Now that the weather has warmed up, it's time to get your yard ready for the rain. One way to do that is to build new retaining walls. If you deal with floods, retaining walls can protect your property from water damage. But, you do need to take good care of your retaining walls. Without proper care, your retaining walls could fail. If that happens, your property will be at an increased risk for flood-related water damage. If you're not sure how to care for your retaining walls, read the list provided below. Here are some tips to help maintain the structural integrity of your new retaining walls.
Inspect Your Retaining Wall
If you want to extend the life of your retaining walls, you'll need to start an inspection schedule. Routine inspections will let you catch problems before they destroy your retaining walls. Start by inspecting your retaining walls at the start of each season. This will identify problems that might affect stability. Then, be sure to inspect your retaining walls after each storm. This is especially important after floods. Be sure to take care of wall repairs right away. That way your walls are ready for the next storm.
Avoid Using Deicing Agents
If you get freezing temperatures in the winter, you might try to keep ice off the retaining walls. That's not the best approach to take though, especially if you plan to use chemical deicing agents. Using deicing agents on your retaining walls can destroy the rock. If that happens, your retaining walls could collapse during a storm. To avoid that risk, let ice melt on its own.
Clear Your Drainage Pipes
If you're building retaining walls on your property, you'll want to keep an eye on the drainage pipes. If those get clogged, they can lead to system failure. That's because water can build up behind the retaining walls. To prevent clogs, be sure to clean your drainage pipes out on a regular basis. It's also important that you clean them out before and after each big storm.
Protect Against Erosion
If you want to protect your retaining walls, take steps to improve erosion control. Soil erosion can wash away the foundation under your retaining walls. One way to stop that is to add vegetation around your retaining walls. This can include turf or shrubbery. Sturdy root systems help get the soil in place, which prevents erosion.
For more information, contact a company like Maitland Ready Mixed Concrete Pty Ltd.
Share
