0 Weep Holes At 48" Spacing \ Finished Grade At Face = Landscaping (Slope To Drain Toward Creek) #4 ® 8" Vertical Spacing #4x36" @ 8" Horizontal Spacing #4 @ 8" Horizontal Spacing 4 Continuous 8ea Req'd In Footing) Typical retaining wall section. Care should be taken to avoid heavy surcharge loads and future excavation near the footing area since reduction in structural integrity or actual damage to the wall may result. Excavation essentially complete but with further construction rain delayed. iUN 28 200 3 Engineering Design & Consultation: November 29, 2007 Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 Wet excavation clearly displayed highly plastic character of in -situ soils. North end footing form board bend installation. Excavation for toe key can be clearly seen. Dried excavation with footing form board installation under way. Excavation for toe key can be clearly seen. 4 �ft:.r yz i tenY� 4' s .. .. s. i,. .. Dried excavation with footing form board installation under way. Excavation for toe key can be clearly seen. 4 Engineering Design & Consultation: Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 Form board placement was straight and well braced. Excavation for toe key can be clearly seen. November 29, 2007 Completed footing forming with cushion sand in place, and with partial rebar placement. Rebar was well supported on concrete "chairs ". Completed footing forming with cushion sand in place, and with partial rebar placement. Rebar was evenly supported on concrete "chairs ". 5 Engineering Design & Consultation: November 29, 2007 Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane CoppeH, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 Completed footing forming with cushion sand and rebar in place at north wall end. Flared rebar alignment indicated high degree of care of construction. Completed footing form and rebar installation waiting concrete placement. Completed footing form and rebar installation waiting concrete placement. Wall stem dowel can be seen extending above footing form levels. 6 Engineering Design & Consultation: Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 Completed footing construction. Wall stem dowel can be seen extending above the footing. November 29, 2007 Wall stem form installation under way. Wall stem horizontal and vertical rebar and weep holes clearly installed between concrete formwork. 7 Engineering Design & Consultation: Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 Completed retaining wall structure with masonry veneer installation under way. 4 q `V.: Masonry veneer at the north end of the retaining wall required unique brick cuts. Uniform, smooth angled brick cuts indicated high degree of care of construction. 8 November 29, 2007 Masonry veneer at the north end of the retaining wall required unique brick cuts. Brick ties can be easily seen in the north end wing wall. w .y in Engineering Design & Consultation: Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 Nearly complete masonry veneer. Crisp cap -brick alignments indicated high degree of care of construction. l Completed masonry veneer and masonry columns for proposed privacy fence viewed from the rear of the retaining wall. 9 November 29, 2007 Nearly complete masonry veneer. Rear face masonry veneer on the rear brick ledge can be easily seen. rrn r �r Engineering Design & Consultation: Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 Completed masonry veneer and masonry columns for proposed privacy fence viewed from the front of the retaining wall. November 29, 2007 Masonry expansion joint at approximate mid -wall length. Uniform, smooth angled brick cuts at the north end of the retaining wall indicated high degree of care of construction. 10 Engineering Design & Consultation: November 29, 2007 Spread Footing Cast -In -Place Concrete Retaining Wall Construction 581 Rocky Branch Lane Coppell, TX 75019 GT Project 2007005 Completed retaining wall, masonry veneer, and masonry columns for proposed privacy fence at the north end of the retaining wall viewed from the back face. Face of wall grading essentially complete with only localized efforts remaining at the north wing wall toe and end. Retained embankment grading essentially complete. 11 _ � jf