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5 feet 7 inches  
#1 Posted : Wednesday, February 26, 2025 3:41:55 PM(UTC)
5 feet 7 inches

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Folks:

I see this topic has come up before, but I haven't found a solution. I'm trying to create a berm terminated by an L-shaped retaining wall such that the topography would start at the top of the retaining wall (without rising behind it) sloping down to grade (0' elevation) a few feet in front of the wall. Imagine the retaining wall running parallel to a walkway; the walkway should be at grade, the retaining wall should run right along the edge of the walkway, the berm should start at the top of the retaining wall and slop away pretty steeply (in 5'-10' max) back to grade.

No matter how I try, I can't create that vertical rise of topography / terrain right next to the retaining wall. I can create a fairly steep "hill", but I can't get to perfectly vertical. Confused

I >have< been able to put a ground cover region at the level of the top of the retaining wall, but I have not been successful at connecting that to properly sloping terrain to make it look right. I must be doing something "wrong."

I am using Home & Landscape Designer Architectural Series.

Berm-Failed-02.png (518kb) downloaded 6 time(s).
Berm-Failed-01.png (334kb) downloaded 2 time(s).
5 feet 7 inches  
#2 Posted : Wednesday, February 26, 2025 3:50:38 PM(UTC)
5 feet 7 inches

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I see that one of my images didn't upload.

Here's the 2D design view of the wall and contours I've added in this test file.

FWIW, I've tried other methods like "Excavating" with a positive elevation and adding slope (eek!)

Berm-Failed-03.png (86kb) downloaded 3 time(s).

FWIW, I got fairly close by placing a freehand roof at ground level and covering it with grass. RollEyes
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#3 Posted : Wednesday, February 26, 2025 3:51:25 PM(UTC)
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Hello,

When you post questions at the Forum, please inform the exact name (Architectural Series or Essentials, etc) and version number of your program (V15 or V18 or V21, etc).
On the PC you will find this information in the main menu => Help => About…
On the Mac this info is on the title menu => About…

Note that you mentioned Architectural series but you posted your question in the Home and landscape Studio section.

Different programs and versions include different features, so we need the information in order to provide the correct solutions.

Please, note that, if we don't have this information, we can't answer your questions.

Thank you for your understanding.
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5 feet 7 inches  
#4 Posted : Wednesday, February 26, 2025 3:55:37 PM(UTC)
5 feet 7 inches

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Thanks for that quick reply and for correcting my newbie-ness.

Version: 24.0.0.1013.

Should I repost in the correct forum?
Link to this post?
Can I move it to the right forum?
Can you?
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#5 Posted : Wednesday, February 26, 2025 3:59:11 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: 5 feet 7 inches Go to Quoted Post
Can I move it to the right forum? Can you?

No problem. Done!ThumpUp
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5 feet 7 inches  
#6 Posted : Wednesday, February 26, 2025 4:00:35 PM(UTC)
5 feet 7 inches

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You got skillz! BigGrin
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#7 Posted : Wednesday, February 26, 2025 4:01:10 PM(UTC)
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BigGrin Thanks!
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Patricia G.  
#8 Posted : Wednesday, February 26, 2025 4:35:43 PM(UTC)
Patricia G.

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Hi there,

Originally Posted by: 5 feet 7 inches Go to Quoted Post
I see this topic has come up before
Yes, you are correct. The answer starts with an important concept: the Retaining Walls don't stop the topography.

In your case, I'd suggest that you use a combination of tools, such as the building pads + smooth. The excavation tool is useless here.
Punch, as any program, has a learning curve. A good way to learn the program, IMO, is practice + practice + practice => Read, search and follow the User Guide (this is important) => try to create elements not related with your project, so you will become familiar with the commands and how to manage the different components.
You will find lots of images and resources in my website www.punchhelpers.com

Hope this helps.
Patricia G.- Forum Moderator
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5 feet 7 inches  
#9 Posted : Thursday, February 27, 2025 4:21:38 PM(UTC)
5 feet 7 inches

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Originally Posted by: Patricia G. Go to Quoted Post
Hi there,

Originally Posted by: 5 feet 7 inches Go to Quoted Post
I see this topic has come up before
Yes, you are correct. The answer starts with an important concept: the Retaining Walls don't stop the topography.


Thank you, Patricia.

According to the manual:
Retaining walls can be used to create raised planting beds, to line an above-ground swimming pool, to separate two varied height areas in a lot, and more.

In the image on that same manual page it clearly suggests that a retaining wall should constrain topography. Huh

BTW: The Build Pad suggestion seems reasonable, except it too isn't behaving as the manual suggests it should.



Patricia G.  
#10 Posted : Thursday, February 27, 2025 9:04:02 PM(UTC)
Patricia G.

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Originally Posted by: 5 feet 7 inches Go to Quoted Post
Thank you, Patricia.
You're welcome! Cool

Originally Posted by: 5 feet 7 inches Go to Quoted Post
According to the manual:
Retaining walls can be used to create raised planting beds, to line an above-ground swimming pool, to separate two varied height areas in a lot, and more.
In the image on that same manual page it clearly suggests that a retaining wall should constrain topography. Huh
Yes, the retaining walls can be used to create raised planting beds or to line an above-ground swimming pool, because in these cases, the topography was already created.
Regarding the image, if you see a similar image (see below), you will notice that actually, the walls are not stopping the topography.

retaing walls.JPG (54kb) downloaded 1 time(s).

The retaining walls are just walls. Notice that an isolated retaining wall doesn’t stop the topography. If you have my eBook for V24, please check all the tutorials about this issue, including the settings explained on page 47.

Originally Posted by: 5 feet 7 inches Go to Quoted Post
BTW: The Build Pad suggestion seems reasonable, except it too isn't behaving as the manual suggests it should.
What do you mean? Confused

Hope this helps
Patricia G.- Forum Moderator
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5 feet 7 inches  
#11 Posted : Thursday, February 27, 2025 9:37:39 PM(UTC)
5 feet 7 inches

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Hey, how do you insert images like that? I found the Add Image button confusing... like I had to have uploaded the image somewhere beforehand and paste the URL in.

I'm attaching a snippet from the manual in this attachment.
Retaining Wall Manual Page.png (301kb) downloaded 2 time(s).
That really looks like the retaining wall is holding back the topography / terrain.

To answer your other question about the Build Pad, the manual reads "Convert to Build Pad button creates a flat area regardless of topography lines that exist." In my case, it didn't create the flat area, though I didn't play with it long.

In the end, I was able to work around what I'm convinced >is< a bug by using the Excavate Topography tool. I used contour lines to raise the topography up to the top of the retaining wall, then excavated at the outside edge of the wall back down to 0'. It's >very< fiddly, but it came close enough for me to move on.

Patricia G.  
#12 Posted : Thursday, February 27, 2025 9:55:35 PM(UTC)
Patricia G.

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Glad to know the issue is solved.BigGrin

Check this post "How to post images in the Forum"
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thanks 1 user thanked Patricia G. for this useful post.
5 feet 7 inches on 2/27/2025(UTC)
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