Hello I'm looking to build a retaining wall in my garden using hollow concrete blocks, about 0.7 metres high and then rendering it. What I'm unsure about is how to stop it getting damp and blowing the render. I'm assuming I can put some DPM between the wall and the earth behind but what do I do about moisture from the ground underneath the wall, should I use engineering bricks for the first couple of courses? I've seen quite a few retaining walls rendered all the way down to ground level, does this cause problems with damp rising through the render? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Low retaining wall and damp
- Thread starter fatandy
- Start date
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The received opinion is that free-standing walls - and particularly retaining walls - should not be rendered. Partly this is because the rendering itself would be more prone to failure, and also it can trap moisture in the wall, leading to decay of the masonry due to frost- or sulphate attack.
Having said that, you see rendered retaining walls here and there which appear to survive. Maybe it's just down to site-specific factors.
It's your call.
Having said that, you see rendered retaining walls here and there which appear to survive. Maybe it's just down to site-specific factors.
It's your call.
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Excellent, thanks for that.
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