Discover how the right retaining wall can reduce soil erosion, improve water drainage, and transform your property. Depending on the material, soil, and groundwater, a permanent retaining wall can last anywhere from 25 to 100 years.
Soil saturation is the most common external factor that causes retaining wall failure, but there are many ways to prevent it.
Long-lasting Strength
Concrete block walls are highly durable. They can last for decades without the need for repairs or replacements. The average design life of an SRW (segmental retaining wall) system is 75 years.
Concrete is a common material for retaining walls because of its strength and durability. The typical lifespan of these walls is between 40 and 100 years, although they can persist for several decades.
You can apply wood preservative using a paint brush, use a solid insect repellant like creosote or weather sealer. You can also stain the wood and use a sealant so that it is finished well and protected from bad weather.
While many types of solid and durable retaining walls exist, concrete and stone are easily the best options. These materials are long-lasting, rigid, durable, extremely strong, and can easily support your site.
Segmental Retaining Walls: These walls can last up to 50 years with proper maintenance.
The signs of retaining wall failure can be obvious to the naked eye like the cracking of concrete, bowing of wood or bulging of brick, however, other symptoms may be more discrete like inadequate sub-soil drainage or surrounding soil collapse.
If the land around your retaining wall changes, that can impact the longevity and effectiveness of the wall. Regular retaining wall maintenance helps ensure proper grading around your wall to maintain it. This may involve re-grading areas around the wall or installing new hardscaping elements.
The national average cost for repairing a retaining wall is between $250 and $1,250, with most homeowners paying around $750 to repair moderate crumbling on a 25' long x 4' high concrete retaining wall. This project's low cost is $200 to repair 5 sq. ft. of wood rot on a damaged wood retaining wall.
Bulging or leaning retaining walls indicate significant structural issues that need immediate attention. Poor drainage or clogged drainage pipes often cause soil to shift, leading to these problems. When you notice a leaning retaining wall, the situation requires quick intervention to avoid severe property damage.
Without professionals, you can't replace a retaining wall. You need engineers and designers to assess the structure of the wall. Then you have to shape your land. You will need to hire a mason or a carpenter to construct the wall.
Poured concrete is the strongest and most durable choice for retaining walls. It may also be carved and formed to look like mortared stone depending on your taste.
Excess Pressure
The soil, mulch, plants, or other material behind the wall exerts constant lateral pressure. Over the years, this intense force exerts stress on the wall. Poor drainage and saturated ground intensify the pressure, causing walls to buckle under the substantial weight.
Longevity and Durability
One of the most appealing features of diamond block retaining walls is their impressive life expectancy. Thanks to their concrete composition and interlocking design, these walls can last 50 years or more with minimal maintenance.
Signs of a Failing Retaining Wall
Sagging or bowing: Chances are, if it looks like your retaining wall is beginning to bend, there may be a problem with the structure itself or what it's holding back.
While appearing simple in design and construction, retaining walls are load bearing structures and often support a great deal of weight depending on their size and surrounding structures.
Although building or repairing a retaining wall is a fairly routine procedure, many homeowners overspend because they approach the process incorrectly. Poor workmanship can create more problems than it fixes, resulting in: Higher costs.
Standing at the pinnacle of durability, poured concrete walls and boulder walls boast the longest lifespan. Their robustness ensures they can endure the test of time, often lasting 50 years and beyond.
The bearing capacity failure occurs when the retaining wall's foundation cannot hold the weight of the soil behind it. The wall could sink or crumble as a result of this.
Protective Shield: Sealers
While the robust construction of retaining walls is inherently resilient, an added layer of protection never hurts. This is where sealers come into play, especially for walls made of concrete, blocks, or timber.
Concrete blocks are a low-cost option for constructing a retaining wall. They are strong, long-lasting, and come in various sizes and forms to meet your design tastes.
Each type is designed to suit the specific needs of a project according to the site conditions. The four main types of retaining walls are gravity retaining walls, cantilever retaining walls, embedded retaining walls, and reinforced soil retaining walls.
How Long Do Pressure Treated Wood Retaining Walls Last? Untreated wood retaining walls (without a fence attached) are usually expected to last for around 20 years, but when they are built from high quality pressure treated wood, it's not unusual for them to last 30 years or more.