Repairing retaining wall options?

[paul1966]

Looking at options for what to do with this retaining wall, it’s 6.3M long and 0.9M high, we’ve been here 20 years and it was leaning slightly when we moved in, the top is now leaning about 2 inches, it's a split level garden and it's holding back the upper level. 

Option’s I’m looking at are leaving the wall as is and then building in front of it either Gabion baskets or concrete block’s laid flat then back filling with pea gravel. I think I’ll need to add drainage to the old wall as well as the new blocks. I’m thinking concrete blocks possibly rendered is the preferred option at the minute but open to any other suggestions.

[JKD]

That 'retaining' wall looks very poorly constructed tbh.

Personally I'd remove that completely and rebuild a thicker wall in a better fashion, using suitable bricks front and top, and concrete blocks behind.

The face can be built plumb, but the back I'd build at an angle,,,, ie, 450mm at the base, up to 300mm to the top/coping/brick on edge.

All on a reasonably deep, new footing 👍

[ditchman]

keep in mind the party wall act....if you think about it now ....you wont end up later saying "oh carp"

[JKD]

5 minutes ago, ditchman said:

keep in mind the party wall act....if you think about it now ....you wont end up later saying "oh carp"

The Party Wall Act only covers structures etc within 3-6 metres of a property/building. In this instance, 6 metres. 

[paul1966]

6 hours ago, JKD said:

The Party Wall Act only covers structures etc within 3-6 metres of a property/building. In this instance, 6 metres. 

We're ok in that respect as it's over 6M  from our property and a lot further from neighbours 

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, The only sure fast way is to dig out on the garden side to stop any more slipping, take wall down and rebuild, you could reuse a lot of the bricks rather than concrete blocks etc, a render finish would look good with nice cappings

[JKD]

3 hours ago, paul1966 said:

We're ok in that respect as it's over 6M  from our property and a lot further from neighbours 

That's what I thought looking at the pictures 👍

I know it's only a low wall, but the pressure from behind is quite a lot, so a bit of thought needs to be used or it will be leaning outwards again quite soon 🤭

[ditchman]

an alternative to Gabions would be to either 

1. lime stablise the material behind the wall...or 
2. cement stablise

lime or cement would depend on the type of material behind the wall...

the general rule of thumb is if it is clay/cohesive material ....then Lime

if it is granular /sandy gravly.......then cement

[paul1966]

I really could do with not digging out behind the existing wall, would building a new wall about a metre away from the old and back filling be an option? 

[JKD]

That's definitely a good option. That'll prevent a lot of spoil collapsing if you take down and replace the old one 👍