Question
I would like to install a stone patio off of my deck, but the yard slopes away. To bring up the grade to meet level with the bottom of the last step of deck I will be building a retaining wall. Retaining wall is about 20' away from deck and the wall will stand about 32" high. The deepest part to fill in will be no more than the 32" high wall and quickly tappers down towards the deck. My question to you is, what is the proper way to fill in this area after wall is built so I can properly install a patio on top of it?   Thank you

Answer
Chris, First walls over 30" above finished grade (from lowest point of soil to highest point of wall) require a hand rail by code in most places. So keep that in mind. It would behoove you to try and make wall less than 30" if any inspectors will be out.

Now, as to filling behind the wall: place the soil by whatever means you have and compact it in 6" "lifts". "Lifts" are essentially layers. Spread out the dirt with a bobcat (skid-steer loader) or by wheel barrel and then compact it with a vibratory compactor. You can rent these at any good tool rental place. They fit in any small pick up and take two strong adults to load and unload. You will push the compactor across the loose soil and run it back and forth slowly till the ground is well compacted. I would go over the entire area three to four times and do not more than four to six inch layers between each compaction. If you are using a bobcat type loader to do this work the weight of the machine is often enough compaction. You can never have too much compaction when planning to build on top.
If it rains after you finish I would always allow the soil to dry out for several days before pouring concrete to ensure the soil below does not shrink significantly and crack the concrete/stone patio.
Also do not try to run a compactor or bobcat on wet soil it wont work well.

Best of Luck.
Sean J Murphy