Question 1

How can I tell if my retaining wall was built wrong?

Accepted Answer

Red flags include leaning, bulging, cracking, separated blocks, no visible drains, or backfill that looks like native soil instead of clean stone.

Question 2

What are the most common contractor mistakes on retaining walls?

Accepted Answer

The biggest mistakes are no drainage system, weak or shallow base, building too tall without reinforcement, poor backfill, and skipping geogrid or anchors when needed.

Question 3

Does missing drainage count as defective construction?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lack of drainpipe, stone drainage zone, or outlets is a primary defect because trapped water is the #1 cause of wall failure.

Question 4

How do you prove a retaining wall failure was the contractor’s fault?

Accepted Answer

You document missing drains, weak base prep, lack of reinforcement, improper height, and compare those conditions to code/engineering requirements.

Question 5

What photos should I take to document defective wall construction?

Accepted Answer

Take wide shots of the entire wall, close-ups of cracks/leaning, drainage outlets (or lack of them), base exposure, backfill material, and any water damage or soil washouts.

Question 6

Can an engineering report confirm defective construction?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A PE report identifies root cause, notes code violations, and states whether missing reinforcement or drainage contributed to the failure.

Question 7

Do walls over 4 feet require engineering or permits?

Accepted Answer

Typically yes. If a wall exceeds 4 feet or supports a slope, driveway, or structure, most jurisdictions require an engineered design and permit.

Question 8

What if my contractor says the wall failed because of rain?

Accepted Answer

Rain exposes defects. If the wall lacked proper drainage or reinforcement, the failure is still tied to defective construction even if a storm triggered it.

Question 9

Should I repair the wall before proving defective work?

Accepted Answer

Not until you document everything. Photos and an engineer’s inspection should happen first so evidence isn’t lost during teardown.

Question 10

Can ERWalls rebuild a failed wall and document the defects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We document existing conditions, coordinate engineering if needed, and provide an evidence-ready scope for inspectors, insurers, or legal follow-up.

ENGINEERED
RETAINING
WALLS®

(706) 970-0704

Bad Contractor Retaining Wall Proof Guid

How can I tell if my retaining wall was built incorrectly?

What are the most common contractor mistakes on retaining walls?

Does missing drainage count as a construction defect on a retaining wall?

How do you prove a retaining wall failure was the contractor's fault?

What photos should I take to document defective retaining wall construction?

Can an engineering report confirm defective construction on a retaining wall?

Do retaining walls over 4 feet require engineering and permits in NC, GA, and TN?

What if my contractor says the wall failed because of heavy rain?

Should I repair the wall before proving defective construction?

Can ERWalls rebuild a failed contractor's wall and document the defects?