What Type of Retaining Wall Do I Need?

Video: Designing your retaining wall

The first step is to determine whether you need a gravity wall or reinforced wall.

Gravity Wall

Reinforced Wall

Gravity walls rely on their own weight and setback to hold up the soil behind them. Learn more about gravity wall construction.

**Please note that the gravity wall chart provided has specific heights for specific site and soil conditions. If you are not sure of your site conditions we recommend being conservative with your retaining wall heights or use geogrid in your retaining wall. See our Soil Reinforcement Chart.

Reinforced walls use layers of geogrid to combine the soil and block together to form a reinforced soil mass.

Under certain conditions, the block weight and setback alone do not provide enough structural support. This is where geogrid comes in - Allan Blocks Reinforcement Grid provides a simple solution by creating a solid structure with more resistance to soil pressure and surcharges for retaining walls under 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall. Learn more about reinforced retaining wall construction.

Conditions above and behind the retaining wall will determine how tall the retaining wall can be before reinforcement is needed.

Slope above retaining wall

Slope below retaining wall

A slope above a retaining wall will add more pressure and weight, while slopes below the retaining wall may make the wall unstable due to sliding or erosion. Avoid slopes greater than 3 to 1 without first consulting a local engineer.

How to Mark and Measure Your Slope

Surcharges

Setback

Any added weight above a retaining wall is called a surcharge. Patios, swimming pools and driveways are common residential surcharges. Your wall may need additional support if a surcharge is present.

The amount your wall leans into the hill is called setback. AB blocks come in approximate setbacks of 6 and 12. The 12 (Ref) setback will provide better leverage and require less reinforcement.

Check out the Soil Reinforcement Chart to find out how much geogrid reinforcement your project will need.

Note: For commercial applications contact a local engineer.

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Retaining Wall Design - Allan Block Wall Systems

Retaining wall is structures that is constructed and designed to resist the lateral pressure of the soil. Apart from soil, the lateral pressure is caused by the pressure of liquid, earth filling, sand, or other granular material filled behind the wall after its constructed. These walls are key components of transportation structures and is commonly employed in theconstructionof hill roads, masonry dams, abutments and wings walls of bridges etc. The type of material used for the construction of the wall depends on the site conditions, type of material to be retained and also the height of the wall to be constructed. Generally there are 4 types of retaining walls.

The primary function of the retaining wall is to hold the earth back without any stability issues like overturning, sliding or structural failure. Water table, earth fill and surcharge are crucial in retaining wall design. Problems may occur when the pressure of the earth is too much and it may tip over. Basically retaining walls are classified into four types, explained below:

A type of retaining wall which depends on its own weight alone to stand up is called a gravity retaining wall. This retaining wall is massive. When designing this type of retaining wall, sliding, bearing and overturning forces should be considered and tested. This is most obvious in dams, or simple dykes.

Sliding of retaining wall

Overturning of Retaining wall

Global stability of Retaining wall

Gravity retaining wall

In this type of retaining wall, piles are driven so deep into the earth that the top force which usually tries to push the wall over, is held back. It uses counter force to negate the top force and keep it from tipping over. This wall is used in temporary or permanent works as the piled walls provide high stiffness retaining elements which afford large excavation depths with almost no disturbance to surrounding structures or properties.

Pile retaining wall

These walls are constructed of reinforced concrete. This wall consists of a thin stem and base slab. The base of this retaining wall is divided into two parts namely the heel and the toe. The heel is a part of the base under the backfill. This wall uses much less concrete than retaining walls but it needs careful construction and design. Its usually economic till 25ft in height. And these walls can either be precast in a factory or formed on the site.

Cantilever retaining wall

For high retaining walls, deep cable rods or wires are driven deep sideways into the earth, then the ends are filled with concrete to provide an anchor. These are also known as tiebacks. They work when a thinner retaining wall is needed or space is limited to install other types of retaining walls. They are very effective for loose soils over solid rocks. Anchored retaining walls are usually employed in lots of highways construction departments where they use them to keep rocks from falling on the roads by accidents.

Anchored retaining wall

To ensure the stability of a retaining wall, the following conditions or requirements must be met:

Basic retaining walls

Major loads that act on retaining walls are as follows.

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Retaining Wall | Types of Retaining Walls | Design ...

What is a Retaining Wall?

Retaining Wall Planter

A retaining wall is a structure that holds or retains soil behind it. There are many types of materials that can be used to create retaining walls like concrete blocks, poured concrete, treated timbers, rocks or boulders. Some are easy to use, others have a shorter life span, but all can retain soil.

