Most people have heard that "good fences make good neighbors." The same can be said for retaining walls. A good Nashville Retaining Walls allows adjacent properties to be safe and functional despite significant differences in elevation. Retaining walls can transform a sloping site that is unsuitable for development, and turn it into one or more level lots that can support buildings, parking areas, walkways or recreation areas. On a smaller scale, a wall can create a level parking or turnaround area for a house or "carve out--" a level area suitable for a patio or walkway.

Retaining Wall Problems Require Attention

Regardless of its size, a Retaining Walls in Nashville doesn't usually attract attention until something goes wrong. Most wall problems are more than aesthetic; they indicate structural issues that could eventually cause all or part of the wall to fail. That's why small wall problems should be addressed as soon as they become apparent.

We most often see smaller walls tilting or bowing as soil pressure on the uphill side of the wall becomes too great for the wall to hold. In a masonry wall, cracks are likely to develop in areas where the soil pressure is greatest. If the wall is constructed from blocks or CMUs (concrete masonry units), "stair-step" cracking along mortar or joint lines is common. A poured-concrete wall can crack and bow in a more random fashion; it can also start tilting downhill.

Damage

There are certain instances when a damaged retaining wall has to be dismantled and rebuilt. For example, you can't usually fix damage from rotting railroad-ties in a wood wall. However, many masonry-based walls can be "rescued" rather than demolished when damage occurs.

Retaining wall damage is very similar to the damage that can occur to foundation walls. For this reason, foundation repair contractors have the training and materials to fix and reinforce smaller walls. This type of specialty contractor is usually the best choice for small wall fixes.

Helical Repairs

Foundation repair contractors often utilize helical anchors, also known as "tiebacks," to fix a retaining wall that has begun to crack and/or tilt. These steel anchors are designed to work like giant screws.

First, a hole must be made in the retaining wall to provide clearance for the anchor. Then helical-shaped plates on the shaft of the anchor pull it into the soil behind the retaining wall as the anchor is turned. By measuring the hydraulic pressure required to turn the anchor, technicians can determine when an anchor is deep enough to exert sufficient bracing force on the retaining wall. After a steel plate is installed over the end of the anchor that protrudes through the wall, a large-diameter nut can be tightened on the anchor shaft to exert claming pressure on the wall.

Helical anchors aren't the only weapon in a contractor's wall repair arsenal. It may be necessary to install curtain drains above the wall so that water can be directed away from the wall. A partial or full excavation of the wall may need to be done in badly damaged areas. Making repairs sooner rather than later is the best way to avoid the more costly repairs that are necessary after greater damage occurs.