Cracks, leaning sections, loose caps and crumbling mortar are common in older block and retaining walls around Tri-Cities. Many problems can be repaired if they are caught early. Waiting usually means water and frost make the damage worse.
Common wall problems
- Cracks in blocks or mortar joints (stair-step cracks often point to settling)
- Leaning or bulging retaining walls, usually from water pressure behind the wall
- Loose or missing caps letting water into the wall
- Crumbling or missing mortar that needs repointing
- Efflorescence (white staining) showing that moisture is moving through the wall
- Damage from vehicles, trees or roots
Repair or rebuild?
Surface cracks, loose caps and worn mortar joints can usually be repaired. A retaining wall that is leaning, bulging or has failed drainage often needs a section taken down and rebuilt with proper base, backfill and drain pipe. A repair that ignores the cause tends to fail again, so we look at drainage, footing and soil first, then recommend the option that makes sense for your budget.
What a repair can include
- Replacing cracked or broken blocks
- Repointing (tuckpointing) mortar joints
- Resetting and re-adhering wall caps
- Adding or clearing drainage behind retaining walls
- Rebuilding failed sections
- Cleaning and sealing masonry
Related services
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