Several questions must be considered in order to build the proper type of retaining wall. For example, is the soil sand, clay, or something in between? What is above the wall: a driveway or something heavier like a pool? Will the ground above or below the wall be level or sloped? What is the height of the wall? All of these factors will determine whether you will need a Gravity Retaining Wall or a Geogrid Reinforced Retaining Wall.

Gravity retaining walls are walls that depend on their own weight and setback to retain the soil and are typically shorter in height. Allan Block retaining walls are ideal for this type of wall, because as they are stacked together they lock into place to form a setback. This setback helps the wall support the pressure from the soils behind it.

Reinforced retaining walls are walls that use some type of reinforcement to give more strength to the retaining wall structure, thus improving its ability to retain the soils behind it. For SRWs (Segmental Retaining Walls), we refer to this reinforcement as geogrid or grid. Geogrid is placed between courses of blocks in the wall and rolled back into the slope or hillside during installation to create a stronger and more stable soil mass. In laymans terms, the blocks, the geogrid and the reinforced soil mass work together to make one large, heavy retaining wall structure. Sometimes grid is not a usable solution on a project due to space or other site conditions, so alternative reinforcement materials need to be used such as no-fines concrete, soil nails or earth anchors. These types of reinforcement typically require a local engineer for the design and a certified contractor for the installation

Retaining Wall

Over the years many different retaining wall materials have helped to alter the landscape in which we live. Common retaining wall products include railroad ties or treated timbers as well as wall stones, natural stones, bricks and concrete block.

While wood is often an inexpensive and simple choice for a retaining wall, its short lifespan makes it a relatively poor choice. As the wood decomposes, so does your retaining wall and the integrity of your usable space. Stones, rocks or boulders can create beautiful retaining walls, but the installation of these materials can be expensive and labor intensive. Furthermore, maintenance of stone walls can be difficult, because over time or they may erode or become home to rodents and weeds.

Cast-in place or mortared retaining walls are another option. These walls can be installed with a variety of veneers, bricks, flagstones, etc. which add texture and style. However, these structures are rigid and do not move and flex with climate changes, earthquakes and other natural forces, and can be very expensive to build.

SRWs (Segmental Retaining Walls) like the Allan Block products, offer concrete masonry blocks that are modular and interlocking for ease of use. Simply stack the mortarless blocks together using our installation information, and create a maintenance-free retaining wall that will add usable land, fix a grading or slope issue, and solve many other site problems. These SRWs use similar construction techniques as found in the mortarless construction of the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt and will stand the test of time. SRWs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors as well as different facing textures. Some of the more common textures offer a hard-split or soft-split look, a tumbled look, or more recently a stamped face. Concrete blocks made out of recycled materials are also available. Once you build a wall with an SRW you can be sure it is built to last.

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What is a Retaining Wall - Allan Block Wall Systems

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Strong and durable, yet easy to install, Belgard offers a versatile selection of concrete retaining wall blocks to complement your landscaping, patio or even your mailbox. Our residential retaining wall pavers are suitable for both stone retaining walls and freestanding features such as outdoor kitchens or built-in seating.

Belgard retaining walls can help vastly improve the functionality and look of sloped yards in multiple ways. For the front yard, retaining walls can create better access to your driveway or front door. And, an unusable backyard can be converted into a terrace or a multi-level outdoor living space with landscape or patio retaining walls.

Belgard offers a full line of landscape wall products and concrete paversin natural color blends to complement any color scheme. And with textures that emulatethe look of tumbled stone, stacked stone, chiseled stone or quarried stone, theres a look to complement any architectural style.

In addition to retaining walls, project ideas include outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, stone mailboxes, stone water features, outdoor kitchens, built-in seating, built-in planters, pillars and garden walls of various heights. Our wall blocks can also be used to wrap columns, hide utilities, build steps and more.

Ashlar Tandem features the look of chiseled stone with virtual joints and is ideal for an array of landscaping uses, including grade changes and freestanding walls.

Danville Blend

Toscana

Victorian

Ashlar Unit 1

7 x 13 3/16 x 2 5/8

Ashlar Unit 2

7 x 15 13/16 x 2 5/8

Ashlar Unit 3

7 x 18 7/16 x 2 5/8

Tandem Wall Cap

24 x 15 x 3 1/4

Connector

8" Connecting Member

U Start Base Block

3 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 12*

* Note: U Start Base Block actual coverage length is 16 11/16"

Belair Wall 2.0 is ideal for retaining and freestanding wall construction where aesthetics are a key consideration. The attractive multipiece design and blended colors offer an alternative look to traditional retaining wall blocks. Belair Wall 2.0 can be used in curves and corners, terraces and raised patios, or steps and columns.

