Retaining walls keep soil in place, preventing it from shifting along slopes or hills and preventing erosion that could threaten the safety of structures like houses and swimming pools. They can also elevate landscape designs by adding curves and bringing in more color.
But as with any structure, retaining walls must be monitored for problems like cracking, bulging and shifting. Addressing these issues early will prevent major problems—and expenses—down the line. Contact Retaining Wall Colorado Springs for professional help.
Retaining walls are a beautiful and functional landscaping feature that can enhance your property’s curb appeal, increase its value, and help to create usable space on steep terrain. However, they need proper maintenance to ensure their stability and durability. In order to avoid costly repairs, it’s essential that you have an expert conduct a site evaluation before construction begins.
An experienced retaining wall construction team will be able to identify potential problems and recommend solutions before they become a serious issue. They can also guide you toward the most cost-effective and structurally sound retaining wall solution for your unique site conditions.
During the site evaluation process, experts examine the soil conditions and drainage requirements to determine how much foundational support will be needed for your commercial retaining wall project. They will use data from this analysis to design a base that is large enough to handle shifting and loading over time. They can also include weep holes or perforated piping to drain water and reduce hydrostatic pressure, which is another common cause of retaining wall failure.
They will also look for other factors that may affect the wall’s construction and performance, such as slope stability, existing plant life, or wetlands. These environmental considerations will impact where and how a retaining wall can be built, as well as its height restrictions and setback requirements. They can also evaluate whether a retaining wall will have to be reinforced with tieback anchors, geogrid fabric, or other materials.
Skipping a site assessment is costly in terms of both dollars and liability. Unforeseen issues such as unstable soil, drainage problems, and zoning issues can delay or even halt construction and lead to expensive fixes or redesign costs down the road.
Investing in an expert site assessment is the best way to ensure that your commercial retaining walls are safe and stable. Regular visual inspections can help identify cracks or shifts in the structure, which should be inspected promptly to prevent further damage and reduce the risk of collapse. In addition, a regular maintenance schedule should include routine cleaning and treatment of the wall to prevent vegetation growth that can weaken it.
Materials
A retaining wall’s main function is to support soil, but it can also add visual interest and structure to the landscape. Creative design with the right materials can take your walls beyond simple functional barriers into a focal point of the garden or an outdoor room. Retaining walls can help you expand usable space, solve grading problems, delineate different types of gardening areas and more.
The material you choose will depend on the load your wall must bear. Walls with a big structural load need strong, long-lasting materials that are reinforced for strength. Choosing a soft, crumbly or improperly constructed material will damage the wall, and could ultimately fail.
Segmental retaining wall blocks, or SRWs, are an increasingly popular option for many projects. These mortarless blocks assemble to create a sturdy retaining wall that can hold back dirt, correct a slope or fix other site problems. They come in a variety of colors, shapes and textures to blend with the architecture of your home or complement the existing landscaping. They can be built to heights of up to 10 feet.
Another type of retaining wall is a gravity retaining wall, which uses its own weight to resist lateral earth pressure. This can come from the weight of backfill, soil pressure, soil erosion or liquid pressure and can be constructed with a variety of materials including concrete, masonry, brick and natural stone. This kind of retaining wall can be built to heights up to 33 feet.
Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls are a cost-effective form of reinforcement retaining walls that combine a cantilever wall with a base slab. They use a mix of compacted soil and reinforcement material, such as geotextiles or geogrids, anchored to a concrete-facing panel. These can be built to heights up to 40 feet.
Wood is a traditional material for retaining walls and can be used in both straight and curved designs. It is often a less expensive option than masonry or concrete and can be built to heights up to four feet without a permit, provided that it is made from pressure-treated lumber. Walls that are higher than four feet require a permit and must be designed by a professional structural engineer.
Drainage
The structural integrity of retaining walls depends on drainage. Without it, excess moisture saturates the backfill and creates hydrostatic pressure that can shift wall alignment, push out facing units, or even cause structural failure over time. The best way to prevent this is by installing a comprehensive drainage system.
A reliable retaining wall drainage system relies on several components working together to control water flow and preserve the backfill. The first component is the soil itself, which should be a clean aggregate that promotes drainage and reduces moisture content. Adding a layer of geogrid reinforcement can further enhance performance and help resist lateral earth pressure. Rochester Concrete Products recommends using a grid with an appropriate tensile strength to accommodate expected loads.
Perforated drainage pipe installed in the backfill of the wall collects excess moisture and redirects it away from the wall, preventing excessive stress on the structure. Weep holes drilled into the base course of the wall allow trapped water to escape, further reducing hydrostatic pressure and helping to keep the retaining wall safe and sound.
It’s important to keep in mind that drainage systems need to be designed with seasonal changes in mind, too. Shifts in temperature, changing rainfall patterns, freeze-thaw cycles, and snowmelt can add extra moisture to the system and trigger soil movement that stresses retaining walls. This kind of pressure can overwhelm drainage and reinforcement systems, leading to structural failure and costly rebuilds.
For this reason, it’s critical to properly evaluate your soil prior to constructing a retaining wall. Depending on the type of soil, its permeability, and how it responds to stress, different types of retaining walls may be better suited for your property. To get an idea of your soil’s characteristics, conduct a simple “sand castle test” or consult a geotechnical engineer. Once you know what type of retaining wall is right for your site, you’re ready to start building. For a successful project, it’s crucial to work with a licensed, experienced professional. Contact the team at Rochester Concrete Products for your free retaining wall consultation today!
Design
Retaining walls help stabilize slopes and prevent large masses of earth or rocks from collapsing. They are a necessity in construction projects that involve removing soil or cutting away segments of mountains. Without them, the mass could slid down and cause a landslide or collapse the hillside. They also protect buildings from soil erosion that threatens foundations and other structures. Retaining walls can be built in a variety of sizes and styles. Some are rigid and made of masonry or concrete; others are flexible and able to yield a little to the force applied. Still others are anchored, which gives them more resistance and allows them to be constructed of thinner or lighter materials.
Retining walls are an attractive addition to any landscape. They boost curb appeal and distinguish properties from their neighbors, enticing potential homebuyers. In fact, they can add up to 20% to the value of a property.
Erosion is a serious problem that can cause damage to homes, roads and other infrastructure. It is often caused by water flowing over steep gradients and scouring the soil. It can also be accelerated by heavy traffic or the weight of parked cars, which can lead to structural problems and the loss of valuable soil. Retaining walls can prevent erosion by holding back heavy soil and reducing gradients through terracing. They can also be used to create raised flower beds and vegetable gardens, optimizing space while separating different outdoor living areas.
The design of retaining walls is based on the function they are being constructed for and the calculated load that will be exerted on them. The soil type, which determines whether a wall can be safely installed, must also be considered. Soil tests must be performed to determine the strength and consistency of the soil and determine the type of retaining wall that can be built on the site.
The most common type of retaining wall is a gravity wall. It is designed with modular block facing units and a geosynthetic reinforcement that create a coherent mass capable of resisting the soil forces acting on the wall system. In cases where enough space does not exist behind the face unit to install a geosynthetic reinforcement, the system can be designed with specialized structural backfill. This provides the same functionality and safety as MSE walls but requires less excavation and is much less expensive.