Will a retaining wall of sorts built ON my driveway work?

Question

So I've have a dip in the driveway that causes rainwater to flow across and over the side of the driveway, leaving a nice water trail by the foundation. My neighbor offered up an interesting idea. Why not create a retaining wall along the edges of the driveway to divert the water flow down to the street. He said I could make it more aesthetically pleasing by also running the same time of wall along the sidewalk edge by our front porch to tie it all together.

Would a retaining wall build on the driveway work? I know I would need to level off the area that dips, but it seems like a good idea. I was thinking about 1 or 1.5 feet high going down just a portion of our driveway until it meets the sidewalk to our front porch, then have it follow the edge of the sideway up to our porch. I figure I'll plant some shrubs behind it.

Would this fix the problem with the rainwater?

Answer 1

Yes it would and you can plant flowers or shrubs there as well to help keep the soil there as well.  Check out the do it yourself website and learn how to use those really cool blocks. You do  a trench first, which should be easier since it rained.

It's best to dig it out at least a foot down.  Level it out.  Put about 2-4 inches of gravel in the trench.  Put about two inches of dirt over that and then pack it.  Stack your first layer of wall.  Then stagger the second and so on and so forth.  It might be a good idea to put heavy duty 8 mill plastic against the stacked stones then put your dirt in and this will help prevent the water from washing the sides away.  Plants will protect the top.

Make sure when your diverting the water runoff that your not causing another problem for yourself.  

You should be fine.  Your very smart to get it away from your foundation.  

Good luck.

Answer 2

it should be ok as far as the driveway is concerned but keep the weight to a minimum and be prepared to point it up every so often if there is any independant movement in the slabs...