However nearly 80 of all residential retaining walls fail at one point or another because of poor drainage.
Best rock for drainage behind retaining wall.
How to fill behind a rock retaining wall.
Use drainage tubing behind the wall.
However retaining walls are built with a certain capacity in mind.
Proper drainage behind the wall will intercept this problem before it can occur.
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.
Why proper drainage is important for retaining wall performance.
Retaining walls and other features that require drainage make great use of large gravel to allow water to drain away faster than soil would.
Fabric keeps soil from leeching out of walls.
The retaining factor is.
Every landscape project is different and may require different quantities and sizes of drainage material.
A retaining wall is built to hold back a certain amount of soil.
After going to all the trouble of building a retaining wall the last thing you need is for it to collapse because of mud and water damage at its base.
These are called weeping.
There are a number of ways to ensure proper drainage of water from behind a retaining wall.
When drainage goes unaddressed hydrostatic pressure will build up behind the wall and cause damage such as bulging or cracking.
Typical rock retaining walls also known as dry stack retaining walls are constructed without mortar or reinforcing steel.
When you re doing a diy landscape project it s important to choose the right type of gravel.
Slope the tubing from one end of the wall to the other or from the ends to the middle.
Install it in a u shape way behind the wall.
Use fabric behind the wall.
The design of a properly built retaining wall resists the force of the soil behind it and prevents caving buckling or leaning.
Cut holes into the wall to let water out.
If it were to get cold enough that water trapped behind the retaining wall will freeze and expand pushing the wall outward.
First is to make sure your landscaping contractor backfills at least a foot of space behind the wall with gravel.
Gravel is necessary for many landscape projects and not just beautiful rock gardens.
Drainage gravel is essentially used in any location where you need water to run freely and with minimal resistance.
With proper retaining wall drainage and construction it can bring a lot of character and function to your landscaping.
Fabric keeps rock and soil separate.
After a few seasons the wall s integrity will be compromised.
Proper drainage for a rock retaining wall.