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RETAINING WALLS EROSION CONTROL REPAIR INSTALLERS
BUILDERS
Retaining walls stabilize
A retaining wall is a structure that
holds back earth. Retaining walls stabilize soil and rock from
down slope movement or erosion and provide support for vertical
or near-vertical grade changes. Cofferdams and bulkheads,
structures to hold back water, are sometimes also considered
retaining walls. Retaining walls are generally made of masonry,
stone, brick, concrete, steel or timber. Once popular as an
inexpensive retaining material, railroad ties have fallen out of
favor due to environmental concerns.
Drainage System
The most important consideration in
proper design and installation of retaining walls is that the
retained material is attempting to move forward and down slope
due to gravity. This creates a soil pressure behind the wall
(depending on the angle of internal friction (phi) and the
cohesive strength (c) of the material). This pressure is
smallest at the top and increases toward the bottom and will
push the wall forward or overturn it if nor properly addressed.
Also any groundwater behind the wall that is not dissipated by a
drainage system causes an additional horizontal hydraulic
pressure on the wall.
We measure out your prospective
wall, using stakes and string to mark off the key points,
starting at the lowest point, we use a flat shovel to dig a
trench for the foundation course. The dimensions of the trench
will vary depending on the size of your block generally about 2
to 7 inches deep.
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