Check with your city building codes department about wall footing requirements for your city. And ask the guy who gave you the brochure to explain how it can need less footing etc than traditional materials. When the *manufacturer* says maximum recommended height is 3 feet, he's got some explaining to do. "Engineered" usually means with rebar, concrete, mortar and deeper footings than a short stacked and glued wall.

kgolby- Can't comment on the cost of Rico Rock vs sheer descents for your part of the country. I'm in Louisiana and knew I wanted Rico Rock for the natural look I was after. After working closely with Rico Rock on the selection of boulders/waterfalls for my design, they provided a list of local builders that have experience with their products. Rico Rock only sells to distributors/PB's and the price of their products are region specific. What I like about Rico Rock is their natural look and exact dimensions so you can design the "look" of your poolscape on paper and know exactly what you are going to get. Also, their waterfalls work great and are designed to sheet perfectly at specified gpm's and drain down when off so there is no standing water. It all depends on the look you want. Personally, I think sheer descents look to contrived for a natural poolscape and they go better with symmetric roman style designs but to each his own. My experience was the Rico Rock product was about twice as much as natural boulders or other type of water features such as sheer descents. The PB told me that they double the price of the waterfall kit to account for installation, labor and materials for a structural kit. I did not have any modular kits, because I didn't like the look of them as much as the structural, but I would expect the labor to be less because they are easier to install than the structural kits. The structural kits require more concrete, rebar, shaping and custom mortar work. It took 3 guys plus me an entire month to finish all the Rico Rock waterfalls and boulder placement around the pool! They commented if the waterfalls were modular, it would have taken them 1 week tops to complete everything and move on to the next job. Hope this helps!

Weep holes are seldom done in residential construction in my experience. I have never seen a code requiring them(could be though). While they are recommended in commercial construction, they are part of a drainage system of through wall flashing & often a mortar baffle that helps keep the weep holes clear of mortar. The flashing intercepts any water & directs it to the weeps. I would not add weep holes to a wall not designed for them. I doubt if they would work & would more likely cause trouble or damage. If their are no water issues at this point their most likely won't be.

The climber supports were just wire from B+Q, they are attached to wooden posts at either side of the wall, I've just used tacks (like a U-shaped nail, like a croquet hoop!) ... I should have used Barrek Strainer so that the wire could be tightened, not that they have become lose but I just think they would have been better. I saw a cool idea for a climber (think it was on chelsea), it was basically wood 2x2's place in a Jenga style against the wall, looked great. as for the waterfall, no, not done anything with it, although i have now found a company who will make a steal lip for the water to flow out of the brick.