Retaining walls are used to provide support to earth that would otherwise destabilize because of changes to the ground level. They are generally found in residential applications to help create level platforms to increase space usage. Thus, slopes and uneven terrain could be levelled out to be used as building sites but also ensure sufficient space for parking and an even yard for play areas.
Besides holding back soil, these walls may also be used to safeguard against erosion in areas where this can be a problem. Concrete retaining walls tend to be preferred because of the durability. They might be used in almost any conditions since concrete will not rot and so are especially effective in areas where they'll subjected to constant wetting and drying.
What to Consider When Building Walls
If you are thinking about building any walls on your property, you will first need to talk with local authorities to see if you want planning approval. Remember that this will change from area to area and will generally depend on the height of the wall and making certain a satisfactory drainage solution has been provided for.
You might have to present a drawing of the website plan with structural details in addition to design certification from a consultant. Again, https://dhallwalling.uk/best-dry-stone-walling-yorskhire/ to ask so you don't encounter any problems.
When building these walls, a good drainage solution is critical because if water builds up behind the wall, there's a good chance it will collapse. These walls are made to withstand the weight of soil and while which should seem sufficient, water exerts a lot more pressure than soil does so it pays to ensure you have proper drainage.
Types of Wall Blocks
These kind of walls are differentiated according to the way they are designed to resist the weight of the planet earth they're supporting. Thus, you can have gravity walls, piled walls and cantilever walls.
Gravity walls depend on their own weight to hold the soil back, while piled walls are built by embedding vertical posts in to the ground. Thus, piled walls may take a lot more pressure and tend to be useful for higher platforms. Cantilever walls are generally shaped like an inverted T and the soil resting on the foot of the wall is used to include extra support.
Retaining Walls and Fences
Fences tend to be built on top of retaining walls in order to save space. In such situations, you must make sure the retaining wall can support the weight of the fence as well as the soil, which explains why it is a good idea to seek the services of a specialist, regardless of how good you're at DIY.
Installing a fence on a retaining wall can also be problematic and is obviously more complicated that erecting it directly on soil. Again, it will likely be more cost effective to get the services of a specialist for your project so you don't have any nasty surprises later on down the line.
Concrete retaining walls are the most durable and effective solution for areas that have been levelled out and where one intends to install a fence. They provided added support and so are resistant to an array of weather conditions, making these walls the perfect solution usually.