Toscana

Victorian

Freestanding Wall

6 x 6 x 5

Freestanding Wall

6 x 10 x 5

Freestanding Wall

6 x 16 x 5

Cap

3 x 7/8 x 13 1/2

Retaining Wall

6 x 6 x 8

Retaining Wall

6 x 10 x 8

Retaining Wall

6 x 16 x 8

Column/Corner

6 x 16 x 8

Wall End Unit

6 x 8 x 11

Cap End Unit

3 x 13 1/2 x 8

U Start Base Block

3 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 12

* Note: U Start Base Block actual coverage length is 16 11/16"

Rough-hewn texture and natural hues give Celtik Wall a time-honed appearance recalling classic European gardens. Celtik Wall's antiqued look is complemented by modern manufacturing, which yields precise dimensional consistency, resulting in the perfect companion to paver projects, landscape contouring, or garden areas.

Bella

Sierra

Toscana

Victorian

135mm Celtik Wall

5 5/16 x 8 7/8 x8 7/8

135mm Celtik Wall

5 5/16 x 8 7/8 x 10 7/16

135mm Celtik Wall

5 5/16 x 8 7/8 x 13 9/16

135mm Celtik Wall

5 5/16 x 8 7/8 x 17 1/8

90mm Retaining Wall

3 9/16 x 8 7/8 x 6 7/8

90mm Retaining Wall

3 9/16 x 8 7/8 x 10 7/16

90mm Retaining Wall

3 9/16 x 8 7/8 x 13 9/16

90mm Retaining Wall

3 9/16 x 8 7/8 x 17 1/8

Cap

3 9/16 x 12 x 16

Step-Tread

13 1/2 x 16 x 3 1/2

10 1/2 x 16 x 3 1/2

The rough-hewn distressed look and easy installation system have made Diamond 9D a favorite for residential wall projects. The system is topped with a coordinating cap unit.

Color Swatch Not Available

Retaining Wall

6 x 17 1/4 x 9

Cap

6 x 17 1/4 / 12 x 10 3/8

Diamond 9D Virtual Joint features a rough-hewn distressed texture and includes virtual joints that create the look of a multi-piece system with the installation speed of a single-piece system.

Color Swatch Not Available

Standard Block

6 x 17 1/4 x 9

Virtual Joint - Left

6 x 17 1/4 x 9

Virtual Joint - Right

6 x 17 1/4 x 9

Cap

6 x 17 1/4 / 12 x 10 3/8

Mega Tandem MSRW system designed by Belgard provides the natural appearance of chiseled stone that will complement any hardscape. The innovative, versatile system can be used to create attractive, curved or straight retaining and freestanding, landscape walls. Great for use in a wide range of hardscape projects.

Special Order Item.

Special Order

Mega-Tandem

12 x 24 x 3

Tandem Cap

15 x 24 x 3 1/4

22 5/16" Connector

Supports gravity walls up to 6'

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Retaining Wall Blocks | Landscape & Patio Stone Retaining ...

Only a structural engineer or mason can say for sure, but if yours shows any of these signs, it may be time for a new one.

Leaning: Walls like the one shown, that slant noticeably are not long for this world. Whether it's caused by tree roots, poor drainage, or a failed footing, a leaning wall will probably have to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch.

Cracking:You can fill minor blemishes in poured concrete with hydraulic cement. In a mortared wall, simply chisel out damaged joint filler and repoint. But if the cracks are more than -inch wide and deep, and more than 2 feet long, the wall may have structural damage. Call in a pro to assess whether the affected area can be repaired or has to be replaced.

Sagging:A pronounced dip in the courses of a timber or interlocking block wall indicates that the footing has failed in one spot. A pro may be able to replace the footing beneath the damaged area and rebuild just that section of the wall.

Bulging:When mortared masonry develops a pot belly, the likely culprit is a buildup of water pressure behind it. Try drilling a -inch weep hole with a masonry bit to encourage drainage. A bulge in a timber or interlocking block wall is typically caused by a lack of anchoring. Careful excavation behind the wall may allow a protruding section to be rebuilt. Consult a pro before starting work.

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DIY Retaining Wall Ideas | Types of Retaining Walls

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Perfect for sea walls and large retaining walls in HO scale. The master pattern for this wall was painstakingly hand laid and detailed to create the best looking modeled stone wall to date. Looking fo...

