If you are doing some landscaping that requires a terraced or sloped effect, you likely need to keep a whole lot of dirt in one place for a long time to come. To this end, you will probably build some form of retaining wall. As the name suggests, a retaining wall is a wall that holds soil in place. This may be for the sake of safety or for an aesthetic choice, and may be used to preserve a natural look or create a highly artificial effect. In all cases, it must be strong and secure.
There are a number of different retaining walls that can be used; the choice is usually based on the soil conditions, the amount of available space, and the type of look that is desired (natural stone, wood, textured concrete slabs, or whatever). No matter which type is used, the same basic effect is created.
The simplest kind of retaining wall that can be constructed is the gravity wall. A gravity wall is really just a heavy wall that is strong enough to resist the force of the soil on its own. As such, it is normally made up of dense blocks - either natural stones or formed concrete pieces. They are piled up (and likely mortared or interlocked in some fashion) and rely on their inherent bulk to keep everything in place. While this can be inexpensive and uncomplicated to construct (with the right materials), is has some drawbacks: the materials are bulky and take up a lot of room, and building higher walls takes more and more heavy pieces, so they tend to be better for shorter walls only.
A cantilevered wall is a retaining wall that gains a great deal of its strength from a type of "foot" at the base of the wall (under the earth) that creates an L or inverted T shape. This foot allows for a wall that has less bulk (and thus takes up less space) than a simple gravity wall.
Another means of achieving soil retention without resorting to massive stones is to use a sheet piling wall. This again uses the earth to create strength - in this case, by burying the bottom two-thirds of each sheet or plank (typically wood or metal, although thin reinforced concrete might be used) into the ground. Some form of anchoring of the exposed wall is often employed as well for additional support.
Erosion is a common concern for landscaping, and retaining walls can be an important tool in preventing it. This means that drainage and groundwater conditions must be carefully planned for. The walls themselves must be "water tight" or carefully built in order to prevent soil from seeping through (and ruining the flat area on the other side). This may be an important safety issue, as well - particularly in cold locales where ice formation may pose a hazard.
One thing is certain: if you need retaining walls, you cannot do better than Armtec Retaining Walls. Armtec supplies both materials and know-how in order to complete any retaining wall project. Retaining walls have to be secure, and Armtec delivers the means to build that security into your site.
There are a number of different retaining walls that can be used; the choice is usually based on the soil conditions, the amount of available space, and the type of look that is desired (natural stone, wood, textured concrete slabs, or whatever). No matter which type is used, the same basic effect is created.
The simplest kind of retaining wall that can be constructed is the gravity wall. A gravity wall is really just a heavy wall that is strong enough to resist the force of the soil on its own. As such, it is normally made up of dense blocks - either natural stones or formed concrete pieces. They are piled up (and likely mortared or interlocked in some fashion) and rely on their inherent bulk to keep everything in place. While this can be inexpensive and uncomplicated to construct (with the right materials), is has some drawbacks: the materials are bulky and take up a lot of room, and building higher walls takes more and more heavy pieces, so they tend to be better for shorter walls only.
A cantilevered wall is a retaining wall that gains a great deal of its strength from a type of "foot" at the base of the wall (under the earth) that creates an L or inverted T shape. This foot allows for a wall that has less bulk (and thus takes up less space) than a simple gravity wall.
Another means of achieving soil retention without resorting to massive stones is to use a sheet piling wall. This again uses the earth to create strength - in this case, by burying the bottom two-thirds of each sheet or plank (typically wood or metal, although thin reinforced concrete might be used) into the ground. Some form of anchoring of the exposed wall is often employed as well for additional support.
Erosion is a common concern for landscaping, and retaining walls can be an important tool in preventing it. This means that drainage and groundwater conditions must be carefully planned for. The walls themselves must be "water tight" or carefully built in order to prevent soil from seeping through (and ruining the flat area on the other side). This may be an important safety issue, as well - particularly in cold locales where ice formation may pose a hazard.
One thing is certain: if you need retaining walls, you cannot do better than Armtec Retaining Walls. Armtec supplies both materials and know-how in order to complete any retaining wall project. Retaining walls have to be secure, and Armtec delivers the means to build that security into your site.
About the Author:
Joan Jaynes is a non-affiliated Internet blogger who concentrates on the construction industry and associated technologies. She has a particular interest in the large-scale projects, such as Armtec Retaining Walls, as well as other precast concrete products.
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