Site topography often requires roads, driveways, homes, etc., to be built on hillsides or below ground surface. Often, these improvements or structures are built next to property lines or an adjacent structure. This results in the hillside soil to be excavated to a vertical face or bank, which are inherently unstable. In order to maintain security and safety, these vertical soil faces must be retained against future earth/soil movement. This is what is called a “retaining wall.”
At ARCCA, we’re experts on different types of retaining walls, ways in which these walls can fail, and how the probable cause of these failures can be determined. Most importantly, we know how retaining wall failures can be mitigated all together. As innovation continues, we consistently broaden our understandings of retaining walls and the faults that may result from them.
Generally, these measures will require an engineering analysis and design that ARCCA has mastered. Of course, in many circumstances, the most practical option may be to simply remove and replace the wall with a properly designed and constructed wall. There are many other design considerations, wall types, failure modes, and repair options available. However, a basic understanding of retaining walls can often allow one to determine the cause of the failure and how to fix the problem.