A Beginners Guide To Maintaining Your Retaining Walls.

Your home is your castle, as they say, and any home needs walls to keep your property safe, and to stop unwanted guests from entering. Retaining walls answer this call particularly well and are constructed with soils behind and below the wall, they can also be used as part of your garden's landscaping. The construction of a retaining wall is not going to be cheap though; usually limestone is the medium of choice - so you will want to ensure the wall remains in an attractive state for many years to come. As well as protecting your home, a smart wall will add considerable value to your investment. Here follows an easy guide to caring for your limestone retaining wall.

Check for low spots.

Your retaining wall will have compacted soil behind and below its construction, and after the wall has been built, the soil may still require extra settling. Occasionally this may result in water build up, usually at the base of the wall. If this goes unattended, you may have a serious issue. The extra weight of the water, and the softened soil, could result in a 'blow-out' in your wall. It usually affects the lower part of the wall, so check these areas regularly for early warning signs. If you see this happening, remove the wet soil and replace with new filling.

Weeds.

These pesky plants will often spread and make their way through the gaps in your building blocks. The best way to kill them off is to pull them through, carefully, and to liberally spray them with a powerful biocide product, before they take over your retaining wall.

Bulging

If your wall has been constructed correctly, this issue should never arise, but in the real world…well…you know. Unfortunately you will be punished, further down the line, for any shortcuts taken earlier. One of the possible side effects of a poorly built retaining wall is the shape changing that results from rotation and/or bulging. This can only be remedied by rebuilding the wall, or calling in the professionals; they may be able to undo the damage, if you are lucky. This needs to be dealt with fast - apart from the unattractive sight of a less than even wall, eventually it will collapse, damaging anything in its path!

Winter

This is not an issue if you live in a warm climate, but some of you may have to contend with bitter winters. Most of these limestone based blocks will be built to withstand the freezing conditions, however, you can take extra precautions and ensure your wall does not age prematurely. If you apply a de-icing agent to your walls, avoid the chemical variation and instead use the NaCl based salt to avoid any potential side effects such as surface damage.

Damaged surfaces

If your retaining wall has another feature behind the surface, such as a patio, paving or flowerbeds, you should check these regularly also. You are looking for damage caused by erosion, bad soil and water containment issues. As well as maintaining these attractive features, you will be protecting your retaining wall from a potential future disaster.

MGM Limestone in Perth, Western Australia is a specialized manufacturer and provider of limestone and concrete for construction purposes. Visit their website and get more information.