Some Considerations for Landscape Retaining Walls
A retaining wall is a wall built with the intention of slowing down or stopping the lateral forces that would otherwise result from soil settling and/or erosion of a slope. Retaining walls are often used to hold up banks or prevent houses from sliding down hillsides, but they can also be used to define property lines, level ground for roads and buildings, keep water out of low-lying areas, etc. They are also referred to as “banks”, a term that is better defined as part of a drainage system.
With the average slope from the bottom of the wall to the top being about 18 degrees, a retaining wall must be strong enough to support itself while also protecting its foundation, compression members, and any development on top of it. This is an exceptionally difficult problem since it requires builders to apply extremely large forces against gravity (against which most materials will fail), while also providing construction details that will not fail in such an environment. Retaining walls must not only be built with the necessary strength and durability, but they must also withstand the conditions of their environment.
Oakland Retaining Walls are often stabilized using soil nails, or plates, which enforce negative pressure against the soil with a minimum of ½” of the plate for every 3 linear feet of wall. Nails are installed to penetrate through the foundation and extend above ground, creating a bond with the backfill material. As the wall is built, the plates are attached, then filled with stone, concrete blocks, or a combination to maintain pressure against the soil.
Other methods involve building a waterproofing system with an impervious barrier such as stone or concrete blocks or using metal racking systems to reinforce soil pressures. In order for all of these methods to be effective, they must be used in combination with grading that allows water to flow freely away from the supporting foundation walls and any other support system on top of them. Concrete retaining walls made with concrete forming boards are often built to support the earth that needs to be retained (dry) while also providing a hard surface around the sides and bottom of the wall to allow for foot traffic or lawnmowers. The higher compressive strength of concrete makes it an ideal material for this situation.
To be effective, the bottom of a concrete wall must be lined with a layer of compacted gravel before the first course of the block is placed. The gravel helps to drain away any water that may flow down the wall, keeping it dry so that it will not corrode. Concrete blocks are laid in a running bond pattern starting at the bottom and alternating sides in each course with headers every two feet. If necessary, steel reinforcing rods can be placed behind the concrete on the grid lines to further stabilize it. Gravel is used as an essential component in holding the entire wall together, but it must also be a component of any monolithic retaining wall.
The type of material used to build a retaining wall plays an important role in its ability to perform properly. Stone walls are the most long-lasting and are usually constructed with load-bearing mortar that is applied to all vertical surfaces. The mortar joints must be relatively wide when compared to the blocks in order to allow for water infiltration and will often have a lap joint. Stone walls are usually much denser than concrete and can withstand significantly higher loads. Please check more in oaklandretainingwalls.com
What are the Different Types of Retaining Walls?
Retaining walls are used to contain areas that have been eroded by water, which is usually found in streams and rivers. These walls serve a variety of purposes such as slowing or redirecting water, protecting homes from flooding and preventing erosion and the loss of valuable natural land. There are many different types of retaining wall construction with some scenarios like urban planning requiring the use of certain types depending on soil conditions.
The types of retaining wall construction to be used depending on the circumstances surrounding the construction. It all depends on whether the land is level or sloping, and what materials are available. There are certain situations where a retaining wall is needed which can then lead to the different types of retaining wall construction.
The best retaining walls are constructed from native soil and rocks which can be found in most fields, or at least a lot of them. Prefabricated wall units are usually the second choice since they can’t be used in all situations. However, they can still prove to be useful when designing a retaining wall, especially on high terrain where an artificial wall is required. Metal structures are usually the third choice because of their ease and versatility of use with native soils and rocks. They are usually cheaper when comparing materials, but their maintenance can be costlier than the other options.
Bridge abutments are another type of retaining wall that is usually constructed by rocks and concrete. Not only do they require a lot of labor and strength to construct, but they are also highly effective in preventing land erosion. They have an additional use as well since they can be used as a support or bench for railway bridges. But on the other hand, this type of wall can damage railways and have a negative impact on surrounding areas. Solid rock walls are made of rocks that can be used to form the sides of the retaining wall. Other rocks are used to build up the middle of the walls to prevent erosion. The solid rock wall is a lot stronger as it is made from large stones which make up the entire edge of the wall. However, the downside of this is that it takes a lot of time and energy to build.
There are many reasons why retaining walls are needed. It can be to prevent erosion or flooding. Another reason is that to keep the water in its place or simply to create a boundary for it so it does not overflow onto roads and other areas. They are also used by urban planners to create boundaries for housing and workplaces, which is mostly done in urban areas with many hills and slopes where there is a lot of opportunity for water and land movement.
Retaining walls are sometimes included in other construction projects such as bridges, and large buildings. It can also be used to prevent flooding in areas where huge amounts of water are present. These retaining walls will funnel excess water into places that can handle it and redirect it so that there will not be any more problems.
The materials used to build the wall, such as the concrete wall form is very important too since it determines how long the wall will last, how much energy was spent on its production and if the retaining wall structure is a good match for its environment. So it is very important to use the best materials available in order to prevent any unwanted consequences. Determining how big the retaining wall is to be built will depend on many factors such as the slope of the land and the amount of water involved. It is also determined by whether or not a house is being constructed alongside the wall, but it doesn’t necessarily have any relation to its scale. The wall should be at least 6 feet wide and 3 feet tall, although this can vary depending on location.