What is the number one cause of wall failure? Water
Ok…so maybe I should actually say improper
water management is the #1 enemy and not just water. Working as an engineer for Allan Block for
almost 14 years I have been able to witness what to do and, obviously, what not
to do when it comes to wall stability.
Whenever, I see a wall failing or not performing properly the first
question that pops into my mind is “Where is the water coming from and where is
it going?” Finding the answer will often lead to discovering the wall problem.
 |
| Swale |
The best thing for any wall is to
handle the surface water that is pot initially above the wall. Would you drain your entire backyard to the
back side of your house? Of course not,
because this would lead to a very wet basement.
With any structure, you want to divert the water around it and not
directly it over it. This includes
segmental retaining walls.
 |
| Berm |
The water should not be allowed to simply flow over
the wall. Simple berms and swales
can be incorporated in the wall design and layout to prevent this from
happening. There is more information on
our website, allanblock.com about proper
water management, which would keep the enemy at bay.
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