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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 4h

Classic long face outward failure on each end. At least there are not mitered corners. But you gotta stake and tier these long runs! 3 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

DM submission, unrated. Go on with your bad self.

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Form poured concrete. Looks real solid. Boringly solid. But I'm worried about the lack of visible drainage and that tree being so close to it. Time and water will get there in the end. 4.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

"Is it commentary about society, or the unnatural walls we build between each other, or the relentless march of time and regrowth of the natural world?"

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

The blocks look like the same style but they are all different colors? A rare diversity in retaining walls. Maybe old blocks have been reused, evidenced by the clear wear and poorly matched capstones in places. Overall looks pretty solid! 4.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Crumbling on the face and top with several spots of outward movement cracking. But it does look like the blocks were gravel filled, so it wasnt lazily built. I respect the hustle but time and water are gonna get theirs in the end. 3.5 out of 10 (generous)

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Maybe they ran out of blocks and just said "fuck it"?? 3 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Wood retaining wall rotting its way into the future. Black plastic weed barrier is now exposed and the long wall is quite warped. 3.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

In our first, and likely only, movie review, we give Joh Wilson's "The History of Concrete" our *absolute* highest rating: 5 out of 10. Maintenance isn't sexy, but he tries.

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Who would have expected that a literally superficial coating would be enough?! Bonus points for the dog waste bag. 2.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

In pretty good shape overall but has a distinct lean and the lower end shows spreading and removed capstones. Probably should have been more tiered. Looks like it could have been beefed up for the eventual height. 4 out of 10 (generous as it is still holding together)

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Mixed feelings on large wood retaining walls. Cheaper than stone & easy to anchor but way shorter lifespan under the best conditions. This looks well implemented, but no visible drainage & the discoloration shows age & water intrusion. Being so high, it's gonna be tough to fix / replace 4 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

[Takes a big hit] Sometimes the line between "wall" and "pile" is thin. I mean, what is a "wall" anyway? 2.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Too few blocks on too tight a turn, and clearly unable to withstand the outward forces over time. Blocks look solid so staking would be hard. Corner probably should have been a hard 90 degree rather than a curve and maybe glued / adhered to each other. 3 out of 10 (failing fast)

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Wall is holding but the capstones have fallen off for no readily apparent reason thus making me wonder how much longer the wall will last. 4 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

All on the same wall. 2.5 out of 10 on the formal scale. But on vibes? An absolute 10 out of 10 bad retaining wall

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Not sure what is happening here unless the wood lengths were never really joined but just stacked on each other?? 3.5 out of 10 (generous for the low consequences of failure)

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Bricks are clearly crumbling. The long face looks like the bricks are de-laminating or something. Maybe bad materials, but it is also on a tight driveway so maybe it's been bonked by cars a bunch? No paint marks if so. Water is going to get in there and speed up the eventual failure 3 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Lot going on here. The original portion failed badly. Single brick layer, no good drainage, and a series of bushes that are way too big for the wall. Cracks and lean are clearly visible. The large poured concrete buttressess were added later stabilize the face. Seems stable for now. 4 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Low stakes, but that tree root is going to keep growing, I think. 3.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Bricks laid vertically between the sidewalk and soil. Soil has pushed the bricks forward and the new piece of concrete has completely reset those bricks. Nice and wavy. Cheap but seems to be holding. 3 out of 10 Dog nose: 10 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Raised bed retaining wall rotting in place with soil spilling out of the corner. Looks like the "benign neglect" school of gardening. 1.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Walls looking great with all that water falling onto and moving through the wall. No sign of bowing and the soil behind the wall is clearly well draining. 4.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Aging wood 4x4s with no drainage predictably failing along the long side with the joints between the lengths taking it particularly hard. Stronger staking and overlapping lumber would have helped. 3 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I guess it is still successfully holding the corner down, but it is also falling apart in real time. 3 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Boulders presumably anchored between them as they are not closely fitted. This allows for self draining, plant growth, & a slightly more natural appearance. The anchoring also creates a stronger final product. Could maybe use some weeding, but "weed" is very context dependant. 4.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I dont know who needs to hear this, but basement walls ARE retaining walls. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise!

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Vertical bricks cemented along the interior. But not really anchored in the ground so the cement failing is enough for a full failure. So close! 2.5 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Long and clearly showing its age, but pretty sturdy. Lots of recent patching and grout repair. That crack is worrisome though. 4 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Terrifying in hight and the ominous doors therethrough. I did not brave entry out of respect for the Old Gods of Retaining Walls

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Simple and low, and it is unclear if that gap was original or has been created by force behind it. So I'm not too scandalized by that big gap. But it does look haphazard with those other rocks stuck in the gap. 4.5 out of 10.

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The Memorial of Absence in Medellín CO outside Comuna 13. The retaining wall itself is beautifully maintained. Very high, but multi-tiered. Wire mesh combined with drystone assembly allows for self draining and deliberately planted foliage between photos of those lost to violence

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Gravel pile clearly showing where the wall is failing and dumping more gravel behind the wall isnt going to help 3 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Did a u-turn to take this picture. 3 out of 10

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Way way too high for a single layer of blocks with several large bushes behind it that is further pushing it out. Gaps and outward buldge clearly visible. Not staked or filled. 3 out of 10.

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bad retaining walls @badretainingwalls.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Plaster (or something similar) over stacked blocks. Looks good until it doesnt! Sealing the exterior will also prevent draining, and no other visible drain, so the bulging crack isnt surprising. Throw some rocks on top too, why not? 4.5 out of 10

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