Project · Structural repair

Failed retaining wall, apartment building

A retaining wall under an occupied apartment building had failed, washing out the soil beneath the slab edge. We shored up the building, formed along the old slab, pumped flowable fill underneath to stabilize it, and built a new reinforced concrete retaining wall, saving the building from further structural damage.

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Failed retaining wall, apartment building, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building

TypeRetaining wall failure repair

BuildingOccupied apartment building

ScopeShoring, flowable fill, new concrete wall

OutcomeSlab stabilized, building protected

Phase 01

The failure

The old rock retaining wall collapsed and the slope eroded back under the building, leaving the slab edge and utilities hanging over open voids.

Eroded slope below the apartment building after the wall failed, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Eroded slope below the apartment building after the wall failed

Collapsed rock retaining wall, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Collapsed rock retaining wall

Slab edge undermined with voids beneath, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Slab edge undermined with voids beneath

Open voids and exposed utilities under the slab, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Open voids and exposed utilities under the slab

Phase 02

Shoring the building

Before any digging, we shored the building to carry the slab edge and keep the structure from moving further.

Temporary shoring posts under the undermined slab, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Temporary shoring posts under the undermined slab

Shoring in place along the building edge, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Shoring in place along the building edge

Excavator working beside the shored building, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Excavator working beside the shored building

Phase 03

Demolition and excavation

Removing the failed wall and debris, then excavating a clean cut and footing line along the building.

Broken concrete and rock from the failed wall, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Broken concrete and rock from the failed wall

Demolition debris being cleared, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Demolition debris being cleared

Excavated footing line along the building, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Excavated footing line along the building

Cut slope and footing area below the apartments, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Cut slope and footing area below the apartments

Excavated cut below the existing building, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Excavated cut below the existing building

Excavation exposing the soil profile

Phase 04

Forming the old slab and flowable fill

We formed along the edge of the old slab and pumped flowable fill under it, filling the voids and giving the slab solid bearing again.

Forms set along the old slab edge with shoring, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Forms set along the old slab edge with shoring

Phase 05

New retaining wall

Reinforced footing and a tall cast-in-place concrete wall, with rebar mats tied by our crew.

Footing and wall rebar along the building, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Footing and wall rebar along the building

Footing poured with wall dowels, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Footing poured with wall dowels

Wall rebar mat along the full length, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Wall rebar mat along the full length

Wall rebar and formwork going up, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Wall rebar and formwork going up

Crew tying the wall rebar mat, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Crew tying the wall rebar mat

Full-length wall rebar with crew, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Full-length wall rebar with crew

Phase 06

Finished wall

The completed retaining wall supporting the building, with the site regraded and revegetating below.

Completed concrete retaining wall below the apartments, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Completed concrete retaining wall below the apartments

Finished wall face, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Finished wall face

Finished wall and regraded slope, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Finished wall and regraded slope

Completed wall with the slope below, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Completed wall with the slope below

Finished wall with grass restored, failed retaining wall repair at an apartment building — Finished wall with grass restored

Questions

Common questions

Can you repair a failed retaining wall under a building?

Yes. On this apartment building we shored the structure first, then removed the failed wall, stabilized the slab with flowable fill, and built a new reinforced concrete wall.

What is flowable fill used for?

Flowable fill is a low-strength, self-leveling cement mix. Pumped under an undermined slab, it fills voids completely and restores support without heavy compaction.

Do you shore buildings during repairs?

Yes. We install temporary shoring to carry the structure while excavation and new wall construction happen beside it, with engineering where required.