Can You Fix A Leaning Retaining Wall?

Contact us today and speak with one of our estimators!

Retaining walls are built to hold back the earth and prevent a steep slope from eroding during extreme weather, like too much rain. With improper construction of a retaining wall, it may begin to lean and look like it will fall over on its own weight at any moment. The good news is that many techniques can be used to stop this from happening or make necessary repairs to a Retaining Wall.

It’s always better for your safety to contact a professional retaining wall contractor who has experience in building and repairing retaining walls. At TKB Retaining Walls, we know what needs to be done without having to consult with anyone else or invest in costly labor hours and materials trying different things until something works.

Bid & Quote Submission

When an old retaining wall begins to lean, there are a couple of options that can get it leveled out again:

“Bent and Bent Plus” is one common system in use. It’s a process of stacking large pieces of stone with their tops each parallel to opposite sides of the wall, as well as onto each other. The idea behind this type of leveling is that it will add weight on top, bringing all the parts down into a straight line again.

Another common method to level a Retaining Wall is “Remove and Replace.” This type of repair will remove the old wall, pour a new concrete base along the old foundation, and then rebuild it with updated stones. The professionals recommend this as a safer way to ensure that everything is done right away without having to worry about any future safety or structural issues.

It’s always advised to consult with professionals and get a second opinion on the best method if you’re not sure what you should do. Remember, all retaining walls are built for a reason, and following their original design will be an investment in your home’s safety and enjoyment.

When retaining walls are not properly constructed, the materials they are supporting may cause them to collapse. Wall damage, while not often fatal to the health of an individual, is usually distressing. You can resolve it gradually so that you have time to repair or call for help. Retaining walls, which can be built of anything from earth to metal to concrete, are susceptible to rapid failure because of lateral pressure.

Sometimes aging retaining walls will begin leaning towards a neighbor’s property or a street. In many cases, trees may begin sprouting from it, severely jeopardizing the structural integrity of the wall. Sometimes retaining walls can be saved if precautions or repairs are made in enough time. A retaining wall failure might be the entire wall’s collapse. However, there may be indications that the wall is not functioning properly that you can detect in advance. Worn walls and seepage of retained material or structural collapse may result from these conditions. By addressing typical failure concerns, you can prevent your wall from collapsing:

Water pressure can be quite strong on porous or saturated soils/backfill. Drainage tiles or channels, site grading, and a backfill material that drains nicely may help to relieve water accumulation.
Faulty construction or design flaws should be rare. To assist in the design and building of your retaining wall to the particular conditions at the location, hire a reputable, certified, and trained contractor.
Foundation setting before constructing. It’s important to properly compact the dirt beneath the wall. This will prevent settlement, which can result in your wall cracking or collapsing.

A retaining wall may fail for a variety of reasons. They are frequently caused by poor design or a lack of knowledge about the conditions at the site. We recommend inspecting your barrier at least once a year to ensure that it is not on the verge of or subject to failure. A spring inspection will tell you if your wall can withstand spring rainstorms. It’s important to notice if there is anything protruding from any of the blocks or other wall components. Is there a lot of mud at the base of the wall? If so, you might have a drainage issue. A yearly check will help prevent any serious issues from developing.

There Are A Number Of Methods To Avoid Demolishing And Rebuilding Your Retaining Wall

Regrade the land surrounding the wall to direct water flow away from it. This will lessen some of the pressure behind the wall, which might be developing.
To allow for greater surface drainage, drill additional weep holes into the wall.
Reduce the height of the retained substance by regrading. Occasionally, altering the landscaping design to fit within a specified limit based on the wall design is a legitimate option.
You can make the wall more robust by relieving some of the shear stress at the junction between the wall and the ground. This improves overall wall strength. There are two ways to do it:
The second type of tent stake is to drive it into the ground at a distance beyond where you want your tent’s foot end to be.
To strengthen the foundation, add concrete to the mix.

If your wall’s damage is too severe to repair with one of the methods listed above, you’ll need to dig. The cost will be determined by the degree of the damage. Tiebacks will provide support and stabilize the wall. However, this will need additional planning and may necessitate deep digging to anchor the tiebacks in their proper location. Tiebacks increase the wall’s strength. Drain tiles along the bottom of the wall, as well as gravel beds behind and beneath it, can improve drainage. This removes trapped water and ice from behind the wall, reducing stress on it and causing failure.

The simplest approach to avoid a retaining wall failure is to build the wall for the site conditions, such as topography, weather, and soil properties, and enable it to do its job safely. It is always an option to rebuild and repair the errors. However, it might be expensive and necessitate excavation. The wall may often be saved, and starting over isn’t something that happens very frequently. Retaining walls, when rebuilt or strengthened and built appropriately, can last for a long time and provide benefits to your property’s aesthetic appeal and usefulness.

Fast, Affordable Retaining Wall Services!

OUR SERVICE AREAS

TKB CONCRETE AND RETAINING WALLS PROUDLY SERVES THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF TEXAS WITH A COMMITMENT TO SUPERIOR SERVICE:

TEMPLE

KILLEEN

BELTON

Waco

Call for quotes and bid submissions

We pride ourselves on our reputation as The Best CONCRETE AND Retaining Wall Company in the Temple | Killeen | Belton Metro!