Maintaining Your Retaining Wall

A retaining wall can not only add curb appeal, but it also helps to protect your home, business, and property. Aside from the added aesthetics of  retaining walls, the main purpose of a retaining wall is to keep the soil from sliding downhill, making maintaining your retaining wall crucial.

This is especially important for the soil around foundations. If the soil surrounding a foundation moves too much, it can lead to foundation problems. So here are a few ways homeowners in Orange County can maintaining their existing retaining wall, or knowing when it’s time to repair it.

Retaining Wall Maintenance

There are several steps that you can take while maintaining your retaining wall:

1. Switch soil for gravel. Gravel allows water to drain quickly and won’t expand like soil does when water is present. This will ensure that your retaining wall isn’t prone to excessive expanding and contracting, giving your wall a longer lifespan.
2. Install a drain tile. By installing a drain tile, you can reduce water levels around your retaining wall and keep it safe from water damage and pressure.
3. Prevent blow out failure. When too much soil is added on top of the retaining wall, it causes the wall to lean forward. Eventually, the soil will get too heavy and the wall will fall. FOUNDATIONS ON THE LEVEL can install helical tiebacks to prevent this from happening.

What if problems still occur?

When we need to repair a retaining wall, we often use helical tiebacks to pull back and add strength to leaning retaining walls. This process is quick and simple, yet adds extra strength and stability.

1. Install Tiebacks. These tiebacks are installed into retained soil with our portable and lightweight drilling equipment.
2. Tension and Place. Once the tiebacks retain the right capacity ratio of the soil strength, they are tensioned and put in place.

Advantages of using this process include:

• Immense strength and capacity to stabilize a retaining wall
• Unaffected by weather conditions
• No need for curing time or cleanup
• Quick and simple installation process
• Tiebacks can be extracted for future project use

If your retaining wall need of repair, contact us for a free report and estimate! We serve Orange County and San Diego Counties.