Retaining Wall Systems Provide A Barrier To Soil Erosion In Your Sloping Landscape

By Author: Michael Boyce
Total Articles: 2
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Retaining wall systems are structures that hold back or retain lateral faces of dirt, water, or other material. People build these to prevent erosion or the collapse of higher level ground onto a certain building, structure, or area. If the land that you live is sloping by nature, retaining wall systems can turn your steep slope into a terraced yard. Instead of a slope, you now have a stair step effect built into the landscape of your home.

There are different materials and different building techniques that go into retaining wall systems. Still, certain factors will determine how your wall system is to be ultimately constructed. These include cost, wall height, soil characteristics, and ground water conditions. Most municipalities will tell you that if you build one over four feet in height, these have to be approved by a licensed engineer. Even those fewer than four feet should get clearance as well.

If you decide to put up retaining wall systems in your home, you must be sure that it can stand up to backfill pressure. Also known as lateral earth pressure, it is the majority of force that your wall will need ...
... to bear. This pressure is determined by the weight of the soil unit, slope of the soil, soil type, and ground water levels. The engineer you hire will do many calculations before determining which design to ultimately use.
There are times when cutting costs will cross your mind. Hiring a bad contractor, purchasing insufficient materials, or utilising low grade elements will lead to constant replacing or repair of your retaining wall systems. The problems associated with this include bowing, slanting, or cracking. Retaining wall systems often fail because they were not successful in holding the dirt in place.

Another aspect that is often neglected or underestimated that leads to retaining wall failure is drainage. Inadequate drainage of retaining wall systems means that water is trapped behind the wall, adding to the weight that it must hold back. Usually weep holes or drainage pipes are used to flush rain water and ground water from behind the wall. It is important that the drainage system, whatever you choose, has a filter barrier that will prevent dirt from clogging the drain or weep hole.
If you are thinking about what kind of retaining wall systems to build, why not consider concrete retaining walls? This is one of the most durable man-made products and a lot of the concrete materials used in construction sites today are designed to last for over 50 years. There are also a lot of decorative options that concrete retaining walls provide. You can paint it with colours, stain it after it has been cured, lay in a pattern over it, or apply a vertical stamp material. Sealing the concrete wall can help you keep the surface free from dirt and grime as well.

Another choice would be block retaining walls. Should you decide to build this, it should have a significant footer to support not only the weight of the dirt but also the weight of the wall. These blocks will provide your home with a unique look, but it is important that you place a concrete retaining wall behind these in case of enormous lateral earth pressure. In this case, the concrete would serve as the structural element and the blocks remain as the visual feature.

For a wide selection of ideas and solutions for retaining walls, blocks and pavers check out this site.