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We are in a property less than two years old, so still in non-structural warranty period.
We have a retaining wall at the rear of our property that has water seeping through in the days following rain. The water leads to some mineral build up which is noticeable, given the retaining wall is painted black.
The wall itself looks structurally sound and there is an ag line behind it leading to drainage, just obviously not enough. Presumably the builder should have waterproofed the other side.
I spoke to the builder and he has offered to drill drainage channels in the wall and install conduit to avoid the staining.
Another mate of mine said reverse waterproofing it (on our side) would be better, to keep water from flowing through.
Or do I just leave it alone and accept we will have to clean the mineral cdeposit off every few months? (If so, what do I use to clean this kind of deposit off? Acid solution?)
Hello @upperadvisor
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your retaining wall.
It's possible that they forgot about it or was for one reason or another not sealed during the building phase. The long-term fix will require you to dig the soil out of the back of the masonry wall and then clean it up and cover it with Gripset Betta 1L Waterproofing Membrane Bitumen Rubber. Once the bitumen cures you can then put the soil back into place. Since the amount of moisture coming through is not yet overwhelming, it might be possible to seal it with the Dunlop 4L Damp-Proof Waterproofing.
If you decide to leave it alone, I suggest using Crommelin 4L Efflorescence Remover in combination with a bristle brush broom to clean the surface when the build-up has become thick.
Please make sure to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when applying the sealer. Please make sure to follow the application instructions printed on the back of the can.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
