How To Choose Retaining Walls For Your Garden

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Retaining walls are a great aid to landscaping. These structures allow home owners to make the maximum use of their gardens while adding to the aesthetic value of the property.




What Are Retaining Walls?

Retaining walls are basically barriers that keep in shaped pilings of soil so as to create raised areas within the property. These raised sections can then be landscaped in various ways so as to maximize space usage and also add to the beauty of the area. Some of the uses of a retaining wall include:

  • To create a raised garden or an earthen patio
  • To cut up a sloping yard into a flat, sectioned one to increase the amount of usable space
  • To help construct a lower walkway

Retaining Walls

Types of Retaining Walls

There are several different types of retaining barriers, depending on the method of construction and the materials used. Some of the common types of retaining barricades include:

  • Gravity retaining wall-as the name suggests, a gravity retaining wall basically relies on gravitational force for strength and support. Unlike other types of retaining barriers, a gravity retaining wall uses its entire mass to resist the pressure exerted by the soil mass it contains.
    The walls are usually constructed using a process known as battering. Basically, the walls are built so that they slant backward into the retained soil. This gives the walls greater stability and, in turn, increases their life spans. For this very reason, gravity retaining borders are great value for money. However, constructing a gravity retaining wall requires a certain amount of engineering knowledge because a number of fairly complex calculations are needed to compute the necessary wall dimensions.
  • Anchored retaining walls-an anchored retaining wall is used in situations where the structure will have to handle considerable amounts of pressure. One well-known form of the anchored retaining wall is the cantilevered retaining wall. Cantilevered walls are usually constructed in the shape of an inverted T, and are one of the best retaining walls for slopes. This type of retaining wall works by converting horizontal pressure into vertical pressure. However, cantilevered retaining walls cost more when compared to other versions, so consider your budget carefully before deciding on one.
  • Sheet pile retaining walls-this is one of the newest types of retaining barriers and provides a more elegant and modern option to traditional variations. Sheet pile walls are the perfect option for people who want a more aesthetic alternative to concrete block retaining walls. Common materials used in sheet pile construction include vinyl, steel, and wood. These also often work out to be more cost-effective than block retaining walls.

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Retaining Walls

To conclude, the three most important factors when deciding on a retaining wall are suitability, budget, and aesthetics. Your choice of retaining walls should not only be appropriate for the kind of landscaping you have in mind, but they should also fit into your remodeling budget and be pleasing to the eye. Be sure to look at the various models available before making a final decision. There are several websites where you can find detailed descriptions of the various types of retaining walls and their uses.

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