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A retaining wall serves an aesthetic and practical purpose for your home. While looking nice and offering a place to sit, the wall also protects your landscape by restraining soil that would otherwise slide down and cause damage. Hicon Inc. of Cincinnati, OH, has provided some tips on preventing retaining wall failure.

How to Prevent Retaining Wall Failure

1. Drain Excess Water

The most common reason why retaining walls fail is there is no system to drain the water that has been absorbed by the soil. Having soaked in the water, the soil becomes heavier and puts more pressure on the wall. To avoid your retaining wall failing due to this extra pressure, the backfill should be graded away from the wall or a drain pipe should be installed.

2. Reinforce the Wall

retaining wallA retaining wall is put under a lot of pressure by the soil it’s holding back. Failure to reinforce the wall will result in it not being strong enough to continue standing. The type of reinforcement will depend on the material the wall is made of. For concrete walls, rebar is the best solution, while geogrid is a good choice for modular block or rock walls.

3. Ensure Proper Compaction

A retaining wall stands still because it is built into the soil it holds. If the soil is loose, the wall will shift, eventually causing complete failure. The soil behind retention walls should be compacted during excavation, after the gravel base has been added, and each time backfill is added. The compaction of the soil, usually done by a compactor, will solidify the wall’s positioning to ensure it won’t fail. If compaction is needed and the soil is weak, you can add gravel or aggregate to make it sturdier.

A retaining wall plays a key role in your landscaping by protecting it from soil that may otherwise cause damage. Draining any water that accumulates in the soil, reinforcing the wall, and ensuring the soil is properly compacted will keep your wall sturdy and working for years to come. For restoration work ranging from porch reconstruction to chimney repair, Hicon Inc. has been a trusted construction contractor serving Cincinnati since 1977. For more information about how they will help, call (513) 242-3612 or visit their website.

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