If you are in a historic preservation area and need repair and restoration of a stone wall structure, you need the top geotechnical engineers in the United States to work on your wall stabilization and rehabilitation. At GeoStabilization International®, we have a proud reputation for our sensitivity to the historical context as we provide expert engineering solutions that will preserve the stability of stone retaining walls and the historic structures they protect.
Our team at GeoStabilization International® recommends annual inspections to identify structural weaknesses in your historic stone wall. While many historic walls are built to last, they are still subject to the ravages of time, weather, earth movement, and other factors. An annual inspection ensures that you don’t miss any warning signs of stabilization problems before they worsen, such as:
Missing or deteriorating mortar can result from moisture penetration, wind erosion, or incorrect stone preparation. Damaged mortar requires replacement, known as repointing, by a skilled mason who will match the look, texture, color, and composition of the original mortar.
Cracked stones can impact the stability of a retaining wall anchor and are usually due to excessive moisture within the wall that expands and contracts according to the weather or due to downward pressure from a settling foundation.
Stair-step cracks are a specific type of mortar damage where cracks appear in a step-like pattern moving from one layer of stone to the next. The main cause is downward or upward pressure due to a settling foundation and may require soil anchors or soil nailing to address.
One of the biggest reasons to consider retaining wall repair is to address stone walls that are bowing inward, outward, or collapsing altogether. Structural failure requires the expertise of an experienced engineering team that will address the underlying stabilization needs before fixing cosmetic concerns.
At GeoStabilization International®, we undertook a historical retaining wall repair project in a Mid-Atlantic state that involved the state’s Department of Transportation and a historical preservation group. In addition to structural stabilization, the project also involved the repair and rehabilitation (including aesthetic restoration) of the failing rock wall to its original appearance. The project had languished on planners’ desks, while contractors and key players tried to determine the best way to achieve this mandate.
Our team of engineers and top rock masons from GeoStabilization International® inspected the site and provided the DOT with a repair design document outlining our proposal. A letting based upon our design was advertised and our company was low bidder by 30%. Upon acceptance, we started by removing the wall facing and stockpiling it for future use. Our stabilization crew installed several SuperNails™ as soil anchors as reinforcement. After completion of the installation of soil nails as stabilization, our retainer wall repair masonry team rebuilt the rock face and stone guardrail using the original stones, not affecting the wall’s aesthetic or historic features.
The DOT and the historical preservation society commended us for our superior craftsmanship. The project demanded attention to detail and the use of modern methods to restore the historic stone wall to its original glory while retaining original materials.
GeoStabilization International® has a team of structural engineers, soil nail wall contractors, masons, and operators that can address any retaining wall repair needs. To find out more about our retaining wall repair solutions, call us at 855-579-0536 today! We provide services throughout the United States as well as in Canada and Australasia.
If you are interested in a no-obligation site visit to determine if our services fit your geohazard mitigation needs, call us at 855-579-0536 or fill out our contact form.
