A prospective homebuyer in North Salt Lake sought a professional opinion on the structural integrity of a retaining wall that was visibly bowing outward. The wall in question stands 15 feet tall and stretches 80 feet wide, supporting the entire backyard—including a large swimming pool area.
From the moment we inspected it, we observed multiple signs of structural failure. Typically, a wall is considered to be failing if it bows outward by 2-4 inches. In this case, the bowing reached over 12 inches near the midpoint. In the first photo, the base of the wall remains straight, but the top reveals a significant bowing at the midpoint—demonstrating just how compromised the structure is. The second photo further illustrates the extent of the damage, showing large cracks that have developed over time. One potential reason for this bowing is the lack of a proper toe at the base of the wall. On one corner of a wall, a toe extends approximately 18 inches out. This exposed toe runs along the left side for a short distance and then the toe disappears. It is possible that the retaining wall has heel and toe located under the soil level, but if so, the footing is too insufficient to bear the load placed on this structure.
We informed the buyer that the wall could collapse under the weight of the load it bears, potentially within the next decade—or even sooner if triggered by a large-scale event such as an earthquake. We proposed several possible solutions to preserve the wall, including one such as completely replacementing the structural wall. However, each solution we proposed involved large-scale work that exceeded what the buyer was prepared to take on.
In the end, the homebuyer decided that the property was not a suitable purchase given the condition and risk posed by the retaining wall.
