What You Should Know About Common Retaining Wall Issue Prevention

When you're planning a major masonry project to build a retaining wall on your property, you need to make sure that you are well prepared for any potential problems. The more proactive you are in your construction and your supply investment, then the fewer long-term issues you are likely to have with the whole thing. Here are some masonry supplies you should invest in and the problems they will help you to avoid.

Tiebacks And Footer Reinforcements

When you are creating a retaining wall in any area of your property where it might be subject to downward pressure or excess weight within even a few feet of the wall, you should invest in additional tiebacks and footer reinforcements, including concrete blocks and braces for stability reinforcement.

These supplies are important because that downward pressure or weight from above can cause a retaining wall to blow out, which means that the top of the wall is pushed outward slowly, ultimately resulting in the destruction of the top of the wall.

Buying the supplies ahead of time and incorporating them into the initial structure allows you to reinforce the wall during construction instead of having to excavate the wall after the fact to repair it if the problem does occur.

Drainage Supplies

Drainage beneath and around a retaining wall is important. When you plan the construction supplies for your retaining wall, you should order some well-draining gravel mixture and drain tiles as well. Excavate extra space around the wall and beneath. Place the drain tiles beneath the wall, then fill the extra space with the gravel.

The drain tile and gravel are important because any water buildup directly behind the retaining wall can cause excess pressure from that water. The pressure will push the wall outward, causing it to bow and possibly crack.

Concrete Block

Concrete block as a foundation for the retaining wall is also an important consideration if you live somewhere that suffers freezing temperatures. Order enough concrete block to cover the entire length of the wall, place the block below ground level, and then build the wall atop it. 

The concrete block helps keep the wall stable, which is important when freezing temperatures can cause frost heaves in the soil. Those frost heaves can force the wall upward, sometimes causing it to bow or crack, ultimately leading to structural failure.

Keep these additional supplies in mind when you are ordering the material for your retaining wall. Your masonry supply contractor can help you to get all of the material you need, even if you are looking for excess supplies to prevent potential problems before they occur.