Find The Best Retaining Wall For Your Project
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the endless choices available when planning a home improvement project? Are you unsure about which type of retaining wall is the perfect fit for your specific needs?
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the different types of retaining walls and help you determine the best one for your project.
By the end, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that adds value, functionality, and beauty to your property.
By Project: The Best Retaining Wall
| Project Purpose | Best Retaining Wall Options |
|---|---|
| Creating More Space | Gravity and Crib Retaining Walls |
| Creating a Garden or Flower Bed | Bin and Combination Retaining Walls |
| Creating a Terraced Garden | Gravity and Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls |
| Preventing Erosion | Gabion and Sheet Pile Retaining Walls |
| Stabilizing a Sloped Foundation | Anchored or Embedded Retaining Walls |
| Building a Driveway | Bin and Combination Retaining Walls |
| Supporting a Driveway or Parking Area | Cantilever and Anchored or Embedded Retaining Walls |
| Adding a Patio or Outdoor Living Area | Buttressed and Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls |
| Building a Raised Patio or Deck | Cantilever and Reinforced Retaining Walls |
| Adding a Swimming Pool | Reinforced Soil and Cantilever Retaining Walls |
| Creating a Sound Barrier | Buttressed Retaining Walls |
Creating More Space
If you’re looking to create more space in your yard, gravity retaining walls and crib retaining walls are excellent options.
They can be built to various heights, providing the strength necessary to hold back large amounts of soil. Plus, they’re generally more cost-effective than other retaining wall types.
Creating A Garden Or Flower Bed
When it comes to beautifying your outdoor space with a garden or flower bed, bin retaining walls and combination retaining walls are ideal choices.
These walls can be easily customized to fit the size and shape of your yard while also adding a decorative element to your landscaping.
Creating A Terraced Garden
Gravity retaining walls and reinforced soil retaining walls are well-suited for constructing terraced gardens.
They offer the stability needed for each level, allowing you to create a visually appealing and functional multi-tiered space.
Preventing Erosion
For erosion prevention, consider gabion retaining walls and sheet pile retaining walls.
These permeable walls allow water to flow through without eroding the soil, making them durable and long-lasting solutions for areas with heavy rainfall or steep slopes.
Stabilizing A Sloped Foundation
An anchored retaining wall or embedded retaining wall is a reliable choice for stabilizing a sloped foundation.
By providing necessary support, these walls prevent soil movement and foundation damage.
Building A Driveway
For driveway construction, bin retaining walls and combination retaining walls are your best bet.
They can be easily customized to fit the size and shape of the driveway area, ensuring a functional and attractive final result.
Supporting A Driveway Or Parking Area
Cantilever retaining walls and anchored or embedded retaining walls are ideal for supporting a driveway or parking area.
Designed to hold back heavy loads, these walls are also space-efficient solutions for projects with limited room.
Adding A Patio Or Outdoor Living Area
Buttressed retaining walls and reinforced soil retaining walls are perfect for adding a patio or outdoor living area.
They provide the stability necessary for supporting a structure while creating a smooth, level surface for your new addition.
Building A Raised Patio Or Deck
To construct a raised patio or deck, consider using a cantilever retaining wall or a reinforced retaining wall.
These walls offer the required support to hold back soil and maintain the structure’s integrity.
Adding A Swimming Pool
For swimming pool (or swimming pond) installations, reinforced soil retaining walls and cantilever retaining walls provide the necessary stability to hold back soil and create a level surface.
Creating A Sound Barrier
A buttressed retaining wall is an excellent option for creating a sound barrier, providing the support and stability needed to reduce noise from busy streets or highways.
What Types Of Retaining Walls Work Best For Which Projects
|
Type of Retaining Wall |
Projects Best Suited For |
|---|---|
| Gravity Retaining Walls | Creating more space, terraced gardens, supporting raised patios or decks |
| Crib Retaining Walls | Leveling sloped areas, stabilizing sloped foundations, building raised patios or decks |
| Gabion Retaining Walls | Preventing erosion along shorelines, riverbanks, or canals; controlling erosion on hillsides or slopes |
| Bin Retaining Walls | Creating decorative gardens or flower beds, building driveways, supporting raised patios or decks |
| Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) or Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls | Supporting driveways or parking areas, adding patios or outdoor living spaces, constructing raised patios or decks, creating level surfaces for swimming pools |
| Cantilever Retaining Walls | Supporting driveways or parking areas, building raised patios or decks, ideal for projects with limited space |
| Buttressed Retaining Walls | Adding patios or outdoor living areas, creating sound barriers, supporting driveways or parking areas |
| Anchored or Embedded Retaining Walls | Stabilizing sloped foundations, supporting driveways or parking areas, building raised patios or decks |
| Sheet Piling or Piled Retaining Walls | Preventing erosion along shorelines, riverbanks, or canals; controlling erosion on hillsides or slopes |
| Combination Retaining Walls | Creating decorative gardens or flower beds, building driveways, supporting raised patios or decks |
Gravity Retaining Walls
Gravity retaining walls rely on their own weight to hold back soil and resist lateral earth pressure.
