ᐅ L-shaped retaining wall boundary construction / concrete wedge protrudes onto my property and fill height
Created on: 18 Dec 2025 23:29
S
Spudder
Good evening everyone,
Our neighbors have just started building with a prefab house provider, supported by a salesperson who is overseeing and organizing the earthworks. Today I noticed that the excavator (who is also placing the L-shaped retaining blocks) has dumped and compacted a lot of gravel on my property. The first two L-blocks have already been set.
Now to the problem:
When I measure down from my lawn edge to the gravel layer, it’s only about 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) deep. From the property boundary into my land, however, between 40-100 cm (16-39 inches) of gravel has been laid.
Hardly anything will grow there, and deep-rooted plants won’t stand a chance, right? Let alone trees.
Also, the concrete wedge is on my side. Because of the maximum 25 cm (10 inches) depth and the additional concrete wedge (about 9 cm (3.5 inches) from the wedge to the top of the lawn), my grass will either dry out or constantly suffer from waterlogging, won’t it?
I’m generally okay with the neighbor laying gravel or placing the wedge on my side, but I would expect the gravel layer to start at least 50-60 cm (20-24 inches) deep. I suspect the L-blocks are too short or too small. Ones that extend deeper into the ground are needed.
Construction will continue tomorrow. What concerns can I raise and, above all, who is in the right here? I would like to express my concerns before it’s too late. How do you assess the situation?
Our neighbors have just started building with a prefab house provider, supported by a salesperson who is overseeing and organizing the earthworks. Today I noticed that the excavator (who is also placing the L-shaped retaining blocks) has dumped and compacted a lot of gravel on my property. The first two L-blocks have already been set.
Now to the problem:
When I measure down from my lawn edge to the gravel layer, it’s only about 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) deep. From the property boundary into my land, however, between 40-100 cm (16-39 inches) of gravel has been laid.
Hardly anything will grow there, and deep-rooted plants won’t stand a chance, right? Let alone trees.
Also, the concrete wedge is on my side. Because of the maximum 25 cm (10 inches) depth and the additional concrete wedge (about 9 cm (3.5 inches) from the wedge to the top of the lawn), my grass will either dry out or constantly suffer from waterlogging, won’t it?
I’m generally okay with the neighbor laying gravel or placing the wedge on my side, but I would expect the gravel layer to start at least 50-60 cm (20-24 inches) deep. I suspect the L-blocks are too short or too small. Ones that extend deeper into the ground are needed.
Construction will continue tomorrow. What concerns can I raise and, above all, who is in the right here? I would like to express my concerns before it’s too late. How do you assess the situation?
M
MachsSelbst20 Dec 2025 21:03schubert79 schrieb:
I understand your concerns. From my practical experience, I can assure you that grass will grow without any problems, and even simple plants or shrubs that cover the L-shaped retaining blocks will thrive. Besides, you shouldn’t, can’t, or want to plant a large thick tree there anyway. Nature will find its way. So why should he tolerate an almost 1m (3 ft) wide gravel foundation on his property that isn’t needed for the L-shaped blocks at all? Always remember, once you accept it now, you won’t be able to demand its removal after a few years. Then it will be too late.
And the neighbor will continue to think in the future that they can do whatever they want since no one says anything.
U
uweuweuwe27 Dec 2025 12:57Hello,
to be honest, if someone wants to do something on my property, they should talk to me beforehand, and we will definitely find a solution. If they haven’t done that, then it needs to be discussed now. My willingness to cooperate at this point is quite limited. Legally, I think the matter is clear!
That doesn’t mean, of course, that we can’t have a polite conversation.
Good luck!
to be honest, if someone wants to do something on my property, they should talk to me beforehand, and we will definitely find a solution. If they haven’t done that, then it needs to be discussed now. My willingness to cooperate at this point is quite limited. Legally, I think the matter is clear!
That doesn’t mean, of course, that we can’t have a polite conversation.
Good luck!