How To Repair A Cinder Block Retaining Wall

• Lawn & Garden

Repairing a Retaining Wall

Read expert tips on how to repair a retaining wall—a landscaping wall that can exist used to retain earth after an excavation.

Photo: fotosearch.com

Walls, normally thought of equally interior design elements, are useful in landscaping, likewise. A landscaping wall tin exist freestanding to define an area, to provide a garden backdrop, or to create privacy. Or a landscaping wall can be used to retain earth after an excavation, such as for a driveway or patio. In the latter case, they're called retaining walls.

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Causes of Retaining Wall Problems

Retaining walls have to work a lot harder than freestanding walls. In improver to supporting their own weight, they must resist lateral forces due to the soil existence retained. Sometimes that soil is saturated with water, which tin build tremendous strength, especially with deadening-to-drain, expansive dirt soils.

Consequently, special provisions are made—or should be made—when building a retaining wall:

• It should accept a "batter", or pitch, and then it leans toward the soil information technology's retaining.
• Tie-backs, also called expressionless-man anchors, should exist installed to tie the wall into soil well backside the wall.
• Drains should be laid behind the human foot of the wall to move h2o away, before pressure can build upwards and push against the wall.
• Footings, or a bed of compacted gravel, must as well exist used to support the wall, especially if the soil is loose or subject to freezing.

If there is no batter, or the anchors were inadequate or missing, or if the drains have go clogged, or if the base is not firm, a retaining wall may begin to tilt, settle, or buckle. Tree roots may add together to the pressure level besides; so can the weight of items placed on the ground to a higher place and behind the wall (e.g., parked vehicles or an outbuilding).

Retaining Wall Repair Options

Whether a retaining wall is congenital of stone, block, concrete or wood, it can begin to lean. When this occurs, the homeowner has two choices: either demolish the wall, re-excavate, re-install drains and rebuild, or call in a foundation repair specialist.

A professional can apace stabilize the wall and in many cases pull it dorsum into its original position. Foundation repair companies are accustomed to fixing foundation walls using similar techniques.

Photo: flickr.com

Anchoring a Retaining Wall

I method used by foundation repair contractors that has gained widespread acceptance is to use helical anchors.

• Helix-shaped blades are welded to steel shafts to form an anchor that looks a bit similar a behemothic screw.
• Holes are cut in the wall to adjust the blade diameter, and so hydraulic rotary equipment is used to drive the anchor through the wall and deep into the banking concern of soil backside.
• A threaded adaptor that extends past the wall face is then attached to the rod and the hole is patched.
• Finally, a steel plate is placed over the threaded rod and secured with a large nut.

When this is washed with the appropriate number of anchors, the wall is stabilized. Depending upon the state of affairs, the nuts can be gradually tightened to move the wall dorsum to its original position.

The use of helical anchors to restore a retaining wall is significantly less expensive than tearing down the wall and starting over. Information technology is besides far less disruptive, especially if the wall is alongside your driveway!

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Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/retaining-wall-repair/

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