Repairing a damaged cinder block wall

Question

Our backyard backs up to a parking lot. Someone bumped the cinder block wall with a heavy truck and about 8 of the cinder blocks broke in a 'v' formation. We have two dogs and I need the security of the yard for their protection. Any ideas on creating a dog safe space and how I can have this repaired?

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

I would get an estimate from a couple different contractors and then call your insurance agent about your homeowners if the damage is significant. Backing up to a parking lot you definitely want to keep your dogs safe so I would make sure to have a fence or wall so that no one can stick their hands through to tease your dogs. If insurance doesn't cover, I would think about 8' privacy fence panels with 6x6' posts cemented in the ground to replace the cinder blocks or in front of the cinder blocks if they are not yours. 
Then I would think about motion detector lights in the back yard for your dogs and for you if you should have to go out. 
Now for fixing the cinder block wall yourself you could try and I am not saying this will work but it is a thought- take a 2x4 or 1x4 or larger board and lay it flat on the cinder blocks then use a sledge hammer (this will take 2 people) and gently try to tap the cinder blocks back in place by hitting the boards to absorb the shock of the hammer. These are my ideas. good luck

Moxie · Answer

Tske the wall down one piece at a time from the top at the widest part of the v plus a few diwn and they replace with new ones

Hope Williams · Answer

Hi Barbara.  First, contact the owner of the parking lot.  See if they would be willing to put up some concrete posts at each spot.  So the they would hit the post versus your wall.  Second, contact your homeowners insurance.  See if this is covered.  I say this so that when / if this happens again, someone gets hurt, they are not in the dark.  Make sense?  Thirdly, as stated above get a few estimates and proceed with advisement of your homeowners.  We had a similar issue with a parking lot sign that kept getting run over.  Finally the owner of the shopping center put up a concrete barrier around the sign pole.  It went up the sign 4 ft. So it was visible for all drivers including semi's.  Let the insurance big dogs figure it out while you hound them daily!

Barbara · Answer

Great Ideas, and thanks Hope for your help.  I am in the process of contacting my home owners insurance but today we have a full day, so further contact will have to wait until late this afternoon or tomorrow morning. I will contact the owners of the parking lot but they already have concrete stops in place. Larger vehicles tires with hitches don't touch the stop until the hitch has hit the wall, So I want the cylinder stops that go up three or four feet so the truck bumper hits that before it gets close to the wall. WalGreens has them and so do other retailers in the area.Naturally I don't want this to reoccur, but my immediate concern is the safety of my dogs. I've walked them on leish in the backyard for two days now for them to have bathroom opportunities, but they enjoy running around our large backyard in nice weather and come in when every they want to plop on a couch or get a drink, now I've had to lock our doggie door so they won't run into the parking lot and get hit. I wedged some boards and screened it off as best I can but it isn't a very secure solution for our animals.

LD · Answer

I'm pretty sure there should be coverage for this under your homeowner insurance policy. Get bids from masonry contractor for options for repairing this wall. If there is land on the other side that you own, I would recommend putting in some kind of barrier so this doesn't happen again.

Sarah A. Victory · Answer

A good Brick Mason does this type work. Whom ever is on the other side of your property ( residential or business) should also take some kind of precautions/responsibility to see that this doesn't happen again. Talk to your insurance person about this liability.Keep those pets safe. Good luck!

Sarah A. Victory · Answer

These accident repairs take too much time depending on what you have going on.The last claim I filed-- a U-Haul Truck pulling a Vehicle did a # on my yard and concrete edging for my shrub beds.It was said it was because of medication. Wouldn't you know I was in the process of selling my home. I had to wait for the temp to warm up for the concrete mortar and wait as there were only 2 guys in Middle Tenn that did the residential concrete curbing and only one could match the edging mold aaaand I was going through a divorce. Talk about high anxiety! That which does not kill us makes us stronger. :) I am sooo strong.

Barbara · Answer

I have the insurance company working on this, they will contact the shopping center on the back of our wall to get their money back for repairs and not providing adequate protection for the entire length of this wall (approximated 10 homes backup to this property all of whom have the cinder block as I do.) I need to contact masonry companies for estimates. Thanks everyone for your input!

Repairing a damaged cinder block wall

Suggested Project Book

See How 30 Clever Gardeners Make Their Hostas Thrive

Other

More

Repairing a damaged cinder block wall

Suggested Project Book

Related Discussions