10
Jan

A Guide to Creating the Right Type of Retaining Wall

Retaining walls are a must-have for your San Antonio landscape. They will be required whether you have steep slopes or reside in the hill country. At DNS Landscaping, we help design and build different types of retaining walls based on our clients’ specific needs and style preferences. There are different types of retaining wall systems, and our team creates them to engineering standards that ensure optimal performance. 

These structures serve different purposes including re-directing water, terraced landscaping, or meeting other requirements. In this guide, we would like to shed light on the different options available to you when you want to meet your retaining wall requirements.

Importance of Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are meant to contain and hold soil in place on properties with slopes. They are often used for setting off entertainment areas and patios or creating paths in backyards. These landscape structures are also helpful in restraining soil to create roads. 

Whether your retaining wall is made of masonry or concrete, it must be durable to withstand all the forces and last for decades. 

Determining the Right Type of Retaining Wall

When deciding on a retaining wall, you have to consider the type of structure and the materials. At DNS, our experts will evaluate the soil, location, drainage, and design before determining the right type of wall for your project. The different types of retaining wall designs are as follows:

  • Gravity Walls: These are curved or straight and measure 4 to 10 feet in height. Gravity retaining walls are made from concrete blocks, cast-in-place concrete, stone, or brick. 
  • Segmental Retaining Walls: These walls are made of concrete modular blocks. They can be created in any shape, which makes them suited for properties with extreme slopes.
  • Cantilevered Walls: These retaining walls are perfect for deep excavations. They are designed in the form of an inverted T and are made of reinforced concrete or mortar. The material is poured on-site, and the wall can rise to 18 feet. 
  • Sheet Walls: These retaining walls are designed for preventing erosion.
  • Counterfort Retaining Walls: They are just like cantilevered retaining walls, but can be as high as 40 feet.
  • Panel Walls: These walls are usually installed in tight spaces that involve heavy loads.

Retaining Wall Materials

Retaining walls vary, not just in terms of their designs, but also in terms of the material used. The most commonly used materials include concrete, stone, and masonry. The choice of materials for your project will depend on your wall’s location, the desired lifespan of the wall, and aesthetic preferences.

Poured concrete is the most durable material for installing retaining walls. The material provides flexibility, as it can be made to look similar to mortared stone. It is also suited for areas where there is a lack of space.

You can also consider interlocking concrete blocks. While these blocks are made of concrete, their rough face gives them a quarried appearance. Concrete blocks can fit together even without using mortar. Masonry retaining walls are built with or without mortar, but you will need the services of a mason to ensure they are properly installed. These retaining walls can last for at least four decades.

Now that you know about the different types of retaining walls, DNS Landscaping can help you make the right choice for your property. For more information, feel free to contact us at (210) 765-8667 or write to us via this Online Form.