Retaining walls are everywhere in the Birmingham area, holding up driveways, terraced backyards and front beds on sloped lots. Many of them were built decades ago, some out of landscape timbers that don’t last. Walls usually give warning signs before they fail. Here’s what to watch for.
1. Leaning or tilting
A wall that has started to lean forward is losing the battle with the soil and water behind it. Lean usually gets worse over time, especially after heavy rains.
2. Bulging in the middle
A belly or bulge means pressure is building behind one section, often because water has nowhere to drain.
3. Rotting timbers
Landscape timber walls eventually rot from the inside. If a screwdriver sinks into the wood, or timbers are crumbling, the wall is near the end of its life.
4. Water or soil coming through
Mud washing out through gaps, or water seeping out of the face of the wall, points to missing or clogged drainage behind it.
5. Cracks, sinking or separating
Cracks in a block or stone wall, a section that has dropped, or a wall pulling away from a driveway or steps are all signs the base or backfill is failing.
What can be done
Small problems can sometimes be repaired, but most failing walls need to be rebuilt with a proper compacted base, gravel backfill and a way for water to escape. We replace a lot of old timber walls with natural stone or block that won’t rot, and often pair the new wall with better drainage so the problem doesn’t come back.
If your wall is showing any of these signs, learn more about our retaining wall work or request a free estimate.