Residential Retaining Walls

A retaining wall is a structure designed to restrain and stabilize soils and miscellaneous matter to unnatural slopes. They are most often used when two grade elevations are different yes too close together to have a natural slope between them. This is typically around the backs of houses where you have a walk-out basement and the slope around the side of the house does not create level grade outside the door. Retaining walls can serve a variety of purposes and functions, and can range drastically in height, strength, design, and composition of materials.

Retaining Wall Problem Signs

If you’ve got an older retaining wall, there are a number of potential problems that can happen which could result in them breaking or completely failing and collapsing. Whether this is due to them being designed incorrectly, poorly reinforced, or improperly constructed, they can be occasionally repaired. If the problems are more serious such as the materials degrading or the backfilled area being saturated, it is more likely that they will need to be completely replaced or rebuilt. Failing retaining walls can lead to a number of issues including drainage problems and even basement water issues or crawl space problems.

Retaining walls can fail for many reasons and this doesn’t always result in a sudden failure or collapse. Often a failing retaining wall provides many signs of deterioration or warning signs long before a total failure or collapse. Here are some warning signs to look for:

• Flexural or shear cracking
• Wall is bowed outward
• Settled structures adjacent
• Efflorescence
• Deteriorated materials
• Foundation issues
• Deteriorated or crumbling materials
• Saturated backfill