Retaining walls are a beautiful, functional addition to any yard. They create new landscaping opportunities and come in various designs. Understanding each type of wall ensures you choose the right design for your unique property. Below is a helpful guide you can use to get started.

A Guide to Retaining Walls

1. Gravity

Gravity walls are durable, and their weight holds back dirt. Professionals offer stone, brick pavers, bricks, and concrete blocks. A shallow trench reinforces the wall so you can create raised flower beds, walkways, and reduce erosion. Landscape design professionals can create a winding curved wall or a powerful, straight design up to 10 feet tall.

2. Sheet Piling

Sheet piling walls create room in tight spaces. They’re often a temporary addition to construction sites and are driven deep into soft soil. Usually, one-third of the steel or vinyl sheet is buried. These are excellent for erosion control and often used along shorelines and waterfronts during excavations and construction.

3. Anchored

Anchored walls use a sheet piling support system with additional anchors behind them. These anchors are driven into the ground. Professionals then attach cables to the anchor and wall to pull back against the push of soil.

The added strength helps thinner wall materials support larger loads. This anchored design can also be applied to gravity walls to protect your landscaping.

4. Cantilever

Cantilever designs include a slab foundation buried in a trench. The retaining wall materials are secured to the foundation to support the weight behind it. The weight of the soil reinforces the foundation it’s holding back.

This gives the anchored wall more strength as it presses against its load. These are some of the strongest retaining walls and have both residential and commercial applications.

 

If you’re ready to explore retaining walls further, contact Emerald Coast Landscaping of Orange Beach, AL. These skilled professionals have created stunning landscaping designs for over 16 years. They’ll carefully assess your commercial and residential landscaping needs and create a lawn maintenance plan to keep your property looking great. Call (251) 269-8128 to speak with a representative and visit their website to explore their previous work.