Retaining walls come in many different shapes, sizes, and uses. Whether you’re looking for earth retention contractors to help create the perfect landscape for your property or you need a solution to prevent erosion from water runoff, earth retention has a multitude of handy applications. Here are four of the most common types of retaining walls and the best way they can be used.
Gabion Walls
If your project involves stabilizing slopes with the hopes of preventing landslides and controlling water flow, gabion walls can help you get the job done. Every year, around $750 million is spent annually to repair shallow landslides that could have been alleviated by earth retention contractors. Gabion walls are built using rectangular, wire-mesh boxes that are then filled with rocks or other materials to hold back potential accidents caused by erosion.
Gravity Retaining Wall
Gravity retaining walls are strong and dependable because the structure relies on its weight to resist outside forces. The concrete used to pour gravity walls is impressively and compressively strong with possible strengths of up to 20,000 PSI. However, strengths between 3,000 and 7,000 psi are more commonly used when earth retention contractors build gravity retaining walls.
Crib Retaining Wall
While crib retaining walls are a subset of gravity walls, their construction is slightly different from gravity walls in that they use interlocking precast concrete to create a structure that drains freely. We use concrete more frequently than any other manmade material on the planet and crib retaining walls are no exception. It’s recommended that a crib retaining wall not be used on a steep slope, as a gabion wall would be, but that earth retention contractors use crib retaining walls to support planter areas that need quality drainage.
Cantilever Retaining Wall
Cantilever retaining walls use less concrete than gravity walls because they are more structurally designed and reinforced, rather than relying on their own weight. Rather than needing to be poured or constructed directly on site, cantilever walls can be built in a factory and delivered to the job site. This is the most common type of retaining wall and is effective up to 10 meters. It’s important to remember f you’re planning a retaining wall for aesthetic or practical reasons that any retaining walls that exceed four feet may require researching local building codes and additional engineering.
