Onorato Landscaping: The #1 Wyckoff, NJ Retaining Walls

Retaining walls can be built from a variety of different materials. What works best depends on your budget, taste in design, and functionality. Commercial retaining walls are commonly built from poured concrete, while rural settings usually use pressure-treated timbers. A proper base for a retaining wall should be six inches deep and comprise a mixture of sand and gravel. Listed below are the most important steps to build a retaining wall.

Sheet pile retaining walls are typically used in areas where soil is soft or in areas with small spaces. Depending on the environment, they may be built to a higher or lower height. To construct a taller sheet pile wall, it will require a tie-back anchor behind the face of the wall. This anchor is placed behind the face of the wall so it is behind the potential failure plane of the soil. However, this type of retaining wall is not ideal for low-lying areas or in areas that experience heavy rains.

Resistant walls require frequent inspections to ensure they are properly installed and maintained. Building staff should check the wall regularly for deteriorated mortar joints, bulges, and any changes to the landscape either side. Drainage vents should be capped to prevent water from pooling around the base of the wall, as it will cause the wall to shift and cause damage. Fences and railings should also be checked to make sure they are stable. Those in Wyckoff can request a free retaining wall inspection.

When building a retaining wall, choose a material that can withstand the weight. A good choice would be poured concrete or large timbers. If you don’t have much experience building these types of structures, manufactured concrete blocks and stones are popular options. These are interlocking concrete blocks and stones designed for strength and durability. In addition, manufactured concrete blocks are easy to install, requiring only simple stacking and fastening with clips or pins. They are available at home improvement stores, and they are easy to install.

Retaining walls aren’t as simple as they might appear. Unlike normal walls, retaining walls are designed to hold both horizontal and vertical loads. Vertical loads, on the other hand, require different engineering techniques. You may want to consider constructing a piling or gravity wall, which are both good options for separating empty space, but are not appropriate for supporting vertical loads. And be sure to hire a professional with experience and knowledge in building retaining walls.

When you build a retaining wall, choose one of the most popular types of retaining wall blocks. These retaining walls are constructed from concrete blocks with a front lip and tipped back profile. They require low maintenance, and don’t require much maintenance. Retaining wall blocks are also cheap to produce and source. The price of decorative retaining wall blocks will depend on the size of the blocks you choose. Large blocks can hold more soil, and are usually higher than small ones. You can also choose a textured block for decorative purposes.

Timber retaining walls are among the cheapest materials to use, costing about $15 per square foot. However, you should be aware that timber can become brittle if the soil is saturated with moisture. Another good option is poured concrete or interlocking blocks, which cost about $5 more per square foot. If you’re looking for an inexpensive wall that matches your modern home, an interlocking block wall might be a good choice.