| re currently trying to discern whether or not you | | | | Since these structures provide support for |
| could benefit from building a retaining wall, try | | | | vertical grade changes, an effective one must be |
| answering the following questions: | | | | constructed in such a way as to accommodate |
| 1. Do you own a home or property situated on or | | | | and redistribute the lateral pressure caused by |
| near sloped, uneven ground? | | | | sloping. As a result, they vary in size and type, |
| 2. Do you live in a particularly wet climate where | | | | and often include materials like stone, brick, |
| flooding and soil erosion are prevalent? | | | | concrete, vinyl, steel, and pressure treated timber. |
| 3. Are you looking to add a touch of uniqueness | | | | If you're brainstorming ideas for a retaining wall, |
| and beauty to your yard and/or property? | | | | the following are commonly used types. |
| If you've answered "yes" to any one of the | | | | Gravity retaining walls rely on their mass to hold |
| questions above, it's time to consider installing one. | | | | back pressure. Often these walls are constructed |
| The Benefits of a Retaining Wall | | | | from large pieces of stone, concrete, or other |
| Retaining walls have a number of uses as well as | | | | heavy materials that are often a composite of |
| offer many practical advantages to the | | | | elements including steel, rock, timber, soil, and |
| homeowner. Generally, the main purpose is to | | | | concrete. |
| prevent the erosion of sloped earth that may | | | | Sheet pile retaining walls are utilized for soft earth |
| threaten to shift and slide; thereby, potentially | | | | and limited space. These walls are typically |
| damaging or destroying your home or property. | | | | constructed from thin sheets of steel, vinyl, or |
| They are also particularly effective tools in | | | | wood which are driven into the ground. |
| climates with heavy precipitation, e.g., the Pacific | | | | Cantilevered retaining walls were more popular |
| Northwest. Not only will an effective one properly | | | | before the introduction of gravity walls. These |
| support sloping earth, but it will also act as an | | | | walls are typically taller and fashioned from thin |
| effective means of draining water runoff and | | | | stems of steel-reinforced concrete often cast in |
| reducing hydrostatic pressure. Furthermore, they | | | | the shape of inverted T. In effect, they will |
| provide a number of agricultural benefits. For | | | | "cantilever" loads, diverting pressure downward |
| warmer, dryer climates, a wall can delay seepage | | | | toward the strong base instead of forward. The |
| of water from land, and for wetter climates, | | | | advantage to this particular type of wall is that it |
| properly drained walls can divert water from | | | | uses less material than most others. |
| areas prone to flooding. | | | | Anchored retaining walls employ the use of |
| In addition to practical purposes, these structures | | | | anchors placed behind the wall (into the earth) for |
| maintain a certain aesthetic value as well. As such, | | | | support. The size and shape of anchors vary, and |
| adding one may increase the resale value of your | | | | a number of different methods are used to place |
| home, while also enhancing your own enjoyment | | | | them. They are typically used when either high |
| of your property. For example, a wall can be | | | | loads are expected or the wall itself is required to |
| constructed in a series of steps or levels, granting | | | | be thin, rendering it too weak to stand alone. |
| you unrestricted creativity to include all kinds of | | | | Finally, soil nailing is a technique actually used to |
| plantings, flowers, or other elements that will add | | | | reinforce the wall. Usually, a number of relatively |
| texture, color, and new life to each successive | | | | slender elements, like steel bars, are installed |
| level. Not to mention, stepped retaining walls have | | | | through the wall at a downward angle. This allows |
| proven to be a more effective form of erosion | | | | them to be easily modified during the construction |
| control. | | | | process and, typically, built from the top down. |
| Retaining Wall Options | | | | |