Hole knocked in basement retaining wall
Hole knocked in basement retaining wall
(OP)
Several years ago, contractors installed a new pipe through an existing 8" basement retaining wall (height = 7.5' above floor slab). They excavated behind the wall, knocked out a 24" diameter hole near the base of the wall (above slab), placed the 12" diameter pipe through the hole, placed some plywood chunks around the pipe on the soil side, then backfilled.
Obviously not a high-quality job, but seems to have caused no problems other than some water intrusion during heavy rain. Should this be fixed? Owner may argue that it has performed fine for several years. (The structure is 57 years old and no drawings are available, so unsure about rebar.)
Obviously not a high-quality job, but seems to have caused no problems other than some water intrusion during heavy rain. Should this be fixed? Owner may argue that it has performed fine for several years. (The structure is 57 years old and no drawings are available, so unsure about rebar.)





RE: Hole knocked in basement retaining wall
Granted, nothing has happened to date, I would be concerned about the water infiltration for livibility and health reasons.
RE: Hole knocked in basement retaining wall
The floor joists run parallel to this wall so, no, it's not a bearing wall. I suppose that's good on one hand because not too much gravity load needs to be redistributed, but not good on the other hand because there's very little lateral restraint at the top.
I didn't see evidence of cut rebar, so it might be spaced far apart or not there (or it was there but I just didn't see it).
I'm not a big fan of the water infiltration, either, but it appears the wall has held up under "proof loading" and therefore I don't have much of a structural argument for repair. (?)
RE: Hole knocked in basement retaining wall