Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are frequently used in multi-family residential construction to fully develop a construction site with varying elevations or rolling terrain.  Given that retaining walls often sustain large amounts of earth and sometimes support buildings and other structures, if they are not constructed in accordance with the construction drawings, engineer’s requirements, and other applicable standards, they can fail prematurely. If retaining walls fail, they often require expensive repair and reconstruction. 

Common retaining wall defects include:

• Missing, discontinuous, or improperly installed geotextile fabric
• Improper or omitted drainage of retaining walls
• Improperly sized wall materials