Figuring Out
Retaining Walls For Landscaping and Home Foundations
Retaining walls are relatively rigid walls that are used to hold back soil. The walls can be built on two sides with different levels of soil retained on either side. The use of retaining walls can be an excellent option for many different situations, including landscape gardens and home foundations. Read on to learn more about this common construction method.
Retaining walls are used to redirect water where it is most needed, and they can also help prevent flooding and erosion. They are especially useful when the slope of a property is close to water. However, retaining walls are subject to various city and state regulations. For this reason, it is important to consider a few factors before you decide to build one.
One of the most common types of retaining walls is sheet pile. These are built with a sheet of steel or vinyl and are often used on tight areas. The sheets are often held together with steel or tie-back anchors. While they are not as sturdy as other types, they can withstand more forces than other retaining walls.
Retaining walls are not only useful for stabilizing slopes, they can also be an extremely attractive aesthetic feature of your property. For example, a curvilinear architectural retaining wall can be beautiful on its own, but also when combined with landscaping or a set of stairs. The curvilinear shape of a retaining wall will help define space and add interest to your landscape. A retaining wall can also be used to create a beautiful new garden bed. A series of smaller retaining walls can create a terraced hillside that will showcase beautiful flower beds.
The height of a retaining wall is another important consideration when building one. This will determine the amount of weight it can bear and the amount of reinforcement that will be needed. Typically, residential retaining walls are three to four feet high, but higher walls may require special engineering. It is also possible to create a taller wall using a series of three-four foot-high walls.
Retaining walls should be built to last for many years. They should be water-tight and have no cracks. If water cannot drain, the soil behind them will become saturated, and this will cause a miniature landslide. To ensure the drainage of your retaining wall, you may want to install drainage pipes.
Retaining walls can be made of a variety of materials, such as concrete blocks, timber, and even rocks and boulders. The materials used to build a retaining wall vary, but they are all designed to hold soil. A retaining wall can also be a stepping stone in a garden or a retaining wall to hold decorative elements.
In most cases, retaining walls can be insured under your home insurance policy. This means that they are covered if they are damaged by a vehicle or fire. However, it doesn’t cover damage caused by flooding or earth movement, which is why it is important to build a retaining wall that drains well.
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