Introduction to Retaining Walls

Initially, a retaining wall is often a structure that holds back, or “retains,” lateral faces of dirt, water, or other supplies. Retaining walls are utilized to prevent erosion or collapse of the higher level ground onto a particular creating, structure, or general region. The earth that is retained is often known as backfill. The word backfill is also utilized as a verb to describe placing much more dirt behind a retaining wall to make the ground much more level.

Options for Retaining Wall Materials

· Railroad Crossties – Railroad crossties, also shortened to railroad ties, could be used as a retaining wall material; on the other hand, as with most every retaining wall material, it has to be installed appropriately to be an answer. For example, most railroad tie retaining walls will need a substantial footer to tie the crossties to in an effort to keep the bottom from sliding out. Also, there needs to be perpendicular members placed into the ground behind the wall to keep the wall from overturning. These members, called deadmen, need to be a minimum of 1.5 times so long as the wall is high and ought to be placed at minimum each and every 6 feet or so. Due to the fact railroad ties are wood (although they are treated a lot of the time), there’s a threat that they might rot over time or be subject to termite infestation, which can cause a weak wall most likely to bulge or break. And, although you can find regions for water to slowly seep even though, it really is nonetheless a great idea to possess a filtered drain or weep holes developed in to the wall.

· Treated Wood – Treated wood retaining walls supply many from the similar risks as … Read the rest