ᐅ Retaining wall: backfilled soil settles slightly

Hello,

A retaining wall was built in our garden 4 years ago, located on the right side.

It starts on the left at a height of 20 cm (8 inches) and reaches up to 1.40 m (4 ft 7 inches) at the corner, but only for a short section of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 inches). After that, the wall continues at a 90-degree angle and is only 20 to 60 cm (8 to 24 inches) high.
There is a drainage system in place. Concrete with steel reinforcement was used.

After 4 years, the wall is still just as straight as in the beginning, with no cracks or any other damage.

Of course, proper soil was backfilled in the corner 4 years ago. Over the past 4 years, the soil in the corner has settled somewhat, especially in the corner area. Is this due to the backfilling and the soil settling particularly in the highest filled sections?

Would it be sufficient to just add some soil and reset the mowing edge?

Thanks in advance!

I just looked at some old photos again. My suspicion is that the area wasn’t properly compacted here.

I’m not sure, but I think it was first filled with gravel against the wall, then with soil. I assume some compaction should have been done during the backfilling process? I don’t think that was done.

My plan now is to level everything with some soil, reset the lawn edging stones, and call it done. Is that okay?

basti009 schrieb:

My plan now is to level everything with some soil, reset the lawn edging stones, and be done. Is that okay?

I would do it the same way, assuming the wall is still as stable as it was at the beginning. Settling of fill material is normal, especially if it wasn’t compacted.

Don’t forget to compact the leveled fill.

You didn’t just fill the formwork blocks with gravel, did you?

hanghaus2023 schrieb:

I would do the same, assuming the wall is still in its original position. Settling of backfill is normal, especially if it hasn’t been compacted.

Thank you.

The wall apparently shows no cracks.

According to the spirit level, it is also straight.

If it had shifted, I would expect to see cracks, especially at the corner where it turns 90 degrees, right? Even there, it remains completely intact after four winters.

How else would I notice that it is no longer in its original position? The wall continues for another 14 meters after the 90-degree angle. Here, too, there are no cracks or any other damage. It has also not settled.

hanghaus2023 schrieb:

I would do the same, assuming the wall is still in the original position. Settling of backfill is normal, especially if it hasn’t been compacted.

Don’t forget to compact the leveled backfill.

You didn’t just fill the hollow blocks with gravel, did you?

You mean the interior of the hollow blocks? No, they are filled with concrete and reinforcement.

hanghaus2023 schrieb:

I would do it the same way. Provided the wall is still as it was at the start. Settling of backfill is normal, at least if it wasn’t compacted.

Don’t forget to compact the leveled backfill.

You didn’t just fill the formwork blocks with gravel, did you?

Does your "thumbs up" mean you agree?
If the wall had shifted, settled, or anything like that, I should have seen cracks, right? Especially at the corner where the wall turns 90 degrees, there should have been cracks by now.
Or can such a long wall (8 meters (26 feet) plus another 14 meters (46 feet) after the corner) settle or shift without cracking?!