How to do fix and seal a cracked retaining wall?

Caro

The wall has a damp problem from the garden behind it.  I am not able to redo the wall but would like to seal the wall so that I can paint it the same as the surrounding fences.  The corner has a big crack which I was going to mend myself but ended up having it mended by a handyman but has since opened up again.  I would like help on the best way to tackle these problems.  Thanks Caro 

EricL

Hello @Caro 

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that wall has been damaged too much by hydrostatic pressure. This is when water and moisture from the other side of the masonry wall has pushed the paint away and has deteriorated the mortar to dust. Patching it now would be a waste of resources. If you are not yet ready to have this section repaired, I suggest being patient and gathering your resources until you are ready. 

The general repair steps would be to remove the old masonry wall and empty the garden. Once the garden is empty the wall can be rebuilt with masonry blocks or bricks. The rear wall will then be covered with bitumen paint. This will prevent water from penetrating that section of the wall and stop it from deteriorating. This will also prevent paint from being peeled off. Once the wall is assembled it is then rendered to match the remaining walls that are still in good condition. When the render cures you can then paint the surface.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric