Retaining walls help prevent soil erosion and enable landscapers to level out sloping yards. If you've been considering a retaining wall installation, you should learn more about basic wall types and construction principles. To help you choose the model that best suits your landscape, here’s what you should know about possible retaining wall solutions.

A Guide to Basic Retaining Wall Types

1. Gravity-Supported

Gravity retaining walls, which use only their weight to hold back soil, are  the best known and most frequently seen. Builders construct them of myriad construction materials, including brick, stone, concrete, and treated wood. They must be engineered to bear the force and weight of the soil behind them to prevent slides and failure.

Short walls usually don't need reinforcement, but those approaching three feet in height may require a concrete footing—or foundation—to distribute the weight, add stability, and prevent sliding.

2. Cantilevered

Cantilevered walls have L-shaped supports, often made of precast concrete, to hold back earth in a series of tiers. These supports operate like bookends. The weight atop a buried horizontal slab is offset by sideways soil pressure against the longer upright.

If you’re considering installation of a cantilevered retaining wall to enhance your landscaping, hire an experienced contractor with an established track record in constructing them.

3. Anchored

An anchored wall is reinforced with cables attached to a buried concrete foundation to remain upright and counteract the tipping force of soil. As such, they can be very tall and are more frequently seen in commercial rather than residential settings.

When you're planning a retaining wall installation, contact the experts at Darryl Myers Brick in Independence, KY. Serving Kenton County and surrounding communities, they don’t rely on subcontractors, and you don't pay until you’re 100% satisfied. They also offer fireplace repair, brick sealing, chimney repair, and customized stonework. Visit their website to learn more about their services, or call (859) 743-3850 to schedule a design consultation.