Retaining wall drainage
Water is the main reason walls fail. Here's how drainage keeps a wall standing.
Soil soaked with water weighs more and pushes harder on a wall. Asheville gets plenty of rain, and storms can drop several inches in a day, so a wall without working drainage is under a lot of pressure.
What good drainage looks like
- Clean, crushed gravel behind the wall instead of native clay
- A perforated drain pipe at the base that carries water out to daylight or a storm drain
- Weep holes or open joints in mortared and concrete walls
- Filter fabric to keep soil from clogging the gravel
- Surface drains or swales above the wall to catch runoff before it reaches the backfill
Signs of a drainage problem
- Water seeping through or out from under the wall after rain
- Wet, soft soil behind the wall that doesn't dry out
- Mud or soil staining on the wall face
- A wall that leans more after each wet stretch
Can drainage be added to an existing wall?
Sometimes, by digging behind the wall or adding drains above it. If a wall is already leaning, rebuilding it with drainage built in is often the better long-term fix.
The contractor prices the wall after walking the site, checking the slope and soil, and talking through what you need. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Why is water coming through my retaining wall?
Water is building up behind it. That can mean the wall has no drain, the drain is clogged, or runoff from above is pouring into the backfill.
Should I keep gutters and ditches clear near my wall?
Yes. Clearing gutters, ditches and culverts keeps water from concentrating on slopes and walls.
Related services
More background: Asheville retaining wall guide.
Wall leaning, cracking or a slope that's moving?
Call now and a local retaining wall contractor will look at it and quote the work.