701 Waverly Street, Framingham, MA 01702 -- (888) CONIG - 25
Retaining Wall Failures - Big and Small!
Mortared Fieldstone Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Small Wall Failure
Mortared Fieldstone Wall Failure
This wall was built years ago and the mason did a nice job on the stone work...but... given the hill above and the wall not being properly backfilled all the way to the top, water pooling and infiltration behind the wall finally did it in!
Poured Concrete Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Small Wall Failure
Mortared Fieldstone Wall Failure
Just because you pour a lot of concrete, doesn't mean the wall will stand tall in the long run. This wall failed for a variety of reasons, including improper base trench, improper backfill, lack of a behind wall drainage system, etc...
Small Blocks - Small Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Small Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Small Wall Failure
A small wall built with small blocks with no geogrid? Doomed to fail from the minute it was installed....
Small Blocks - Large Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Large Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Small Wall Failure
A large wall built with small blocks, always a risky endeavor at big heights! Here the small blocks separated from the geogrid and backfill zone. We always say BIG Conigliaro Blocks are best for big, tall walls!
Small Blocks - Huge Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Large Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Huge Wall Failure
A HUGE 40' tall wall built with small blocks. Here the small block faces are starting to fail. These blocks are "split face", meaning they are split in two after "dry cast" manufacturing to create the rough face finish. The split face is not sealed and can result in face degradation and failure as shown here due to water and salt infiltration. Dry cast blocks are not a good idea near roadways, driveways or water bodies where freeze/thaw cycles and/or road salt will be present.
Boulder Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Large Wall Failure
Small Blocks - Huge Wall Failure
A HUGE boulder wall built with onsite boulders at the time of the site's original development. While the boulders were readily available at the time of construction, this wall is showing signs of instability with leaning boulders, bulging boulders and fallen "chink" rocks. It will continue to deteriorate. Just because the boulders are large doesn't mean the wall will hold up without proper retaining wall basics like a proper base trench, drainage system, etc...The replacement of this wall with large blocks in the future will be very disruptive and costly.