French Drain Through Retaining Wall

Otherwise water moving down the hill will build up behind the wall and undermine it.
French drain through retaining wall. This video shows you how to properly install a drainpipe behind your wall for prop. It should be located on the uphill side of the wall so it can catch water running down the hill and prevent it from undermining the wall. The purpose is to take water from wet areas and disperse it into dry areas. A french drain is a trench dug in the ground into which a perforated tube is placed and which is then filled with gravel or lose rocks.
Check out this video for some simple instructions on installing a french drain behind an 18 to 24 tall retaining wall before it is backfilled with dirt. Some of these drains are vented through the front of the retaining wall while others may run the length of the wall and drain out to the sides. Sometimes this means a pipe running through the wall from the soil to the other side. A french drain is a virtual necessity when building a retaining wall on a hill.
The loose gravel and perforated tubing help facilitate that water movement. Pipe drains also known as toe drains are perforated pipes that collect water along the length of the wall and drain it to the outside. The pipe should rest on the same compacted gravel base or concrete footing that supports the wall. Learning how to build a retaining wall can be fun with these helpful tips.
If you re building a retaining wall on a hillside. You want to use a perforated 4 plastic pipe below the footing not on top of the footing on the up hill side. They are also always lower than the footing of a foundation or wall or stair system.