When the natural landscape of an area is hilly or sloped, retaining walls are used to level the land or to add steps to a hill. Soil naturally slides down a hill when the angle of a slope becomes greater than what can naturally be held in place by gravity. A retaining wall is a manmade structure built to prevent soil from sliding.

The type of retaining wall used and its load capacity depend on many variables, some of which include soil type, the height of the wall and materials used to build the wall. However, in the construction of all retaining walls, proper drainage is vital. Because water is heavy, it can create additional pressure that can destroy a retaining wall. Unless a retaining wall is specifically designed to retain water, proper drainage is required. Backfilling with coarse, granular soil is one technique that improves drainage.

One popular retaining wall is the cantilevered wall. This wall is constructed from concrete or masonry that is reinforced with steel. One example of a cantilevered retaining wall is a basement wall. The wall is uniform in thickness and tied to the footing using steel reinforcement. The result is that horizontal pressure from the soil is converted to vertical pressure on the ground, preventing sliding soil.

Gravity walls are another common type of retaining wall. These walls are thicker at the bottom than at the top and lean back into the soil to create additional support. Gravity walls are constructed from stone, concrete, or other heavy materials, because they use their own weight to stop soil from sliding. The more setback the wall has, or the more it leans into the earth, the less pressure there is on the retaining wall.

A variation of the cantilevered wall is the counterfort retaining wall. A counterfort retaining wall has an extra hidden support wall that is shaped like a triangle. The top the wall is connected to the footer, providing additional support. Buttressed retaining walls are the same as counterfort walls, except that the support wall is visible.

Sheet piling walls are constructed of steel, vinyl or wood planks. The materials are driven into the ground about two-thirds of the way in. More commonly used where the soil is soft, the depth in which sheet piling walls are driven depends on the geography.

An anchored wall is basically a retaining wall that has extra reinforcement. For example, some walls have cables that are anchored into the soil. When walls are high or if they are skinny, they may require additional reinforcement through anchoring.

Retaining walls can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. For example, concrete steps leading up to a home will prevent soil from sliding, provide a pathway to an elevated point, and can be constructed using patterns or colors to enhance the look.

No matter the type of retaining wall built, if the height is more than three to four feet, then the wall should be engineered by a professional to ensure safety.

Prior to buying mulch London Ontario , Retaining walls London Ontario, or any other landscaping supplies, familiarize yourself with the products and buy them from premier suppliers. Fisher Landscape & Golf Supplies 258 Exeter Road, London, ON N6L 1A3 (519) 652-6752

Prior to buying mulch London Ontario, Retaining walls London Ontario, or any other landscaping supplies, familiarize yourself with the products and buy them from premier suppliers. Fisher Landscape & Golf Supplies 258 Exeter Road, London, ON N6L 1A3 (519) 652-6752. http://www.fishertopsoil.ca/

Author Bio: Prior to buying mulch London Ontario , Retaining walls London Ontario, or any other landscaping supplies, familiarize yourself with the products and buy them from premier suppliers. Fisher Landscape & Golf Supplies 258 Exeter Road, London, ON N6L 1A3 (519) 652-6752

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