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starshine1 · Oct 13, 2009, 07:22 AM

Hi -
Poured concrete retaining wall at my property line (about 50 feet long)is leaning toward my neighbors yard.
Wall is about 2 feet high, and holds back lawn on side of my house with less than ideal
Drainage situation. I want to remove the concrete sidewalk that runs from front to side yard,regrade,add french drain, and have step paver path on that side of yard. This should alleviate soil soak that is probably pushing the retaining wall.
My question is: can the existing retaining wall be saved? I doubt that there's good drainage design at the bottom of this wall, and my neighbor has his sidewalk right there.
Can I just dig behind wall, straighten up existing wall, add gravel backfill, and hope for
25 more years for this existing wall?

Thanks for your thoughts!

ballengerb1 · Oct 13, 2009, 08:15 AM

I would not bother trying to save the wall. It can't be done in one piece but you could try to cut it into 10 equal lengths. Chances are that if mother nature moved it once she'll move it again

Clough · Oct 13, 2009, 03:04 PM

Hi, starshine1!

Was rebar used in the original wall as reinforcement, please? ballengerb1's post is excellent, by the way!

Thanks!

starshine1 · Oct 14, 2009, 08:13 AM

Thanks for your thoughts. I had a feeling there wasn't much hope for it.
I don't know how long the wall has been there... we just bought the house 2 years ago, so I don't know about it's
Construction.
As far as replacement goes... what are the pros and cons of going with landscape timbers vs. interlocking concrete block systems? Does one give you more bang for the buck?

Thanks!

ballengerb1 · Oct 14, 2009, 08:37 AM

Timbers do not last very long compared to stone or block. Remember, mother nature already moved a concrete wall so she's pretty strong and still out there. What is you weather like during the winter?

starshine1 · Oct 14, 2009, 09:04 AM

Well, I'm in Minneapolis. We've already had 2 little snowfalls, and it's unseasonably cool and wet for October.
Ground freezes in November, and snow usually covers until sometime in March. Oh, and it gets mighty cold!
I do plan on putting in a french drain in my side yard above the retaining wall, plus drainage tube/gravel backfill behind new retaining wall, whichever style gets built. I'm guessing that will help with the moisture saturation.

Steve Pomery · Nov 29, 2009, 01:55 AM

It is probable that they did not go deep enough below grade when they constructed the original wall.
If you are going to dig out the wall, why not replace it with a properly constructed concrete wall. That will last through your lifetime and your kids.

starshine1 · Nov 30, 2009, 12:01 PM

Well, I had a good (and bad) landscaper come out and assess the situation. We will tear the wall down next spring, and do a concrete interlocking block retaining wall. I bought the blocks used from Craigslist! We'll do a proper crushed rock footing base, and have good rock drainage for backfill.
Thanks for all your input!