Retaining walls are often times crucial to an outdoor living design. Whether to level out a backyard to make room for a new patio install or the need to hold back a steep slope in a yard. They can also be used to provide more room for a driveway. Retaining walls have a variety of purposes. Tiered retaining walls are often used with a home’s entrance or on a front slope to enhance the overall look and feel of a home. But with many different manners in which they are built, have you ever considered what would make a retaining wall collapse?
Though they are a common investment, they differ in many ways, including the way in which they are built. There are times when a retaining wall can begin to fail, collapse and just simply not live up to the test of time. When this happens, homeowners find it difficult to understand why and seek to understand the contributing factors to their collapse or failure.
With that said, the number one cause of a retaining wall failure is contributed to poor drainage. If there is excessive water that is absorbed into the soil located behind the wall, hydrostatic pressure will cause the wall to bow out and even crumble altogether. That is where the professionals here at Harpeth Valley Hardscapes come in. Our certified techs are experts in designing and installing appropriate drainage to ensure that any and all water is properly directed away from the structure by way of perforated pipes, Geotechnical fabric and gravel.
Another cause for collapse is that the footing may not be deep enough to keep the pressure back away from the saturated soil. Without a deep enough footer, or a footer that is way too shallow, a retaining wall is apt to collapse. In addition, to these scenarios, when a wall is built with sub-standard materials or lacks reinforcement the structure and integrity of the wall can be hampered. Here at Harpeth Valley Hardscapes we are committed and dedicated to using only the best materials for all our retaining walls to ensure that they are all truly built to last.
Finally, another common cause for collapsing walls is when extra weight or any unplanned load is added to the top of the wall, it will experience failure. You should always consult with one of our experts to ensure that your structure is designed and created to withstand any additional weight load. Homeowners often choose to park a vehicle atop a solid retaining wall not realizing that over time this can certainly present with a failure and often times a collapse.
If you are thinking of installing a retaining wall, then surely you have come to the right place. The team here at Harpeth Valley Hardscapes stands ready to serve you with all your hardscape needs and is on hand to provide you with a free consultation and estimate. Having earned ourselves a spot at the top of the marketplace charts, our professionals are committed to maintaining that very presence by providing our top of the line products and services at prices that are affordable and in timelines that are accommodating to your needs.
Fall has arrived. What better time of year to design, create and install the perfect retaining wall for your home. Whether you have a structural or landscaping need or are simply looking to enhance the curbside appeal of your home then we are the team for you. Give a shout out today to our staff and schedule your free consultation. We look forward to serving you and to providing you with the best all round hardscape products and services this side of Tennessee. Fall is here, which means winter is right around the corner, so don’t delay. Contact our friendly, professional consultants today!!
