What Is A Retaining Wall?

Leonard Green Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is a structure that prevents a mass of matter, usually earth or rock on a slope, from precipitating or collapsing.

Some constructions require removing soil or cutting segments of a mountain, leaving voids or very vertical faces that can crumble and collapse. In these cases, it is necessary to include retaining walls in the planning of the work.

What Types Of Retaining Walls Are There

Depending on the characteristics of the terrain, the shape, and the needs of each work, different retaining walls will be built. These might be:

  • Rigid: made of masonry or concrete, they create immovable structures.
  • Flexible: made with less rigid structures and materials, they can yield a little to the load to which they are subjected without breaking.

Depending on their construction and operation, retaining walls can be of different types, some of them are:

  • Anchored: they have bolts anchored to the vertical ground that support soil loads and water erosion. 
  • Gravity: their dimensions allow them to counteract, with their weight, the pressure exerted by the soil to be contained.
  • Gravity reinforced: manufactured in an inverted T shape or L shape. They are made with reinforced concrete. The base or foot of these walls is driven under the ground.
  • Driven: they are embedded in the ground at great depth using specialized machinery.
  • Reinforced soil: they are built with thin layers of natural material (earth and gravel) that are compacted and superimposed. This material is contained in some metal armor. 
  • Reinforced earth: they are similar to reinforced soil retaining walls, but geotextile is used as reinforcement. Geotextile is a synthetic and absorbent fabric that separates grounds of different granulometries (making them more stable) and protects and reinforces them.
  • Prefabricated: they are assembled with blocks or pieces and are used for quick solutions with few technical demands.

What Should Be Taken Into Account When Building A Retaining Wall?

When planning and calculating retaining wall structures, it is essential to consider many factors. For this, the Finite Element Method (FEM ) is used.

The FEM is used to solve problems in mathematical and engineering physics models that work with differential equations. Some fields of application of the method are structure analysis, heat transfer, or electromagnetic potential, among others. For its application, there are different software today.

In the case of retaining walls, the Finite Element Method allows the calculation of load stresses, ground displacements, and deformations of the structure, thus ensuring that the walls can support loads efficiently, permanently, and safely.

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Advantages Of Retaining Walls In Terms Of Security

Below, we present the main security advantages that retaining walls offer :

They Prevent Soil Erosion

The retaining walls prevent soil erosion and avoid landslides during the rainy season. They are also helpful in preventing the accelerated decay of fertile lands and economic losses.

They Protect From Floods

They are usually used in river beds to balance the channel and protect crops and populations from flooding.

They Counteract The Pressure Of The Terrain In Urban Works

They are also used to prevent earth thrusts that could damage other works, causing landslides that endanger the safety of a community.

More Excellent Safety In Seismic Soils

Seismic soils are unstable, have little load capacity, and can easily give way at the slightest movement, causing accidents. In these cases, retaining walls can offer more excellent protection than conventional alternatives.

They Resist High Loads

They are designed to withstand large loads such as those of roads, bridges, and streets, stabilizing ground pressure and supporting the earth so that it does not sink.

They Protect Private Areas

Retaining walls are also used to delimit a private area, such as a residential area, to provide its inhabitants with greater security and protection.

These retaining walls are usually reinforced concrete and protected with a perimeter infiltration system, providing excellent resistance and durability.

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Everything You Need To Know About Retaining Wall Design

Leonard Green Retaining Wall Design

Many homeowners dream of leveling their uneven lawns. To achieve this, professionals add a retaining wall. Here are the main things to consider when designing a retaining fence for your yard.

When considering improving your landscaping, you should strongly consider building a retaining wall. There are several benefits to having a retaining wall, from reducing soil erosion to increasing the value of your property. Several will likely catch your attention and help you decide if a retaining wall is the appropriate next step in improving your landscaping.

Retaining Wall Design Considerations

When designing self-supporting retaining walls in Montreal, the following aspects must be studied:

  • The stability of the ground around the wall
  • The stability of the retaining wall itself
  • The structural resistance of the wall
  • Damage caused to adjacent structures by the construction of the wall.

The amount of earth pressure that will be exerted on a wall depends on the amount of movement the wall experiences.

For self-supporting retaining walls, it is usual to assume that sufficient outward movement occurs to allow active ground pressures to develop. The designer must ensure that adequate activity can occur without affecting the wall’s serviceability or appearance.

Where the required outward movement can’t occur due to the rigidity of the wall or foundation, higher pressures will develop, and the wall must be designed accordingly.

Other considerations

The possible occurrence of other design cases, or variations, caused by the construction sequence or future development of surrounding areas must also be considered. For example, consider additional live loads and any possible future earth removal in front of the wall in connection with services. This is valid if the passive resistance of this material is included in the stability calculations. The effect of excavation on the bearing capacity of the wall can also be considered.

To determine the soil pressure, it is usual to consider a unit of length of the wall cross-section and the retained soil. A measurement team is also used to design cantilever walls and other walls of uniform area.

