Q&A /

How To Repair a Cracked Retaining Wall

Quick Column Summary:

  • Cracked physical retaining wall on dwelling house
  • Was steel installed, or installed incorrectly
  • Gear up with steel plates or helical wall anchors
  • Get the correct installer to practise the job

DEAR TIM: Thirteen years ago, a long poured physical retaining wall was installed when our domicile was built. We didn't hire the builder and have come up to notice he built the abode and wall using poor construction methods. Believe it or non, there are no building code inspections in this role of my country. Do nosotros have to tear down the retaining wall and start over? The soil here is a deep clay and I wonder if the wall is substandard and tin can't concur the weight of the soil. What would accept prevented the horrible cracks or minimized them? What are my repair options at this bespeak? John O., Jefferson City, MO

DEAR JOHN: The issues yous're having with your retaining wall are very similar to those folks accept with poured concrete and concrete block foundation walls. Based on the photos you sent me, I've got expert news for you.Your retaining wall can be stabilized and hold back that clay soil for many many years! The best office is the work can exist done in just one or two days. You do not have to tear downward the wall and start over.

These are severe cracks in a poured concrete retaining wall. There are ways to stabilize the wall without tearing it down and starting over. Photo Credit: John Oliveras

These are astringent cracks in a poured concrete retaining wall. At that place are ways to stabilize the wall without vehement it down and starting over. Photo Credit: John Oliveras

There are towns very shut to where I alive in New Hampshire that have the same situation yous accept with respect to the edifice code. In the towns near me, the person applying for the permit signs a certificate saying he'll build the house to code, but at that place are no inspections. There's no doubt in my mind many many houses congenital under these weather condition have significant lawmaking violations. I see them all the time here when I stop past construction sites.

When you couple that reality with the fact that the building code is a prepare of minimum standards, y'all have the perfect tempest for future repair problems. Well-nigh people don't realize that building a home to code is like getting a 70 percent on a test. It means you barely pass. Believe me, you can contain building practices and standards that far surpass the edifice code.

For example, the cracks in your retaining wall tell me the builder didn't install vertical steel rods, or if he did he placed them in the incorrect position, he didn't utilise enough steel, or the steel used was the wrong size.

The clay soil pushing confronting the back of the wall does two things. It tries to tip the wall over and it tin can cause the wall to bend or bow in the center. This bending of the wall can also happen if the wall is being tipped over by the soil. Placing 5/8-inch diameter vertical steel bars 16 inches on center and that are about 2 inches abroad from the side of the concrete wall that'southward in contact with the clay soil would take actually helped to foreclose the cracks. A structural engineer is the best person to design where the steel bars should be placed.

To repair your wall, you're going to get in contact with several companies that specialize in repairing foundation walls. I've worked with these companies for years, and many accept great methods that will stabilized the concrete wall.

One of the solutions may comprise large galvanized steel plates that are placed on the exposed part of the retaining wall. A hole is drilled through the concrete wall and a long  threaded rod is driven through the wall and into the soil behind the wall. The contractor digs a hole and places another big plate in the soil at the other end of the threaded rod. The threaded rod is continued to both plates with big nuts.

The plate in the soil provides resistance equally the retaining wall tries to fall away or tip over. Using a large wrench, you can tighten the nuts on the threaded rod and pull the wall back into position over a period of months.

I happen to adopt the use of helical wall anchors. These are giant screws that bore into the soil backside the retaining wall. When connected to the galvanized plates on the exposed side of the retaining wall, they not only will stabilize the wall, just the anchors can also pull the wall back into it'southward original position.

Your contractor may want to dig backside the retaining wall in order to make some of the repairs. While it's non e'er necessary to exercise this, it can help prevent futurity issues. If there's not great drainage behind the wall, now would be the time to install information technology.

Once the wall is stabilized you can inject the cracks with concrete repair epoxy. If the concrete crack surfaces are clean or can be cleaned, the epoxy will bond with a ferocious grip. If you take your time installing this product you lot may be able to tool information technology and sprinkle on some fresh Portland cement pulverization to disguise the cracks.

When yous interview contractors for this task, be sure to ask for references from three to five years agone. You desire to talk to by customers who can attest the repair methods are working. A contempo customer won't exist able to requite you this valuable information.

Be certain you understand what the galvanized steel plates will wait similar. I accept to admit they don't look attractive. If you can get the contractor to space them out in such a way that the spacing is somewhat equal, yous may be able to disguise them with some sort of  decorative fe piece of work that covers the plates. You may even exist able to have a shelf built that holds plants that can hide the plates. Put your creative hat on!

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