Looks fine to me.
That new sienna-coloured pressure-treated wood sure looks pretty. This piece was about as strong as wet drywall, but pretty nonetheless.
Battle of the bulge
Despite the experts’ and inspector’s opinions, 2×8 studs on 12″ centres can NOT support an 8′ backfill height. In layman’s terms? Double up the studs or be ok with the north wall eventually collapsing.
If I could turn back time…
The longer of two retaining walls we built to assist the house in the difficult task of not falling over.
Teamwork
Milly and Carson move crushed rock from the drop pile down to the bottom of the step footings.
Water runs uphill
Using the tractor to grab water from Chris and Jacqueline’s to make a footing pad for a basement post that had to be added.
How deep is a hole?
Carson spreads crushed gravel deep in the step-footing trenches.
Steppes
Step footings are dug out. With a walkout basement you have to step down a max of 24″ at a time, with 4′ in between each step. Makes for some fun digging and forming!