Creek retaining walls are used to stop soil erosion and better drainage. They can be supportive in areas with wet foundations or basements, where you want to level a sloped yard or where water tends to pond. Soil erosion and drainage problems can cause structural issue to your building or home, so it is vital to install a creek retaining wall if you are experiencing these issues.
How to maintain a creek retaining wall? Check it regularly for water seepage, lose stones, or cracks. Clean the wall of waste and water it during dry periods. Fix any issue as soon as easy.
Are you still struggling about the problem? Read the full article for a quick clarification.
What Is A Creek Retaining Wall?
A retaining wall is a vital structure that holds back water or soil from a river bank or stream. Besides, it can prevent erosion, stabilize the slope, create usable space, and increase the property’s appearance. Mainly three types of retaining walls are the most preferable as retaining walls such as Redi Rock, Massbloc, and Rip rap retaining wall. However, the creek wall needs to maintain correctly to increase its durability and stability.
How To Maintain A Creek Retaining Wall
Maintaining a retaining wall is essential to increase its longevity and effectiveness in protecting erosion and your property from flooding. Let’s have a look at some effective ways to maintain a retaining wall:
Inspect The Wall Regularly
Inspect your retaining wall regularly, especially in the winter season. It is better to inspect the wall for at least a few months during winter. In fact, you need to check the beginning, middle, and at end of the winter.
Moreover, when you check the retaining wall, check the cracks in the stones and gaps in the mortar between them. If you find any holes, try to patch them gaps immediately. Again, the soil may shift if some wall parts bow out. Call the professional for advice and solve the problem directly in this situation.
Remove Debris
Keep clean the drainage pipe of the retaining wall to avoid water clogging. Hence, inspect the pipeline and clear the blockage regularly. Also, clean the fallen leaves, debris, branches, and rocks from the retaining wall area. This way, you can eliminate the bottleneck, and the water will flow smoothly through the creek.
Don’t Treat The Wall Beforehand
You may want to coat the retaining wall before snowfall, but it is the wrong step, as the coating materials can slowly erode the stones. So, try to paint your retaining wall in the summer season.
Repair Damages
After winter, there may have some effects of erosion, like water runoff and snowmelt. This type of damage can create significant issues for the wall. So, repair the damages early. Also, fix cracks, replace the damaged brick or stones, and reinforce the weak areas.
Replant Any Dead Spots
When soil loosens, it can collapse the wall structure faster than surface cracks. The effective way to get rid of this is to plant trees, as the roots of the plants can hold the soil in place and decrease erosion.
Again, we suggest removing the dead patches of grass and planting new grass. The reason is that grass holds the soil well and increases the ground’s stability. But plants the trees and grass away from the wall. The plant’s roots can grow into the wall and cause damage to the wall structure.
Monitor The Drainage System
Make sure the drainage system is working smoothly. Due to the logged water, the retaining wall can damage slowly. Moreover, clean the leaves, twigs, and dirt from the drain and keep the drainage system clear.
Take Professional Help
If your retaining wall has several issues or damage, it is better to take a professional’s help. He will suggest how to solve the problem and correctly maintain a retaining wall.
Final Words
We are at the last part of our detailed guide. A creek retaining wall is a great way to hold the soil and prevent erosion. Besides, this type of barrier works to protect your landscape. By taking proper maintenance, you can increase the wall’s durability.
Also, a retaining wall adds a more aesthetic look to your property. Moreover, it is a way to add value to the property. So, properly maintain your retaining wall and get its excellent benefits!
