Short masonry wall is "settling"? How to fix?
#1
10-03-18, 03:19 PM
Short masonry wall is "settling"? How to fix?
I paid a guy $2000 to put up this wall along with circular similar walls around our two trees. Some parts of the wall are now separating and the tree wells are developing cracks. Can I fill the spaces with mortar to repair this and since it has settled have it remain this way? The wall is still quite mobile if I can get some sort of shim under it to push it back to possibly get it to line up, or even between the cracks. I got a quote from the guy who did it and he said 950 to repair.
Thanks in advance for any ideas. The wall is two years old.
Thanks in advance for any ideas. The wall is two years old.
#2
10-03-18, 03:51 PM
Group Moderator
Where are you located?
Is there a footer under the brick walls?
I would not give that person another cent.
Is there a footer under the brick walls?
I would not give that person another cent.
#3
10-03-18, 04:07 PM
Member
If you dont have a solid base under that wall, even something that small, you are fighting a loosing battle and it;s only going to get worse.
I have 16" tall dimensional stone walls around my front beds and I installed 10" of compacted limestone, it's been 10 years and they are still straight and level!
I have 16" tall dimensional stone walls around my front beds and I installed 10" of compacted limestone, it's been 10 years and they are still straight and level!
#4
10-03-18, 06:58 PM
There is something under there, but I haven't dug that far to see how much is. Am I better off tearing the entire thing out? I am guessing it can't be more than 6 inches at most.
#5
10-04-18, 01:08 AM
Member
You should update your bio to include location.
If you are in an area where you get winter freezing, which I assume, the ground is going to get wet, freeze, and heave.
Without the base to drain water away your wall is going to suffer and from the pictures it looks pretty bad in spots and as noted it's not going to get any better,
I also noted in you post:
Possible that the roots are causing some of the problems, that is something even a solid base wont help.
If you are in an area where you get winter freezing, which I assume, the ground is going to get wet, freeze, and heave.
Without the base to drain water away your wall is going to suffer and from the pictures it looks pretty bad in spots and as noted it's not going to get any better,
I also noted in you post:
and the tree wells are developing cracks.
#8
10-05-18, 01:52 PM
Group Moderator
You don't have too much concern about frost depth but any mortared masonry structure needs a solid footer. Without it you'll get cracking and movement. I would not invest any more money in that edging as it will probably need to be completely removed to do any kind of lasting repair.
