Retaining Wall

Why do I need a concrete retaining wall?

Retaining walls are custom-built designs that retain the soil or ground, preventing it from eroding or sliding out of place. They are much stronger, being made to avoid soil slippage. Retaining walls are usually built to serve as boundary walls, and is made of stone or bricks. Most of the houses in your area have a retaining wall. Traditionally, retaining walls are made to blend into the natural surroundings. But the question is: why do you need a concrete retaining wall?

The first thing you need to do is determining what you have in your backyard. If your property is located in a hilly area with steep slopes, then you can consider having a retaining wall built. Retaining walls can also be of great use for areas where the soil is very loose or sandy. In houses where there is a need for boundaries, a retaining wall may be necessary. Some of the properties have a sloping backyard that may otherwise be deemed useless if not for the useful construction of retaining walls. If you own a property in the Orlando area, you can get amazing deals from Driveway Repair Orlando. Get in touch with them 24/7 through (407) 7537499.   

Mainly, the purpose of building retaining walls in residences is to address the effects of the natural gravitational pull exerted in the foundation of a property located in areas with slopes. With the use of retaining walls, grounds are made usable level area for gardening, building a patio, or a basketball court. This type of construction does require a huge amount of strength and endurance. Concrete is the material of choice for the construction of retaining walls, here are the different advantages and disadvantages of concrete retaining walls.

Choosing the right type

There are three types of concrete walls in constructing retaining walls: concrete blocks, using pre-cast panels, and poured-in-place concrete. With concrete block walls, you can be assured of its strength. They are also highly resistant to different weather conditions from strong winds to flooding. Concrete is also fire resistant that can give houses protection in case of fire-related emergencies. As pre-cast panels go, they are made in a plant and do not require much work except for the installation. They pose no risk to the property because they don’t require transportation, mixing, or curing to be done. Using pre-cast materials, you can be assured of a more efficient way of building a retaining wall. Poured-in-place, or cast-in-place, concrete retaining walls are simple to build but will have a robust structure. When applications are for ponds, or pools, cast-in-place concrete retaining wall is preferred.

Strength

Concrete is extremely durable and strong. This is important when you expect a wall to fight against the forces of nature, such as earth and water. Even after the installation of a retaining wall, the curing period will increase the strength of the concrete. 

Resistance

If you are looking for all-around resistance, then a concrete retaining wall is the one for you. Concrete is known to be fireproof, rot-proof, and resistant to rust. Concrete is right for the job. 

Faster installation

With different options in the installation of concrete retaining walls, you will find a fast and efficient way as compared to structures that require masonry work. 

Design flexibility

One good thing about concrete is that it will allow you to build around different areas. You can put curves, stairs, or build in different angles with minimum difficulty. 

Low Maintenance

Concrete walls will only require simple maintenance. Occasional inspection is critical to find out if there are natural wear and tear that could lead to bigger gaps in the future. These are easy to patch up with tar or cement. 

Eco-friendly structures

When it comes to concrete wall construction, what is mostly used are locally-sourced natural materials such as limestone, ash, and clay, which are considered eco-friendly. 

Some of the disadvantages of using concrete retaining walls are that it demands a design to be made, the different challenges in the installation or construction process, and the certain limitation that concrete construction presents. Concrete retaining walls need to be carefully designed to give effective support and proper drainage for water. It is certainly not a do-it-yourself project. The same goes with the pouring of concrete, a contractor with proper knowledge of working with concrete jobs have to be hired. This is crucial to avoid doing a low-quality job. A job that is not done well will be structurally-weak and will soon lead to major repairs.

Concrete retaining walls prevent soil from sliding or eroding. Certainly, the use of the concrete retaining walls gives durability and strength in structure. However, the use of concrete also provides specific needs to determine that concrete work is done correctly and in the best way. Driveway Repair Orlando can take care of your need for a concrete retaining wall. Driveway Repair Orlando can be reached at (407) 753-7499.

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