Retaining wall planning resources
Practical guides to plan a retaining wall project before you ever take a quote, written for San Diego hillside lots and soils.
Retaining wall planning guides
Clear blocked weep holes in a retaining wall
Blocked weep holes are one of the most common causes of hydrostatic pressure buildup behind retaining walls. Clearing them is a 30-minute task that can extend wall life significantly.
Measure wall height for permit purposes
Whether your wall needs a permit depends on its measured height, not how tall it looks from the yard. Learning to measure correctly takes 10 minutes and may determine whether your project requires engineering.
Identify your retaining wall material
Knowing what your wall is built from helps you get an accurate quote and understand your repair or replacement options. Most wall materials are identifiable from a 5-minute walkthrough.
Document wall damage for contractor quotes
A few photos and measurements taken before you call a contractor or file an insurance claim can speed up the estimate process and give you documentation of the condition at a specific date.
When should you stop and call a professional?
Six signs that the problem is past DIY. Turn the system off and pick up the phone — running a system with these issues turns cheap repairs into expensive replacements.
Further reading
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