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perryfamilystore store Up for sale is a six panel set of Cut Stone retaining walls. Cast with ResinThese are for making curved or step-down walls. They measure 3.75" tall by 1.6" wide each. These mat...

The Urban Retaining Walls kit features Each model features detailed plastic parts, molded in concrete and dark gray. 8 tall, 4-panel retaining walls each 8 x 2-1/2" 20.3 x 6.3cm. 8 short, 4-panel reta...

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perryfamilystore store Up for sale is a six panel set of Cut Stone retaining walls. Cast with ResinThese are for making curved or step-down walls. They measure 2.58" tall by 1.6" wide each. These mat...

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Retaining Wall: Garden Decor | eBay

Our precast concrete retaining wall blocks play a central role in the retaining walls that we design, manufacture and install. Shea Concretes high-performing precast concrete retaining wall systems stand tall in New Englands active climate, and because of their durability, remain a staple of our concrete products.

Shea Concretes extensive concrete retaining wall block inventory can be found in our online catalog. With over a dozen block types to choose from, we meet the demands for many retaining wall applications. If you want to catch a peek at prior jobs our retaining wall systems have serviced, take a look through our online gallery (below).

Are you looking to give your retaining wall system an aesthetically-pleasing appearance? Shea Concrete has you covered. Our retaining wall block textures include Old World, Rustic, Granite and Limestone. Our wide variety of shapes, designs and unique textures give plenty of options to meet each of your retaining wall project needs. Our precast concrete retaining wall blocks are designed to be long-lasting and meet the highest standards of strength and durability. You can rest assured that your retaining wall will remain standing for years to come.

Call Shea Concrete Products at (800) 696-SHEA to get ahead on your precast concrete retaining wall project.

Concrete retaining wall blocks from Shea Concrete Products are constructed in a collection of shapes that offer the ideal blend of function and form for your retaining wall project. The shapes of our retaining wall blocks permit 90 degree corners and curves to be included in designs, which gives designers more options to work with. Creativity and flexibility go a long way for an aesthetically-pleasing retaining wall and our extensive wall block types will help you achieve that.

Shea Concretes new fence and guardrail blocks also provide sufficient options for architects and engineers by allowing retaining walls to follow unique paths. Such retaining wall designs provide a structurally-pleasing look to existing properties. Browse through our concrete retaining wall block options below or download our full PDF Catalog of block shapes for sizing and specification information.

Economical and easy to install, Shea Concrete retaining walls feature a unique locking system that permits walls as high as 12' without a geo-grid. Each block is made from wet-cast, air-entrained concrete with a minimum PSI of 3,000 for incredible strength and durability that exceeds industry standards. With a standard face size of 48" x 16", place just one block and you have installed 5.33 sq. ft. of retaining wall. And since no mortar is needed, the blocks stack up quickly.

Proper installation procedures for a ReCon retaining wall follow closely those used for most modular, mortarless segmental retaining walls. However, the difference is that ReCon retaining wall blocks are not placed by hand, but with equipment typically owned and used by most experienced retaining wall installers or landscapers.

There are times when unique solutions are necessary on a particular project site. Special procedures such as soil-nailing or veneering in front of H-pile can solve difficult site challenges. ReCon specializes in helping its customers find unique solutions that save time, money and valuable real estate.

Architects and Engineers can look through our database of construction detail drawings, Google Sketch-Ups, design and construction manuals and fence and guardrail block specs to fully plan a retaining wall project. By using the specific diagrams and measurements of each of our concrete blocks, architects and engineers will be able to more accurately design retaining wall layouts. Use the resources below when planning your projects. There are PDF sketchups, google sketchups, dwg files and more.

Shea Concrete regularly offers classes and events offering instruction and information on retaining wall design and installation. The lessons teach contractors and engineers the features and benefits of a Shea Retaining Wall System, the basics of wall planning and design, the details of wall construction and installation and how to implement custom and complex wall applications. Take a look at our list of events that are open for registration, and be sure to stay tuned for upcoming classes and events.

Join us at our Amesbury facility (87 Haverhill Road) to learn the efficiencies of installation from staging the project to wall construction from the Shea wall team. Class includes lunch. Limited Seating - Reserve your seats today!

There are no classes scheduled at this time.

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Precast Concrete Retaining Wall Blocks | Wall Textures ...

Calculate how may retaining wall blocks are needed and how much base and backfill gravel required. Optionally enter cap block dimension to include the cap row in the estimate and enter the price per block to get a cost estimate.

Retaining walls can be built using a multitude of materials, but theyre most commonly built using wall blocks or timbers.