Types of retaining wall

The term “retaining wall” literally means any wall whose function is to support any material, such as ore, water, cereals, earth, etc. However, as more distinctive terms such as dam, reservoir, and silo have been coined, common sense dictates that the word “retaining wall” only refers to walls retaining only earth.

Bordering Walls

  • The walls bordering, on their periphery, the buried basements. They are not designed to be stable on their own. They only stabilize if maintained, primarily by an upper floor and secondarily by side walls. Therefore, to avoid the risk of collapse, you must only carry out backfilling without even creating the basement’s upper floor.

Independent walls

Walls are separate from the building or are sometimes attached to it. We can distinguish :

  • Walls intended to support the land at the edge of properties—the walls are inside a property and allow the creation of terraces.
  • The walls which border the access ramps to the garage located in the basement.
  • Walls that are constantly held in place by tie rods. They are implemented to be self-stable.

Weight walls

This is the most classic type of support, the oldest, and the most commonly implemented. It is their highly significant weight that allows them to oppose the thrust of the earth.

They are generally rigid or semi-rigid structures and are equipped with a drainage system when their function is not to maintain the water level contained in the land to be supported. They are usually used to support excavated materials. In addition, they are easy to implement and integrate perfectly with the site in which they are carried out.

The materials that can be used for their production are:

  • Masonry of jointed stone, unreinforced concrete, or cyclopean concrete (stone blocks or rubble embedded in concrete) cast in place
  • Masonry of dry stones or unjointed stones and gabion
  • Prefabricated elements in reinforced concrete or not (boxes filled with earth, blocks, beams, flower cells, etc.

Reinforced concrete walls or cantilever walls

 They are very commonly used. They are characterized by an enlarged base embedded in the foundation soil’s upper part to support the backfill and its stability.

 A reinforced concrete wall is embedded in the reinforced concrete foundation sole. The latter can be equipped with a spade to guarantee the wall’s stability against sliding in the case where the resistance of the ground and the footprint require that the width of the sole be small.…

Great Retaining Wall Options For A Yard

Leonard Green Retaining Wall For Yard

Having a sloping front yard can be a problem. Not only will your garden erode over time, but keeping your grass and plantings healthy can also be problematic. Keeping your yard in check with a retaining wall is one of the best ways to correct this. For steeper courses, you can use retaining walls to create a series of levels with stairs connecting the levels. Whichever option suits your property, the result will be usable space and a very stable landscape. Unilock offers several excellent options for building a robust and durable retaining wall:

Ridge wall

One of the most popular wall-building unit options offered by Unilock is Wall Ridges, and once you see the pieces for yourself, you’ll see why. Offered in Chamois and Slate tones, the wall provides an authentic appeal. With the realistic look of stacked slabs, this wall will help hold your front yard built up while providing an exciting and versatile aesthetic.

Dimensional Lineo Stone

As a modern alternative, consider Pierre Lineo Dimensionally. This wall unit offers a contemporary style emphasizing linearity and a smooth texture. Available colors include Platinum, Sierra, and Walnut, so you’ll have several matching choices. Lineo Dimensional Pierre best suits low retaining walls and raised beds rather than sizeable load-bearing retaining walls.

Brussels dimensional system

System dimensional de Bruxelles offers a natural aesthetic for a wall with a weathered texture and incredible strength when building a retaining wall. The durability and appearance of your fence will not disappoint you when you choose this option. The Brussels Dimensional System is available in various color options to ensure an excellent fit to your home and landscape.

Domain wall

If you want a retaining wall solution with the majestic appearance of weathered rock, consider Estate Wall units from Unilock. With a natural, weathered aesthetic, this wall will serve as a statement piece whether you choose the River, Sierra, or Walnut color option.

Pisa2

Ideal for a steep slope, Pise2 units lock tightly together, providing incredible strength while facilitating curves within the retaining wall as needed. The split, weathered texture complements the natural colors of Granite, River, Sandstone, or Sierra rocks, perfectly adapting to your needs for a robust, practical, aesthetically pleasing retaining wall.

Romania

Another nature-inspired option is RomanPisa. This series’ claim to fame is its ability to blend into its surroundings. RomanPisa guarantees a retaining wall that will serve its purpose without disturbing the existing balance of your landscape. As with Pisa2, the color options are Granite, River, and Sierra, and the texture is Split and Weathered. This is the right choice when you prefer the retaining wall to become a natural part of the landscape rather than a focal point.

Roman pile

Roman Pile is rounding out the options for retaining walls with the standard shades of Granite, River, and Sierra. This series has a standard size, creating a more straightforward aesthetic for your wall. You will be satisfied by this natural rock aesthetic for constructing your retaining wall.…

What Is The Use Of A Retaining Wall?

Leonard Green Retaining Wall

Generally found on sloping land, the retaining wall is a solid structure that retains all kinds of materials from the earth. Whatever its nature, it prevents materials from eroding or slipping. It, therefore, resists the different material pressures of the materials it retains. To learn more about the usefulness of this solid structure, please read this article.

The retaining wall slows soil erosion.

Whatever its nature, the retaining wall plays several roles. First, it exists in different forms, and the best known are:

  •     free-standing retaining walls;
  •     “weight” retaining walls;
  •     gabion retaining walls;
  •     dry stone retaining walls.

