A retaining wall is a structure designed to withstand lateral soil pressure, especially when there is a planned change in ground elevation that exceeds the soil’s angle of repose.

The basement wall is a form of a retaining wall, but the term is more commonly used to describe a specific type of structure: the cantilever retaining wall. This is an independent type of wall, without lateral support at the top.

Cantilever retaining walls typically extend out from one side, retaining a higher level on the opposite side. They face lateral pressures from loose soils or, in some cases, water pressures.

When designing and installing retaining walls, it is crucial to recognize and counteract the natural tendency of the retained material to move forward and downward due to gravity. Unless the wall is specifically designed to retain water, proper drainage is essential to limit the pressure to the wall’s design values. Drainage materials help reduce or eliminate hydrostatic pressure, improving the stability of the material behind the wall.”