Retaining walls fail when water builds up behind them with no way out. The pressure pushes them forward, cracks the face, and eventually tips them. We repair walls that are failing and build new ones with the drainage they need.
What you’ll notice
- A wall leaning forward or bulging in the middle
- Cracks, loose blocks or stones, and gaps between sections
- Soil or water coming through the face of the wall
- Ground sinking behind the wall
Why it happens
Saturated clay behind a wall weighs far more than dry soil. Walls built without gravel backfill, a drain pipe and weep holes have nothing to relieve that pressure.
What we check on the inspection
- How far the wall has moved, measured
- Drainage behind the wall, if there is any
- What it is built from and how it is built
- Whether it can be repaired or needs rebuilding
How it gets fixed
Rebuild failing sections with proper footing, gravel backfill, a drain pipe and filter fabric. Repair mortar, blocks and concrete caps. New walls are designed for the height and the load, in block, stone or poured concrete.
