The first thing that you must do when you are waterproofing your retaining wall is using a good retaining wall waterproofing membrane. You need to do this so that the build-up of hydrostatic pressure could be reduced. In that sense, it is just as important as ensuring proper drainage. When you waterproof such a wall its back is protected from moisture as well. At times, this moisture stays behind even when the runoff is not there. In such cases, it seeps through the wall slowly. This eventually ruins the colour of the wall’s face. There is also a chance that such seepage can have a bad effect on the wall’s integrity.
Checking the regulations :
There are two major factors in this regard. First of them is the area where you are living in Australia and second is the height that you have planned for your retaining wall. You would have to get permission from your local council to build such a wall. In some places, if your wall costs more than 5000 dollars to build or is higher than 600 mm you would need the permission of your council. It could also be possible that the wall costs you more than 16,000 dollars. In that case, you would need a builder’s warranty insurance as well.
Type of soil :
Before you use retaining wall waterproofing membrane you must also check the type of soil on which the wall has been built. The composition of the slope is very important in this regard. This is because various materials have their angle of repose. The term angle of repose means the steepest angle to which they can be piled without breaking or slumping. For example, the clay would always have an angle of repose that is different from that of sand. This angle depends on the density of the material in question.
Creating a solid base :
When you are building such a wall and waterproofing it you need to make sure that the base is as strong as it can be. This is one of the most key basic aspects of such work. The base, in this case, should be set underneath the ground level. It should be made from compacted soil as well. You also need a layer of a minimum of 150 mm that is made up of gravel and compacted sand over here. This will make sure that the wall is flat. This would mean greater strength and better functionality in the end.
Conclusion :
You can use the best retaining wall waterproofing membrane but if the drainage is not good even such high-quality material would come a cropper. Without proper drainage, it would lead to the build-up of hydrostatic pressure on the wall. That would either make the wall crack or bulge. You can be sure that none are good for the health of the wall. One of the best ways in which you could get the best drainage is by using a minimum of 300 mm of gravel and other such granular material. This should be used as backfill, which is the material that is located straight behind the wall.
