A Retaining Wall is a structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral pressure of soil when there is a change in ground level. As they are earth retaining, they are at a high risk to water ingress at some point during the lifetime of the building. On a Damp Retaining Wall, dampness can take the form of visible damp staining, salting plaster and deterioration of internal finishes, or in the worst cases, physical penetration of Ground Water leading to internal flooding.

A Retaining Wall may be independent of a building or structure, or it may form part of the general accommodation such as within a Lower Ground Floor, Semi-Basement, Basement or Cellar.

In simple terms, where the external ground level is higher than the internal ground level, that wall is Earth Retaining and will require adequate protection. (See Below).

There are many types of Retaining Wall and materials used in their construction. We regularly come across Retaining Wall constructions that utilise Brick, Stone, Concrete, Sheet Pile, Contiguous Pile, Concrete Block and Insulated Block.Earth Retaining (Below Ground) Walls and Non Earth Retaining (Above Ground) Walls each require a different form of protection. Earth Retaining Walls must be treated in the same way that a Basement construction would be and a “Waterproofing” scheme devised. Non Earth Retaining Walls face a different set of challenges and a “Damp Proofing” System should be employed.

In some cases however, a structure will combine both Earth Retaining and Non Earth Retaining Walls and therefore the correct identification of these is essential in creating a suitable and robust combined Damp/Waterproofing solution.