Types Of Retaining Walls And Factors To Consider When Choosing Them

Posted on: 6 January 2015

Retaining walls from sites like http://www.terrasollandscaping.com just as the name implies are structures erected in order to prevent soil erosion by holding sloping grounds in place. The walls have seepage holes to allow water to pass through especially when there have been heavy rains and they must be strong enough to handle the pressure that sloping grounds exerts.

Types of retaining walls

  1. Gravity walls often go as high as four feet only and are more suitable where small walls are needed. The bases of these walls are thicker than the top and they often tilt towards the material they are supporting. They rely on their weight and the leaning angle to handle the pressure exerted by the grounds. Gravity walls are economical as a landscaping firm are not necessary. On the flip side, they are labour intensive and can only be built to a certain height since they become narrower and weaker as they go up.
  2. Piling retaining walls make use of steel, wood or vinyl planks that are upheld by the soil once they are pushed inside. The walls are also ideals for soft soils where space for wide barriers is not sufficient. Tieback anchors are bonded to the walls using cables to hold walls in place.
  3. Anchored walls also use cables fastened on the top and base for added strength. The anchors are mechanically bored into the material and it is therefore necessary for landscape companies to be involved. Anchor retaining walls are very strong and therefore suitable for supporting heavy weights.
  4. Cantilever walls have their bases connected to slabs and their thickness is uniform all through. Steel reinforcement is used on the wall's base and surface and the strength of the walls vary depending on their structure. Construction of these walls is quite complex and one must hire professionals if the walls are to perform well.
  5. Counterfort retaining walls are built like cantilever walls but are also made to have thin vertical concrete counterforts installed on the wall's rear at regular intervals. These counterforts allow the walls to handle pressure without bending and they are cheaper than cantilever walls and thus preferred when structures of above 25 feet are needed.

Factors to consider

  • Materials to be used
  • Purpose of the wall being being made
  • Location
  • Soil type and slope level
  • Design
  • Budget

It's important to consult with landscaping companies in order to choose the right retaining wall and get fair rates.

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