However, retaining walls are also susceptible to water intrusion, which can lead to cracking, deterioration, and ultimately, failure. To prevent water damage and ensure the longevity of your retaining wall, it's crucial to incorporate waterproofing measures into your design.
Because of the concrete block's porous nature, they are susceptible to moisture intrusion. This can ultimately cause damage to the foundation, or leaks into the occupied space. Additionally, you have to protect your mortar joints, because they are the vulnerabilities in your concrete block foundation.
The best retaining wall waterproofing solution is a wateprroofing membrane that effectively seals away water seepage, dampness, and wall breakage and cracks.
Retaining walls are not waterproof objects, and water passing through through is considered normal. It would be best to invest your time in installing drainage to transfer the water elsewhere if it's of concern.
Waterproofing retaining walls is crucial for several reasons: Structural Integrity: Water can seep through the soil and infiltrate retaining walls, causing damage over time. Waterproofing helps maintain the wall's structural integrity and ensures that it remains stable and functional.
Any reinforced wall or walls over 4 ft. (1.2 m) in height or with slopes or other surcharges above the wall will need a toe drain. In all cases wall rock is located within the cores of the block and a minimum of 12 in. (300 mm) behind the block.
DRYLOK® Original Masonry Waterproofer will withstand 10 pounds of hydrostatic pressure (PSI), equivalent to a wall of water 22 feet high, and is GUARANTEED TO STOP WATER.
Don't Skimp on Gravel Amount
Add an angular aggregate — clean, crushed stone or gravel between 1/2- and 3/4-in. — as a base under the retaining wall and as back fill behind it.
New Retaining Wall Waterproofing Service at ₹ 35/square feet in Bengaluru.
Without sealant, water can seep into a concrete driveway and lead to considerable damage over time, especially in areas known to fall below freezing during the winter months. Water seeps into the pores, then freezes and expands, which can lead to significant cracks.
Disadvantages of Retaining Walls
Retaining walls require careful planning and engineering to ensure they are strong enough to hold back the soil. Another disadvantage of retaining walls is that they can be difficult to maintain. Retaining walls can be susceptible to erosion, cracking, and other types of damage.
Filled Wall Blocks Promote More Efficient Drainage
Rainwater, snow, and ice can all accumulate inside precast retaining walls composed of hollow blocks.
Rules of thumb commonly used by designers to establish the geometry of the wall include (refer to diagram): Base width = 1/2 to 1/3 of the height of the wall. Base thickness = 1/8 of the height of the wall but not less than 12 inches. Stem thickness = 6 inches + ¼ inch for each foot of wall height.
Hydrostatic Pressure and Wall Failure
When water isn't properly drained, it can accumulate behind the wall, exerting pressure on the structure. This pressure can prompt the wall to shift, crack, or even collapse. To avert such failures, it's crucial to have adequate drainage behind the retaining wall.
Weep holes are a crucial component of retaining walls. The common function of retaining walls is to create a difference in level between the ground at the top and the area in front of the wall by supporting a height of retained soil.
One major thing to avoid when building your retaining wall is lining the back of your wall with plastic sheeting as this will surely result in the pooling of water behind the wall.
If you have a wall that has chronic water leakage, you should not apply DRYLOK® Masonry Wateproofer because it will not properly cure.
Superior Waterproofing Performance: Crystalline Waterproofing offers a higher level of waterproofing performance compared to Drylok Extreme. Its crystalline technology penetrates into the concrete, forming insoluble crystals that block capillary pores and microcracks, effectively preventing water penetration.
Another major limitation of Drylok and similar products is the type of surfaces it can't be applied to. The fact is Drylok is not intended for use on floors. However, if you're planning on waterproofing your basement, you need to waterproof the walls AND the floor.
How Deep Should a Footing Be for a Retaining Wall? The footing, or first row of your retaining wall, should be about 4 to 6 inches deep and about 12 inches wide, or twice the width of the block you are using.
Proper drainage is critical to prevent water buildup behind the wall, which can lead to pressure and eventually cause the wall to fail. For effective drainage, the choice of gravel is paramount. Fractured rock is often the preferred choice for the drainage layer of retaining walls.
As per the Code- IS 456 : 2000 Clause 20.1, the stability of the retaining wall against overturning should be ensured that resisting moment should not be less than 1.4 times the maximum overturning moment. If the dead load provides restoring moment , then as per code 90% of the dead load should be taken into account.