What should I do with the Retaining Wall that I have?

It is a question worth a million dollars: should I fix my retaining wall, replace it, or tear it down?

When it comes to the repair or replacement of retaining walls, however, there is no “one size fits all” solution. Everything rides on how the wall is in its current state.

A solidly constructed retaining wall:

Includes a sturdy footing that firmly fixes the wall in its position (18 to 24 inches deep)
Contains CMU Blocks that are outfitted with rebar at regular intervals in order to ensure the building’s structural integrity.
Is capable of withstanding the lateral load due to its strength?
Contains weep holes and does not lean significantly.

On the other hand, a retaining wall that is poorly built:

possesses a weak and insufficient foundation
Does not contain any rebar and was not constructed using brick.
Does not possess any weep holes and displays a significant amount of leanness (8% to 9%).
Has fissures that are more than a quarter of an inch in width.
Bricks are flaking and spalling heavily.

What is meant by the term “retaining wall”?

A retaining wall is a strong and stable barrier that is utilized to support soil laterally in order to “retain” the soil at two distinct levels on either border. These structures are devised with the intention of bringing soil to a slope that would not otherwise exist in its natural state. One of the most common methods of slope stabilization is the construction of retaining walls, which are also used to prevent soil failure. Bulkheads are the names given to the retaining walls that are used to separate land from water.

Should You Have Repairs Made to Your Retaining Wall?

You should consider repairing your retaining wall if doing so will not compromise the wall’s structural integrity and/or if doing so will save you money in comparison to building a new retaining wall. Repairing a retaining wall is not always the least expensive option, despite the fact that this may sound counterintuitive.

When loads are applied to retaining walls that are beyond their capacity to support, the walls eventually give way. The primary cause of this is the soil’s tendency to expand. The amount of water that is saturated into expansive soil causes either expansion or contraction of the soil. The weight of everything increases when it’s exposed to water, and that includes the soil that’s being held in place by your retaining wall. If your retaining wall does not have any weep holes, then it has a high probability of collapsing.

Should You Get a New Retaining Wall for Your Yard?

If the repair to your retaining wall is not feasible or if you find that the cost of building a new retaining wall is less than the cost of repairing the existing one, then you should replace your retaining wall as our recommendation is that you do so. On the other hand, there are a few obstacles that could prevent a repair from being performed, such as objects that might not be worth moving or restricted access.

There are a few possible causes of restricted access:

Trees and other dense vegetation Fences
A second wall that separates the properties.

The fantastic news is that we are one of the very few construction contractors who install helical tiebacks in newly constructed retaining walls. Although not something that happens on a daily basis, this is something that is done quite frequently in Orange County and other areas with excessively expansive soil.

Should You Knock Down the Retaining Wall That You Have?

Almost certainly not. We can only speculate, but there is a good chance that the retaining wall was built for a purpose (hopefully to retain a slope). The odds are good that it was built to retain a slope. The college courses that focused on deductive reasoning turned out to be very beneficial.

It is not a good idea to eliminate the primary source of retention without having a backup plan in place if you do not have the financial means to repair or replace the wall. Even a retaining wall that is falling apart is preferable to having none at all if the hillside slope is not going to be bulldozed or otherwise leveled.

In conclusion:

You should consider repairing your retaining wall if it is in good enough condition to withstand the work and if the cost of the repairs is less than the cost of a complete rebuild.
If the existing retaining wall cannot be saved in any way, you should construct a new one.
If you are not working toward the goal of leveling a surface, you should never, ever, ever remove a retaining wall without first developing an alternative slope stabilization plan.

Our foundation repair specialist will gladly inspect your home to determine whether or not there is a problem with the settlement. In order to fulfill all of your requirements for Foundation Inspection Bloomington and repair, kindly get in touch with RLM Retrofit Foundation.

The Best Practices for Preventing Foundation Settlement Bloomington