Retaining Wall Advice
Plain answers to common questions about walls, drainage and settling concrete in Sandy Springs.
What is the 1/3 rule for retaining walls?
The 1/3 rule says about one third of a retaining wall's total height, or of each post's length, should sit below the ground so the wall does not tip forward.
Read the answerWhat type of contractor does retaining walls?
Retaining walls are usually built by a retaining wall or hardscape contractor, a crew whose main work is excavating soil, setting block or stone and managing drainage.
Read the answerDoes a 2 foot retaining wall need a footing?
Most 2 foot block, boulder or timber walls do not need a poured concrete footing, but every one of them needs a buried, compacted gravel base, and a mortared or poured concrete wall does need a real footing.
Read the answerHow to level out a low spot in concrete?
Most low spots are a section of slab that sank because the soil under it moved, so the lasting fix is to stop the water that caused it and then lift the slab back up from below, not to pour a patch on top.
Read the answerIs concrete leveling worth it?
For a sunken slab that is still in one piece, yes, as long as the cause of the settling is fixed too.
Read the answerHow long will concrete lifting foam last?
Lifting foam does not break down in the ground, so a foam-lifted slab usually stays level until the soil beneath it moves again, often for as long as the concrete itself lasts.
Read the answerWhy is my retaining wall leaning?
A retaining wall leans when the soil behind it pushes harder than the wall was built to hold, and the usual cause is water trapped behind it, often made worse by a weak base or missing reinforcement.
Read the answerDo I need a permit for a retaining wall in Sandy Springs?
Sometimes: a low garden wall on flat ground often does not, but taller walls, walls carrying a load, and walls near water or easements usually do, and the City of Sandy Springs makes the final call.
Read the answerBlock, boulder or timber: which retaining wall lasts longest?
A well-built block or boulder wall will outlast a timber wall by a wide margin, but drainage and the base behind it matter more than the material.
Read the answerHow do you drain water from behind a retaining wall?
You give the water a way out: clean gravel backfill behind the wall, a perforated drain pipe at the base that carries water to a safe outlet, filter fabric to keep soil out of the gravel, and weep holes or a surface swale where they suit the wall.
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Call us or send a short note with a photo of the area. We will set up a visit, look at the soil and drainage, and give you a written estimate.