I am having a new house built on a hillside which hasbeen cut out by 16′. My concrete guy put a 9′ x 40′ retaining wall in with 2 18″ deadmen on the backside. It subsqently cracked two days after it was done. Bad concrete? Don’t know. He cut out a 15′ section of the wall. Now the other 25′ is leaning. It is me understanding that the deadment should be placed every 10′ and should extend back 8′ – 10′ into the ground which he did not do. It is also me understanding that the backfill should not be put in place for at least 20 days to give the concrete fll time to cure without pressure. He did not do this either. I would really appreciate some advice on me dilenma. Are me speciafations on the deadmen and backfill correct. HELP AND THANKS.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Traditional lime wash still has tons of useful applications.
Featured Video
How to Install Exterior Window TrimHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
It is true that no backfill should be placed until after the crete has cured.
Beyond that there are a good dozen variables that you do not provide for your case. There is no rule of thmb, other than that it should be built as detailed by an engineer.
Some of the variables off top of my head:
slope/pitch
soils types
drainage provisions
height and thickness of wall
rebar placement details
Concrete mix and slump
type of backfil materials
Photos?
Engineer
There should have been an engineer involved with this from the beginning.
There is no "standard drawing" of "standard specification", that will cover this. It is too high and too long.
The variables are the soil type, and the weather patterns.
Good clean draining soils in an arid climate, do not need as much of a structure to hold them in place, as clayey, poorly draining soils in a moist climate.
The options for holding the load could be: counterforted footings, and a moment connection to the wall; a cellular structure; cable tie backs; etc. This list is nearly endless.
Any retaining wall over about 3 feet high should be engineered. 18" deadmen on a 9 foot wall are woefully insufficient, even if you have 20 of them.
What is your dedinition of deadmen. Please describe. 18" does not sound right.
What size is the footing? Was there an engineer anywhere in the picture. Was it permitted and inspected by anyone?