Today, heavy downpours, violent winds, and melting snow are all natural phenomena that contribute to soil erosion. Indeed, the decline cannot only strip your landscaped environment but can also be very problematic for land in flood-prone or humid areas.

Generally built by public works companies such as Sud Enrobe; a retaining wall can reduce erosion risk. Furthermore, this solid structure keeps your lawn in excellent condition. Also, it serves to keep the plants in place.

The retaining wall makes the materials much more durable.

When it comes to landscaping, rubble stone is a significant investment. Not only does it prevent your space from remaining subject to soil erosion, but it also makes the materials much more durable.

So your construction is likely to last for a very long time. Moreover, a retaining wall is perfect for:

  •     Public or private gardens;
  •     The parks ;
  •     landscaping of commercial buildings;
  •     landscaping of public establishments.

A retaining wall is very resistant to weather conditions, allowing your entire construction to remain intact. Furthermore, it only requires a little maintenance.

The retaining wall improves landscaping.

Above all, the retaining wall is a structure that allows you to achieve successful landscaping. Just like the design of a building, its construction can be made from different materials. You can opt for paving stones, wood, concrete, bricks, or even natural stones.

Furthermore, you can choose between mosaics applied to walls or stone veneers. Thanks to these options, you can easily personalize your retaining wall. It can fit in with the rest of the aesthetics of your home, making it more attractive.

The retaining wall adds space to your yard.

By creating retaining walls, you will undoubtedly bring a lot of functional space to your yard. Then, you can use this space for a plantation. Furthermore, you can add earthworks to create an attractive and imposing facade for your yard.

It is also an opportunity to highlight gardens and patios. However, the materials used to construct the retaining wall must be of good quality to be excellent.

To complete a retaining wall construction project, you must first and foremost do good planning. In this regard, you can:

  •     choose a good product or material;
  •     choose a good supplier;
  •     select your budget based on the expenses to be made.

When well prepared, call on a better professional for your retaining wall construction project. Do not hesitate to ask for advice to make a better choice.

What is a retaining wall used for?

A retaining wall is a wall that allows pressure to be contained, in principle, at an earth height of at least two meters to prevent landslides. Such a wall aims to have Earth in a defined and reduced space. For an individual, building a retaining wall in their garden allows them to create additional space, often dedicated to planting flowers and trees. For this type of wall to be effective, you must ensure that humidity does not enter and, above all, does not stagnate. A retaining wall should typically not exceed four meters in height and should not be built on land with a slope greater than 10°.…

How To Build A Retaining Wall?

Leonard Green Retaining Wall

The retaining wall is one of the most challenging masonry structures to construct. It must contain extreme loads, and its construction must be meticulous to guarantee solidity.

Preparing the site

Before starting the construction of your retaining wall, check with the technical services of your town hall that pipes or cables stay in your basement.

  1. First, precisely mark out the location of your retaining wall using stakes and a rope.
  2. Dig a trench, a little wider than the concrete blocks you will use, all along the route you drew with the rope. Allow a depth of 2.5 cm per 20 cm of planned wall height.
  3. Pack the soil from the bottom of the trench, preferably with a soil compactor, to level the earth.
  4. Place a layer of 10 to 15 cm of large gravel at the bottom of the trench and distribute it well using a rake.
  5. Check that the layer is flat with a spirit level and compact again.

Laying the foundation

Then, move on to laying the foundation of the retaining wall, which comprises concrete blocks, most often 20 cm solid concrete blocks. This step must be carried out with caution. The quality of the entire fence depends on it. The elements that make up the foundation must be stable, solid, and well-connected. Lay the first row of concrete blocks at the bottom of the trench on the base layer. Hit them with a rubber mallet to position them correctly. Finally, to finish the foundation, backfill the row of concrete blocks with crushed stone to prevent it from sagging over time.

The construction of the retaining wall itself

You will now add a second row of concrete blocks on top of the first by staggering them from each other and ensuring they are well-laid. To do this, apply the mortar, ensuring that it is not too wet, to the concrete block below and place it on top, pressing firmly to ensure its solidity. You must repeat the operation until you obtain the desired retaining wall height. To finish the wall, you can, for example, lay slabs above the last row of concrete blocks.

Varieties of retaining walls

A retaining wall is a structure constructed of masonry. Generally, it is made with concrete blocks. But it can also be made of steel, reinforced concrete, bricks, dry or cut stone, rubble, wood, or even plastic. There are several types:

  • The self-stable retaining wall made of reinforced concrete or concrete blocks, which uses the weight of the earth it contains to stabilize itself,
  • the “weight” retaining wall which opposes its significant weight to the thrust of the earth it holds,
  • The retaining wall is made of gabions, a sort of iron cage filled with stones, which has the advantage of allowing running water to pass through,
  • The dry stone retaining wall, composed mainly of stones as its name suggests, facilitates drainage.

How much does a retaining wall cost?

If we consider a retaining wall made of concrete blocks, the most common, we must count, on average, a cost of 100 euros per square meter.

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