# Problems guides

> What goes wrong: independent, numbers-first guidance from Retaining Wall Lab.

Canonical: https://retainingwalllab.com/problems/

Last updated: 2026-11-08

## Symptoms first, quotes second

Most expensive retaining wall mistakes start with a symptom described to a salesperson. The table maps the common symptoms to their usual cause — the diagnosis a contractor should confirm before quoting.

 |  | Symptom | Usual cause

 | Leaning wall | Hydrostatic pressure

 | Bulging | Backfill and drainage

 | Settlement | Footing too shallow

 | Weeping face | No drain or filter fabric

 | Root damage | Trees too close

## What to document

- Photographs with something for scale, taken at the same angle over time.

- Dates: when it started, whether it changes with weather.

- Water: where it goes, where it pools, what it damages.

- Previous work: who did it, when, and with what material.

## What not to do first

Do not accept a repair scope before the cause is named. Patching a symptom is how the same problem returns next season with a bigger invoice. The [methods hub](/methods/) explains what each fix addresses; the [cost hub](/cost/) shows what it should cost.

### When is it an emergency?

When water is entering the structure, when something is structurally unstable, or when a safety system has failed. Everything else can wait for a second opinion.

### Should I get an independent inspection?

For anything structural or over about $5,000, yes. A few hundred dollars for an independent report is cheaper than a wrong scope.

## Guides in Problems

- [Boulder maintenance](https://retainingwalllab.com/boulder-maintenance/)
- [Boulder Problems: When Stones Fail Your Wall](https://retainingwalllab.com/boulder-problems/)
- [Bulging: How to Prevent It in Retaining Walls](https://retainingwalllab.com/bulging-prevention/)
- [Bulging: repair options](https://retainingwalllab.com/bulging-repair/)
- [Bulging: Warning Signs Your Retaining Wall Is Failing](https://retainingwalllab.com/bulging-signs/)
- [Gabion Maintenance: The Twice-Yearly Check](https://retainingwalllab.com/gabion-maintenance/)
- [Gabion Problems: Bulges, Corrosion, Stone Loss](https://retainingwalllab.com/gabion-problems/)
- [Leaning wall: how to prevent it](https://retainingwalllab.com/leaning-wall-prevention/)
- [Leaning wall: repair options](https://retainingwalllab.com/leaning-wall-repair/)
- [Leaning wall: warning signs](https://retainingwalllab.com/leaning-wall-signs/)
- [Poured Concrete Maintenance: Sealing, Patching, Drains](https://retainingwalllab.com/poured-concrete-maintenance/)
- [Poured Concrete Problems: Cracks, Spalling, and Leans](https://retainingwalllab.com/poured-concrete-problems/)
- [Root Damage: How to Prevent It Effectively](https://retainingwalllab.com/root-damage-prevention/)
- [Root Damage: Repair Options for Retaining Walls](https://retainingwalllab.com/root-damage-repair/)
- [Root damage: warning signs](https://retainingwalllab.com/root-damage-signs/)
- [Segmental Block Maintenance: A Yearly Routine](https://retainingwalllab.com/segmental-block-maintenance/)
- [Common Segmental Block Problems and How to Fix Them](https://retainingwalllab.com/segmental-block-problems/)
- [Settlement: How to Prevent It in Retaining Walls](https://retainingwalllab.com/settlement-prevention/)
- [Settlement: Repair Options for Retaining Walls](https://retainingwalllab.com/settlement-repair/)
- [Settlement: Warning Signs Your Retaining Wall Is Moving](https://retainingwalllab.com/settlement-signs/)
- [Timber Maintenance for Retaining Walls](https://retainingwalllab.com/timber-maintenance/)
- [Timber Problems: Rot, Bowing, and Leaning](https://retainingwalllab.com/timber-problems/)
- [Weeping face: how to prevent it](https://retainingwalllab.com/weeping-face-prevention/)
- [Weeping Face: Repair Options for Retaining Walls](https://retainingwalllab.com/weeping-face-repair/)
- [Weeping Face: Warning Signs for Retaining Walls](https://retainingwalllab.com/weeping-face-signs/)
- [Retaining Wall Maintenance Schedule for Long-Term.](https://retainingwalllab.com/retaining-wall-maintenance/)
- [Retaining Wall Repair: When It Is Worth It](https://retainingwalllab.com/retaining-wall-repair/)