Concrete retaining walls are the ideal way to support your soil slope, but in order to function correctly, they need to be well planned and designed in advance. Whether you're working on a commercial, residential, or industrial project, here are three key questions you need to ask yourself about your retaining wall.
1. Where should it go?
The first step to planning out your concrete retaining wall construction is to ask yourself where the wall should be placed. There are several factors you'll need to consider when it comes to location, so make sure to leave no stone unturned when determining it. For example, you'll need to go over the surveys and blueprints of your land to make sure you won't be impacting any utility pipes underground or infringing on property lines. You also need to think about how your retaining wall could affect the drainage of your land, as this can have a big environmental impact on the wider area. Finally, think about the construction process itself. Make sure your contractor will have space to store excess soil and infill while building the wall.
2. Is the soil sturdy enough?
The foundation of any good retaining wall is a sturdy base of soil. Of course, not all types of soil are made equal. In fact, many soils (for example, clay) cannot withstand the pressure of a retaining wall. If you don't assess your soil quality in advance, you could find yourself with a wall that collapses soon after it is built. Overall, you'll want a base of firm and relatively dry soil. Beyond that, you'll want to consider the stress capacity of the soil and how well it resists movement. If these ideas sound foreign to you, you can always ask your concrete contractor for more advice. After assessing your soil, if it's not strong and solid enough to support your wall, you may want to consider having the soil replaced or choosing a different location for your wall.
3. Who will build it?
You can't build a retaining wall as a DIY project. Unless you have the technical know-how, it's simply unsafe to do it yourself. As such, you'll want to choose your concrete contractor carefully, making sure they have the experience, skills, and qualifications necessary to build your wall. Look for a company with trade certificates or registrations and experience with building several retaining walls in the past. All concrete projects are different, so it's important that you find someone who knows the unique challenges of this one and how to address them.
Share22 July 2021
Pouring concrete isn't necessarily as straightforward as it looks. Depending on the land, you have to make multiple adjustments ranging from laying a layer of gravel to putting in moisture barriers. Then, depending on the size of the concrete pad, you may need to add steel reinforcements. After the concrete has dried and cured, you may decide to add sealants, do an acid wash or play with other finishes. Then, of course, there are differences between pouring concrete inside or outside. In this blog, I hope to cover all those issues and more. If you're looking for tips and ideas, take a look at these posts. Whether you plan to hire a concrete contractor or do the work yourself, it can help to know this information.
