Once you’ve installed a retaining wall, it often requires minimal maintenance. However, it might need to be inspected and repaired from time-to-time. While a terrace or sloped property can benefit from the structural and aesthetic benefits of the wall, neglect can cause the foundation to break. Consider the following maintenance tips that will allow you to enjoy your retaining wall for years to come.

A Guide to Retaining Wall Maintenance

1. Inspect It Regularly

Take a walk around your retaining wall and inspect the whole surface for cracks, movement, or water flow. Low spots near the soil can sometimes leak water from rainfall as it shifts. It’s also possible for that water to pool and turn the ground soft and muddy. You need enough room for the water to seep out slowly without flooding. 

Most of these issues can be handled with moving and repositioning the dirt, but if the problem is not addressed, it could completely move the stones. Inspect these areas regularly, so the cracks on your rocks don’t start to split and break, and the movement of the retaining wall doesn’t shift too far.

2. Remove Debris

If you installed a drainage pipe to manage runoff, you should take the time to inspect the area and remove all of the debris that’s clogging it. It’s more likely that kicked up dirt or mud will sit in the pipes after a rainfall, preventing excess water from draining away from the wall. Weeds can also grow between the stones during the spring. Pull these weeds yourself, or spray the area once a year when you would typically de-weed your grass.

3. Replace Eroded Materials

After you’ve removed all of the weeds and dirt from your retaining wall, it’s time to replace the clay that lines it. Any soil that was loosened during the temperature shift can now be replanted with new dirt and grass. Push the dirt up against the retaining wall until it’s level with the rest of your yard and fill the dead spots in grass seed. Do this as soon as you can, as dead parts in the wall could weaken it, leading to a potential collapse. 

When you need to install a new retaining wall, or you want to perform maintenance on your existing one, contact the concrete suppliers at Schreiter Ready Mix & Materials. This St. Charles Couty, MO, company has delivered and mixed concrete for various suppliers who need it for retaining walls and other applications. Their concrete comes in an array of colors to suit any commercial or residential project. Visit their website to request an estimate from one of their technicians, or call (636) 240-2600 today to learn more about their delivery service.