Retaining walls in focus - permanently exposed to stress, yet often overlooked

Retaining walls secure transport routes, stabilise slopes and support cuttings, while remaining permanently exposed to high levels of stress caused by weather, moisture and traffic.
©MC-Bauchemie 2026

Retaining walls secure transport routes, stabilise slopes and support cuttings, while remaining permanently exposed to high levels of stress caused by weather, moisture and traffic.
©MC-Bauchemie 2026

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Retaining walls can be found along roads, railway lines and motorway cuttings, as well as near abutments and on slopes. Their task is demanding: they absorb earth and slope loads and protect adjacent transport areas from ground movement. At the same time, the concrete is continuously exposed to moisture, freeze-thaw cycles, CO₂, chlorides and other environmental influences.

Moisture ingress from the rear is another critical factor. Water penetrating the structure from the soil side can promote cracking, encourage reinforcement corrosion and impair the durability of the reinforced concrete. Carbonation presents an additional risk, as it causes the concrete to lose its natural corrosion protection for the reinforcement.

Many retaining walls have now reached an age at which targeted maintenance measures are required. This development is becoming increasingly important as public infrastructure policy places greater emphasis on preserving existing structures. In Germany, such maintenance is also required under the ZTV-ING supplementary technical contract conditions and guidelines for civil engineering structures.  

Systematic repair instead of replacement 

Repairing these structures requires carefully coordinated systems. Depending on the type and extent of damage, cracks are injected, damaged concrete areas are repaired and reprofiled, and the surface is subsequently protected. Concrete replacement products from the Nafufill range, for example, can be used for concrete repairs, including reprofiling and fine levelling. Where moisture is penetrating from the rear, pressure-water-resistant fine fillers such as Nafufill R3 FM and Nafufill EC 6 are particularly suitable. Surface protection systems such as MC-Color T 21 protect the concrete from further exposure and deterioration. The key advantage lies in the system-based approach: substrate preparation, repair mortar, fine filler and coating are all coordinated with one another. This results in solutions designed to extend the service life of the structure in a targeted manner.

Large areas, sustainable benefits

Retaining walls often cover extensive areas and form part of critical infrastructure. Along long cutting sections, the total surface area can quickly amount to several thousand square metres. This also makes repair an economically attractive option. Existing structures are preserved, disruption to traffic can be reduced, and resource-intensive replacement construction can be avoided. Assessing and repairing retaining walls at an early stage therefore makes an important contribution to the safety, availability and sustainability of transport infrastructure. 

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For specific structure assessments, product recommendations or system configurations, MC is pleased to provide technical information and practical application expertise – from damage analysis through to the appropriate repair solution. 

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