

This is what good retaining wall drainage looks like: Diagram courtesy of When water gets behind the wall, it puts additional pressure on the structure, resulting in the overall force exceeding the wall’s ability to resist.

However, retaining walls are built with a certain capacity in mind. The design of a properly-built retaining wall resists the force of the soil behind it and prevents caving, buckling, or leaning. Why Proper Drainage is Important for Retaining Wall PerformanceĪ retaining wall is built to hold back a certain amount of soil. While you can DIY your retaining wall project, it is best to hire a professional.Retaining walls should have gravel backfill, soil compaction, pipe or toe drains, and weep holes.Without proper drainage, retaining walls may not be able to resist the force behind the wall, eventually causing the wall to give or even buckle.
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In this article, I will cover why proper drainage is important for retaining walls before diving into how to set up a retaining wall to drain properly and more. Whether you plan to install your own retaining wall or have someone else do it, understanding how drainage should work will ensure the best possible result. Some professional installers find that nearly 80 percent of the retaining walls they see fail at some point due to improper drainage. Retaining walls are useful and attractive features in many yards, but they are prone to failure if proper drainage is not considered.