They can be made from various materials, such as concrete, stone, or brick. These walls often have a thicker base that gradually becomes thinner towards the top, giving them a slight incline.
A gravity retaining wall (or a gravity wall) excels at creating more space in your yard by leveling out a sloped area. They’re also suitable for building terraced gardens or supporting raised patios or decks.
Crib Retaining Walls
Crib retaining walls consist of interlocking boxes made from timber or precast concrete.
These boxes are filled with crushed stone or other coarse granular materials, creating a strong, stable structure. The open design of crib walls allows for good drainage and plant growth.
A crib retaining wall is perfect for leveling out a sloped area and creating more space in your yard. They also work well for stabilizing sloped foundations or building raised patios or decks.
Gabion Retaining Walls
Gabion retaining walls are made from rectangular wire mesh boxes filled with rocks, stones, or other coarse granular materials.
The boxes are stacked and linked together to form a durable, permeable wall that can easily adapt to the surrounding landscape.
Gabion retaining walls are designed to prevent erosion along shorelines, riverbanks, or canals. They’re also effective for controlling erosion on hillsides or slopes.
Bin Retaining Walls
Bin retaining walls have a modular design, typically constructed with precast concrete blocks or bricks.
These walls can be built in various shapes and sizes, making them highly customizable. The spaces between the blocks can be filled with soil or decorative elements, such as plants or stones.
Bin retaining walls are best suited for creating decorative gardens or flower beds. They can also be used to build driveways, or support raised patios or decks.
Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Or Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls
Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) or reinforced soil retaining walls consist of layers of compacted soil reinforced with horizontal strips of geogrid, a strong synthetic material.
The face of the wall can be covered with various materials, such as concrete panels or blocks, to give it a finished appearance.
MSE or reinforced soil retaining walls are ideal for supporting driveways or parking areas, adding patios or outdoor living spaces, and constructing raised patios or decks. They’re also useful for creating level surfaces for swimming pools.
Cantilever Retaining Walls
Cantilever retaining walls are made from reinforced concrete and consist of a relatively thin stem and a thick base slab.
The base slab extends under the retained soil, providing the necessary stability to hold back the earth. These walls are highly efficient, especially for taller structures.
Cantilever retaining walls are great for supporting driveways or parking areas, and building raised patios or decks. They’re also an excellent choice for projects with limited space.
Buttressed Retaining Walls
Buttressed retaining walls feature thin vertical concrete webs, called buttresses, that connect the wall’s face to a base slab.
The buttresses provide extra support and stability, making these walls ideal for higher or heavier loads.
Buttressed retaining walls are ideal for adding patios or outdoor living areas and creating sound barriers. They can also be used to support driveways or parking areas.
Anchored Or Embedded Retaining Walls
Anchored or embedded retaining walls are similar to cantilever walls, but they also include deep cable rods or anchors that are driven into the soil behind the wall.
This additional reinforcement provides increased stability and support.
Anchored or embedded retaining walls work well for stabilizing sloped foundations or supporting driveways or parking areas. They can also be utilized for building raised patios or decks.
Sheet Piling Or Piled Retaining Walls
Sheet piling or piled retaining walls are made from thin vertical sheets of steel, vinyl, or wood that are driven into the ground to create a barrier.
These walls are particularly effective in areas with soft soil or limited space, and they are commonly used for erosion control along shorelines and riverbanks.
Sheet piling or piled retaining walls are effective for preventing erosion along shorelines, riverbanks, or canals. They’re also a good choice for erosion control on hillsides or slopes.
Combination Retaining Walls
Combination retaining walls blend two or more wall types, creating a hybrid system that offers the benefits of each individual wall.
For example, a combination wall might consist of a gravity retaining wall with anchors or reinforcements for added stability.
Combination retaining walls are perfect for creating decorative gardens or flower beds. They can also be used to build driveways or to support raised patios or decks.
Create Your New Space With Gradex Company
We hope this comprehensive guide has given you a solid understanding of the various types of retaining walls and their best applications. Armed with this knowledge, you’re ready to make an informed decision that will enhance the value, functionality, and beauty of your property.
At Gradex Company, we specialize in retaining wall design and in building retaining walls that meet your specific needs. Let our team of experts help you create the perfect solution for your project.
Fill out our contact form today, or give us a call.