To estimate retaining wall materials using the calculator simply enter the wall length and width and the preferred block dimensions.

Find Qualified Retaining Wall Professionals in Your Area

If the cap row will use a different style of block then enter those dimensions separately to get an estimate for the cap blocks as well.

Estimate the retaining wall cost by adding the price per block. For example, you can estimate a 10 wide by 2 high retaining wall and observe the materials required.

If youre building a concrete block wall, then check out our concrete block calculator.

Estimating the number of retaining wall blocks you need requires estimating the number of rows and columns that are needed for the wall.

Start by measuring the wall width and height. We recommend embedding the first course of blocks below grade about 10% of the wall height to support the wall correctly. If the desired wall height is 6 feet, the wall should be embedded below grade by 7-8 inches. Be sure to account for this when measuring the height of the wall.

Divide the width of the wall in inches by the width of the block and round up, this is the number of columns. Divide the height of the wall in inches by the height of the block and round up, this is the number of rows. If the top row will be a cap block, then the number of cap blocks needed is the number of columns. To find the total number of blocks needed for the wall simply multiply the number of columns by the number of rows; dont forget to subtract a row if using cap blocks.

Ordering additional retaining wall materials, including blocks and cap blocks is a good idea to account for waste or bad material. We recommend ordering an additional 10% of materials to accommodate this. Dont forget to account for embedding the first course of blocks below grade when measuring the desired height of the wall. Accounting for this from the start will ensure that the wall does not end up too short. If the wall is too high, you may need to embed it deeper in the ground to reach the desired height, this is a little more digging but is otherwise ok. See our retaining wall cost guide to find the average price of a retaining wall.

The retaining wall should be set embedded below grade on a level base of 6 gravel or stone. We recommend making the base twice as wide as the block depth to account for settling. The calculator will estimate this or use our cubic yardage calculator to estimate 6 of gravel to find how much gravel material youll need to order. Ensure that the retaining wall base is compacted and level so that the first course of retaining wall block will be level.

The retaining wall should have 12 of gravel immediately behind the entire length and height of the wall to allow for proper drainage. The calculator above will estimate this or, you can use the cubic yards calculator. Add a layer of landscape fabric between the stone backfill and the earth behind it to prevent the dirt from filling the pores of the gravel, making it less effective.

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Retaining Wall Calculator and Price Estimator - Find How ...

Compact the soil in the trench bottom with a hand tamper or vibrating plate compactor. This step is often neglected. The excavator, and even hand shovels, can disturb and loosen the top inch or two of soil, and thats enough to make your wall settlesettling is bad!

Our experts prefer crushed stone for the base rather than naturally occurring gravel dug from a pit. Crushed stone is a little more expensive. However, it provides better drainage, and because of the sharper angles on the stone, it requires less compacting, and once its compacted, it stays that way.

Joe and Jake have found that crushed stone sized between 1/2 in. and 3/4 in. is best suited to handle the heaving forces created by the harsh freeze/thaw cycles here in Minnesota. Avoid rounded stones like pea gravel or river rock; they dont form strong interlocking bonds like angular stone.

Leave the stone no more than 1/2 in. higher than you want the final height to be, and then make a couple passes with a hand tamper or plate compactor. Youll notice the stone is almost 100 percent compacted as soon as its laid in the trench. The same type of stone will be used for backfilling, which also eliminates the need for hauling in multiple materials.

Use a torpedo level to level each block front to back and a 4- or 6-ft. level to keep each course level and even. Set the blocks with a heavy rubber or plastic mallet. Getting the first course flat and level is extremely important, so take your time. Try to lay the course as close to the center of the trench as possible.

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Build a Sturdy Retaining wall that will last a lifetime

Cantilever Retaining Walls

Cantilever retaining walls are constructed of reinforced concrete. They consist of a relatively thin stem and a base slab. The base is also divided into two parts, the heel and toe. The heel is the part of the base under the backfill. The toe is the other part of the base.

Counterfort Retaining Walls

Counterfort retaining walls are similar to cantilever walls except they have thin vertical concrete webs at regular intervals along the backside of the wall. These webs are known as counterforts.

Counterfort retaining walls:

Gravity Poured Concrete Retaining Walls

Semi-Gravity Retaining Walls

A specialized form of gravity walls is a semi-gravity retaining wall. These have some tension reinforcing steel included so as to minimize the thickness of the wall without requiring extensive reinforcement. They are a blend of the gravity wall and the cantilever wall designs.

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Four Types of Concrete Retaining Walls - The Concrete Network