Retaining Walls
Why are retaining walls needed?
Retaining walls are used to forbear a certain amount of earth or soil on the side of a hill or mountain. This is done in order to prevent erosion and landslides that could cause destruction and sometimes deaths. Retaining walls can be made out of cement, stone, concrete, or other materials that can withstand the pressure of the earth on top of them. It is important to have retaining walls because they help stabilize the land so it can be used for homes, businesses, and parks without fear of damage from a landslide or mudslide. The most common factor for building a retaining wall is to create a flat surface for new construction.
Are there different kinds of retaining walls?
There are plenty of different kinds of retaining walls, and each has its own uses and pros and cons. The most common kind of retaining wall is a gravity wall, which means it can stand on its own without any additional support from below. Gravity walls work by pulling the surrounding soil toward the bottom to counteract the force of gravity, which can be very useful for situations where you have soil with poor drainage or high water tables. They’re great for making walkways or patios that won’t wash away, but they’re not always the best choice for locations that may need to be accessed quickly in an emergency.
A cantilever retaining wall can help when you have a steep incline to deal with, because it can extend beyond the top of the existing ground level. Cantilever walls also work as a decorative element if you want to include them in your landscaping design. They’re not suitable if you’re looking for something that will be functional, though, since they don’t take advantage of gravity to hold themselves up.
Newer technology has introduced another option—engineered retaining walls are made from an entirely different material than traditional masonry materials like stone and brick. These new products are more suitable for locations with heavy traffic because they’re lighter and easier to install.
How much do retaining walls cost?
Cost is a common concern when deciding whether to have a retaining wall built or not, but people usually don’t know how to estimate the price. When you hire someone to build a retaining wall, they will likely be able to give you an estimate of how much it will cost, but that is just an estimate. The actual cost will depend on the size and location of the wall, and what material you choose for it.
In general, a small residential wall will cost around $1-$2 per square foot of wall. A large residential wall can easily cost over $10 per square foot. This can vary depending on how close your house is to the property line and how much earth needs to be moved. The type of soil will also affect the price of the project.
One thing that should be considered is that sometimes you need more than just the backfill behind a retaining wall. If you are building your new retaining wall in a location where there was no previous structure to hold back the earth, then you will also need geogrid or geocell materials to stabilize it. These materials are used to keep the soil from washing away and causing collapse problems in areas with heavy rains and high winds.