Gravity retaining walls
They are the simplest and earliest recorded type of retaining wall. Built of concrete, masonry, brick, blocks or mass cast-in-situ concrete, these hard-wearing structures rely on their large weight to resist toppling and sliding caused by the lateral earth pressure from the soil behind them.
For DIYers, it's easiest to use concrete retaining wall blocks that interlock. Interlocking blocks fit together and add extra security to the wall. For retaining wall ideas, visit your local store for inspiration. When the soil behind a retaining wall gets wet, it exerts much more pressure and weight against the wall.
Surprisingly, yes. You can use bags of concrete as a retaining wall. And just to be clear, we don't mean using the concrete within the bag, we mean using the bag itself as the wall.
With proper planning, a small to medium sized retaining wall can be a weekend project. The most simple method of retaining is using a masonry link wall block such as the Adbri Versawall Block. This type of block requires no specific engineering, concrete, mortar or glue.
Absolutely! Even a 2-foot retaining wall needs an effective drainage system. Without it, water can build up behind the wall, leading to pressure that might cause the wall to lean or even collapse. All walls need systems to manage water effectively, preventing damage over time.
Without the wall, erosion of the hill's soil can cause quite a bit of damage to your property over time. Perhaps you have a walk-out basement or want to build a pool. Homes with the former require retaining walls to protect the entrance to the walkout basement.
As a rule of thumb, native shrubs and groundcover are great low-maintenance options for a hillside while also helping stabilize the soil and add some color.
The height and length of your retaining wall also affect the overall cost. Taller and longer walls require more materials and labor, increasing expenses. For the cheapest retaining wall, consider building a shorter wall or using terracing techniques to reduce the required height.
A gabion wall is a retaining wall made of stacked stone-filled gabions tied together with wire. Gabion walls are usually battered (angled back towards the slope), or stepped back with the slope, rather than stacked vertically.
Poured concrete is the cheapest type of retaining wall, in terms of materials. Pressure-treated pine is next, and wood retaining walls are becoming more popular now. If you prefer stone, granite is generally the least expensive option.
Retaining walls with horizontal sleepers
Lay out the first row of sleepers horizontally and then the next layer on top, overlapping the joints like brick laying. Use 150mm landscaping screws to fix these two rows together and then continue until you have the height of wall you want.
Cantilever retaining walls
Cantilever walls are built using reinforced concrete, with an L-shaped, or inverted T-shaped, foundation. This kind of retaining wall consists of a stem and a base slab (or footing) which sits under the backfill.
QUIKRETE® Concrete Mix or QUIKRETE® 5000 is recommended for heavier retaining walls. Because of the pressure created by the sloping aggregate, cure the concrete for at least 7 days before removing the forms. Once the forms are removed, tamp QUIKRETE® All-Purpose Gravel into the space behind the wall.
Poured Concrete and Block Wall Foundation Costs
Usually, the cost of construction varies from place to place. But as a matter of fact, poured walls cost about 20% less than block foundation walls.
Concrete hardens as quickly underwater as it does in the dry although the lower temperatures may slow strength development. However, vibration and levelling of concrete underwater can be difficult or impractical because of the risk of mixing water into the concrete.
Masonry retaining walls, constructed from stone, brick, or concrete blocks, offer strength and longevity when built with proper drainage. While materials can be purchased from stone yards and home centers, professional installation by a mason is often recommended for the best results.
In summary, retaining walls do need a footing to ensure they are structurally sound and have proper drainage to prevent cracking or collapse. Without a footing, the ground beneath the retaining wall can shift, which can cause the wall to shift as well, leading to cracking or collapse.