How To Repair A Retaining Wall
Ok, In this article I want to touch on how to repair a retaining wall. It’s not all about just pulling the wall down and start again. There are a few things you can do to get your retaining wall back in the right position. So let’s take a look.
In many cases, you won’t need to start from scratch. A repair made by yourself if you know what you’re doing or by a qualified retaining wall builder can get you many more years out of your existing retaining wall. So let’s take a look at what can be done.
Why A Retaining Wall Would Need Repairing.
Depending on the type of retaining wall. There are a few issues that can happen as the wall ages. For example. Timber retaining walls can rot, bend, or can if not treated correctly can get insect damage. If this is the case with a timber wall, you will pretty much need to replace the affected area.
Concrete retaining walls over time can crack. Masonry, brick and stone retaining walls can have issues like crumbling mortar, damaged bricks, cracks or loose stones. So pretty much all types of retaining walls can have issues that form over time. You can also get the obvious issues, like a leaning wall, drainage issues. And even a total collapse of a wall. Of course, this is the worse case.
How to repair a retaining wall
Ok. Retaining wall repairs, what to do. If you catch the issue early like with many things, you have the chance to fix the retaining wall yourself. If you are a bit of a handyman. Below are a few things you can try to fix the problems
If you have a concrete retaining wall and you have a crack, assess the area. If it is a minor crack, you can fill up the crack with a concrete repair kit. If its a major issue, you might need to contact a retaining wall company. And of course, this is something we can help with.
If the mortar is crumbling away, you can most often remove the loose mortar and replace it with fresh mortar.
If you have a timber retaining wall and you have areas that have damage you might be able to remove the section and replace the area with new timber. Make sure the new timber has been treated. This one can be tricky. If you have a small wall.
Ok, what should I do if I have a leaning retaining wall? This one can be tricky. And it’s probably a good idea to get a professional in to take a look. But If you have a small wall that’s not that high, like a garden retaining wall, you could potentially rebuild it yourself if its a block wall.
Just remember when you’re repairing your retaining wall. It’s a good idea to remove the soil from behind if you think you need to. If it’s just a surface repair on the front, like a small chip, you should be ok to leave the wall as is.
Know When To Call In The Professionals
In some scenarios, you will not be able to repair the wall yourself and you will need to call in a qualified retaining wall builder. Retaining wall builders are very well trained and have the experience to get to the root of the problem and repair it in the most cost-effective way.
It’s highly recommended to call in the experts when you know the job is too big for you to deal with. You don’t want to make the situation worse. The last thing we would want is for the wall to fall on you and cause injury.
We here at quality retaining walls Adelaide are the experts when it comes to building or repairing retaining walls. So if you have a repair job get in touch and we will be able to help you out.