It’s Easier Than You Think
Did you know that you are completely qualified to build a 10-foot-tall retaining wall that over looks a playground? A wall with literally tons of weight that could fail and collapse in an instant if not properly installed. You may think ‘how can this be’? Well the scary fact is that there is absolutely no competency requirements for building retaining walls. None!
You can just wake up some day and say “I’m a retaining wall contractor” and plenty have done this very thing.
Aren’t There Any Standards?
There are standards that are supposed to be followed, but who will check up on them? In most cases no one! Most contractors don’t even know the standards. The standard procedure is to have someone tell you how to build a wall or even worse watch a handyman YouTube video showing what they did.
Where Can I Find The Standards?
The proper place to go is the Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association, or CMHA. Their website can be found here: https://www.masonryandhardscapes.org/ This is the sanctioning body who writes the rules for SRW construction.
At least make sure that the company installing your retaining wall is certified in Segmental Retaining Walls (SRW) so they at least know what the standards are. Now will they actually follow the standards or cut corners? That’s what you have to ask yourself.
Just remember any hairdresser has infinitely more training required than those installing your retaining walls.
John A. Linder -Retaining Wall Safety Advocate