When Retaining Walls Fail

Somewhere in our persistent quest to reorder Mother Nature and carve out the perfect space for our homes, we came up with the retaining wall – a structure specifically designed to hold or “retain” soil behind it. Believe it or not, four types of retaining walls used in modern construction exist.  

The most basic structure is the gravity retaining wall, which uses sheer weight and mass to hold the soil at bay. These are usually constructed from bricks, pavers and mortared stones that are dry-stacked. The cantilevered retaining wall is reinforced with steel bars that run through concrete or masonry. These are affixed to a slab foundation that goes under the soil in an “L” shape. Although exceptionally strong, these are more common in commercial applications. 

The sheet piling retaining wall is a good choice when space is an issue. This method uses a thin wall of steel, wood or vinyl driven directly into the soil. Lastly is the anchored retaining wall. With this type, the homeowner chooses from several “front” options that are supported by anchors driven into the ground behind them and then attached by straps or cables. 

So now that you know more than you thought possible about retaining walls, what happens when they break down or need repairs? As you can imagine, it’s a serious issue that cannot afford to be left unattended. Retaining walls usually fail for one of two reasons – either improper water drainage or improper construction. For the latter, we most commonly see walls that never had proper footers installed, didn’t use rebar or didn’t fill empty cells (as with concrete block walls) where needed.

A damaged retaining wall may appear to be leaning or have cracks. When retaining wall repairs are called for, they must be done properly and immediately. Unfortunately, more often than not, failing or collapsing retaining walls will have to be removed and replaced. Sometimes the issue can be solved with structural tiebacks (Wolfe Construction does not do this type of repair). Something else to keep in mind – while your property may benefit from an existing retaining wall, it is the owner of the property on which the retaining wall sits that is ultimately responsible for its upkeep, maintenance and repair. Retaining wall repairs are also one of those issues we do not recommend as a DIY project. This is one case where you want to call a qualified professional. 

The best way to maintain retaining walls on your property is to ensure proper water drainage is installed and working properly. Regularly monitor for signs of cracks in the wall. If you do notice cracks, call a professional right away to assess and address the situation before it gets worse. As always, let us know if there is anything we can do to help.