If your property, yard, or outdoor living space has an unusable sloping area that you cannot use for any purpose, it will be helpful for you to learn about retaining walls. With just a bit of basic information, you will be better equipped to decide if a retaining wall is a good solution for your property and your situation.
How do retaining walls work?
Vertical structures designed to hold back soil in order to prevent soil from eroding, retaining walls also assure that unlevel areas can become level. They are made from a range of materials such as stone, concrete, and wood. The materials used for construction and the method of construction are determinants affecting how durable and stable the retaining wall is.
These walls can include curves, or they can be straight. And one of their most added value features is how they can elevate or spotlight features of your landscaping. For example, with coping that is smooth, they can actually be made to be sitting areas or they can add a welcome layer of privacy to an area that may be a bit overexposed.
What are the options when choosing a retaining wall?
You have four primary styles of retaining walls to select from: Anchored Walls; Piling Walls; Cantilever Walls; Gravity Walls. Naturally, each of these types has individualized advantages and strong points.
Using tension supports that serve as anchors to the rock or soil in order to resist pressure and lend wall support, anchor walls can be combined with others so this type of retaining wall has enhanced support.
Using the wall’s weight to keep soil back, gravity walls are ideal for smaller slopes that are under three feet high.
Featuring poles that are long and go into the ground, piling walls uses the poles for wall support and stability. Comparable to gravity walls, cantilever walls have a slab as a base that goes into the ground. This slab relies upon the soil’s weight and backfill materials, so the wall is stable.
What else should you know about retaining walls?
You need to understand certain conditions of your property; namely, how close the wall will be to other types of structures, the conditions of the soil and drainage. If your property has a grade that is steep, your water runoff will be extreme and severe. A retaining wall can aide in controlling rainwater’s flow by including drainage that guides the water. In fact, this water can even be guided to hydrate dry spots in your yard and to water plant beds.
If your home is downhill the water runoff and erosion could wash out soil that surrounds the foundation. This is a major problem that a retaining wall can help preempt and prevent by redirecting water. This in itself is an important reason to consider a retaining wall.
Schedule a Quote from JJW Brick Today!
Give JJW Brick a call today to learn more about retaining walls and other hardscape options we offer at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS. We look forward to hearing from you!
