Retainingwalls are mainly used to provide support to the soil and to pro- vide an aesthetically pleasing landscape. However, another advantage that they rarely exploit, is their ability to enhance structural integrity. Don’t love the idea of implementing a retaining wall into your project? This article should help you decide if you need one or not. Retaining walls may not necessarily be part of the main building, but they can indirectly promote structural stability. Stick around to find out how. Prevention of Soil Erosion This is always a major risk to buildings despite the climate of a particu- lar area or the nature of the landscape. For a building to have proper structural support, it has to be anchored to the soil. Retaining walls can help maintain the integrity of land by prevent- ing soil erosion, especially for properties built on bare land with no vegetation coverage. Soil erosion weakens the structural members of a building by expos- ing the foundation. The foundation is usually erected on stable soil. If exposed, the foundation may become weaker and increase the risk of structural failure. Apart from preventing soil erosion, retaining walls can also prevent flooding. They control surface runoff, preventing it from moving very fast, in which case would cause soil erosion. Creating A Flat Area It goes without saying that a flat area is more useful than a steep slope when it comes to construction. The good news is that a retaining wall can make a flat surface out of a steep slope. Retaining walls are ideal for hard-to-deal-with grounds, allowing for the construction of properties that would have otherwise not been con- structed on such land. If your land has grading issues, a retaining wall can help you achieve a stable structure at a relatively lower cost. Sloped areas are hard to deal with, and more often than not, a lot of dig- ging and landscaping is required in order to make a functional space. Building a retaining wall essentially eliminates part of the hill/slope and makes it easier to deal with and to erect a more stable foundation. Due to the huge load that the wall is expected to hold, retaining walls may require tiebacks to reinforce and strengthen them. Improved Site Drainage A retaining wall can be very useful in providing proper drainage around How Retaining Walls Provide A Structural Advantage To Your Project
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a building. It channels runoff water to a designated place. Such walls must be provided with drainage pipes or channels. Water is one of the greatest enemies of structural members in a build- ing. Water fuels wood rot. If it saturates a wooden structure, it will soon collapse. You often see this happen to abandoned homes or neglected properties. Water can also blast apart rock foundations and poured concrete. As these structures are relatively strong, long-term exposure to water is a huge risk. If water seeps into cracks and tight spaces and freezes in cold weather, it expands and leads to the destruction of structural members of a building. Additionally, water will corrode steel elements in the structure of the property. Steel is usually used to support primary structural elements in a building. Steel nails are also used to hold structural members in a wooden house. If attacked by water, this can lead to them being cor- rupted and weakened. Retaining walls can be very instrumental in directing water around the property and preventing the loss of structural integrity of your property. What Are The Best Materials? Retaining walls for properties can be made from different materials. They can be both synthetic or natural. In order to maximize the strength of a retaining wall, especially on a slope, precast concrete blocks are the best choice. Poured concrete is also another good option if reinforced with steel rebars. Stone walls are also good for strength because they are rarely suscep- tible to moisture. To avoid excess moisture build-up, it is important to provide sufficient drainage. Stone walls may be a little costly since you will need the services of a professional mason. Stone materials are also quite expensive on top of needing a mason.
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January 2021
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