Does a retaining wall require drainage?

Every retaining wall should include drainage stone behind the wall. If there are poor draining soils such as clay behind the wall, there needs to be drainage incorporated the wall system. Clay when wet is very weak, so it is essential to provide a way for water to escape from behind the wall.

Should retaining wall blocks be filled?

For a stacked-block retaining wall that’s no higher than four feet, a trench filled with three inches of crushed rock will help keep the wall from shifting and settling.

Should a retaining wall be plumb?

A: A very short retaining wall built of only a couple of courses might work when installed plumb, but anything taller should be aligned so that each new course is aligned behind the preceding (lower) course. A typical setback distance is 3/4 inch from the front of the course beneath it.

Do retaining walls have columns?

Reinforced concrete retaining walls are used to retain/hold soil mass for various engineering purposes. Most commonly used retaining wall is Cantilever Retaining wall (CRW). When considering Retaining wall with greater heights, introduction of columns can give a better economy.

How do you divert water from a retaining wall?

To put drainage in a retaining wall, we recommend adding crushed stone or gravel behind your structure. Doing this will encourage water to exit from the drains or weep holes of your wall, rather than becoming stagnant behind it.

What do you fill retaining wall blocks with?

Backfill the wall with gravel or sand. If you use sand, first cover the backside of the retaining wall with landscape fabric. This will keep the sand from seeping between the blocks. If you’re backfilling with gravel, you can pour the gravel after every course you lay.

What is retaining wall batter?

In segmental retaining wall building, “batter” means that the wall should lean toward whatever it’s holding up. The center of gravity of the wall should be BEHIND the wall foundation, or footer. Walls should be tied back into the hill, so that the weight of the backfill actually prevents the wall from moving.

How out of plumb Can a stem wall be?

The NAHB reference is the most directly applicable reference specific to both residential construction and the nature of something being acceptable or not. This reference states: 2-13 – Concrete walls shall not be out of plumb by more than 1.5” in 8 feet when measured from the base to the top of the wall.

Do retaining walls need building regulations?

Independent, freestanding retaining walls may not require building regulation approval; however, any structures must be structurally sound and well maintained. Where a retaining wall is near to a boundary, it may be subject to the provisions of the Party Wall Act, and may be required to continue a right of support.