“boiler plate” specification drawings on line.

Elaine our specifications did not cover retaining walls but they are definitely boiler plate and have been vetted through a review process cover soils, planting, irrigation, and tree protection. You can download them and their associated details at the ISA website or ours. http://www.urbantree.org.

How tall is the wall? What are the soil properties? Is there surcharge at the top of the wall?

Your state’s DOT or the FHWA has some standard drawings, which may help.

Also, send me a message, I can tell you more about the CAD details package.

I can totally believe you are still hand drawing. Many professionals still are – in fact, I think it sells better. That being said, you simply cannot beat the production power of CAD programs. I believe the time saver standards concise would be useful even to someone who only does hand drawings.

If you need to write really detailed specs, you can use Massachusetts’ Department of Transportation’s spec book as a template for most things. Just copy, paste, then tailor the specs to your needs. CSI is obviously available, but you’re going to pay for it unfortunately. I find DOT specs to be very easy to work with as you can learn their typology, and use it to call out structural components such as footings. Engineers will love you for this. Here is a link to the specs: Look at section 7 (700) Incidental work – around page 127 of the PDF. This should include state standards of landscapey type installs. Best part? ITS FREE!  https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/8/docs/88specs/division2.pdf

Now as far as the drawings are concerned, I would definitely make use of the Time Savers. Worth EVERY penny.