Install Wall Toe and Grade for Surface Drainage
At 5:18 in
How Not To Build a Retaining Wall
What happens here
Proper installation of the wall's 'toe' and correct grading behind it are crucial for preventing water damage and ensuring stability. The video advises embedding the retaining wall a minimum of 12-24 inches into the ground, plus an additional 6 inches for the base material. This deep embedding provides essential foundational support. Furthermore, the grade (slope) of the soil directly behind the wall should be slightly higher than the top of the wall caps. This design ensures that surface water flows over the face of the wall rather than collecting and being dammed up behind it, which would otherwise lead to hydrostatic pressure buildup and premature failure.
Goal: Provide foundational stability and manage surface water effectively to prevent premature failure.