A strong retaining wall can provide sturdy support for years, if not decades. To ensure robust results, it’s essential to determine the most suitable form of retaining wall construction for your location, soil type, and property.
The following guide outlines how to select the right supportive retaining wall, from key considerations like soil type and materials to the benefits of acquiring professional services.
Benefits of retaining walls
Retaining walls are required to prevent erosion, and are typically found in locations where additional support is needed to stop soil shifting downhill over time. As well as holding soil in place between high and low levels, the many benefits of retaining walls include:
- Protects your property and landscape from erosion
- Long-lasting and durable
- Low maintenance with no risk of corrosion
- Prevents damaging flows of rainwater
- Cost-effective with fast installation
Common types of retaining walls
The right retaining wall for your property must be capable of offsetting the lateral force of the slope in question. From low retaining walls for vertical landscapes to robust support for driveways or heavy soil, retaining wall experts can help advise on the right format and design style as well as provide expert installation services.
Panel and post retaining walls in Perth
Ideal for preventing soil from higher levels falling onto lower levels, panel and post retaining walls in Perth are commonly used to safeguard land between two neighbouring properties, prevent soil erosion, or free up more land for use.
Also known as twinside retaining wall installation, this design is suitable for large areas with different quality finishes to choose from. Robust precast concrete retaining walls are reinforced with steel and structurally engineered to withstand great pressure over time.
Block wall construction
This strong masonry retaining wall is made from tough concrete and limestone blocks, with block wall construction capable of supporting a substantial volume of heavy materials and soil.
Dry Stack walls
Also known as dry stone walling, dry stack retaining walls use only stones with no mortar to create a robust and aesthetically pleasing design. A wide wall with carefully placed stones (often durable limestone) ensures its strength and durability.
Segmental retaining wall construction
When looking to hold back a particularly heavy slope, segmental limestone retaining walls interlock modular blocks of stone to create an immensely solid vertical front.
Mortared Stone Wall Development
Using mortar and limestone in a wet-laid construction format creates a lasting wall design that brings impressive thermal regulation in an aesthetic, easy-to-clean finish.
Key considerations for retaining wall installation
Determining the most suitable retaining wall design for your residential or commercial property involves careful consideration of multiple important factors. The success of your block wall or twinside retaining wall installation relies on a solid foundation, clear drainage, and more.
Examine the location
First carry out a thorough analysis of the location where the retaining wall is to be built, to ensure there are no safety concerns, underground limitations, or drainage issues.
Check details of property lines as well as overground and underground utilities, and engineer an effective design that takes into account surrounding factors such as pools, fencing, and other walls that could place additional weight on your retaining wall.
Clarify the soil type
Building a long-lasting panel and post or limestone retaining wall relies on firm, dry soil. Carefully examine the soil and the chosen location and clarify soil type, how much weight it can bear, any stress parameters, and the friction angle.
Check for effective drainage
One of the most typical reasons for a retaining wall to fail or collapse is the buildup of water due to insufficient drainage. To check if the area has suitable drainage for your chosen retaining wall type, first find all potential water sources in the area and create an effective drainage system behind the new wall.
Covering the base of the retaining wall with fabric and gravel to improve drainage, and make sure the design works with surrounding vegetation and landscaping as well as any nearby properties.
Consider materials
There are many great options for retaining wall materials, and choosing the best fit for your requirements ensures a durable, long-lasting design. Traditional concrete blocks and interlocking walls are a reliable, easy-to-install option, and limestone retaining walls are an increasingly popular choice thanks to their durability, versatility, and natural ability to keep the temperature down.
Confirm any height limitations
Making sure you abide by any height restrictions or building regulations is highly important when installing limestone or panel and post retaining walls in Perth. Clarify the height of our new wall and consult with local professionals for advice on designs over 600mm.
It’s also worthwhile checking the height of surrounding vegetation, as any aesthetically pleasing design will compliment and coordinate with surrounding plants.
Determine the best design
Creating the best design for your property relies on critical elements like counteracting gravity to ensure your new retaining wall will not slide down over time. Consider reinforcements such as rock bolts, stabilised soil, or geogrids to provide additional support.
As well as clarifying all practical elements, a great retaining wall uses aesthetic colour schemes and external finishes that work well with the surrounding environment, either in complementary contrast or matching tones with your home or business’s exterior walls.
The importance of expert retaining wall construction
Acquiring the right form of retaining wall construction can have positive long-lasting results on your poetry, from aesthetically boosting the landscape design and layout to providing much-needed support between different levels of soil.
Achieving a cohesive, complementary retaining wall is difficult without the right experience. Experts at installing retaining walls provide a range of retaining wall options and services, including effective limestone builds and robust twinside retaining walls, with leading providers like Firm Fencing ensuring superior structurally-sound results from start to finish of the process.
Superior retaining wall installation from Firm Fencing
The professionals at Firm Fencing are experts at retaining wall design, construction, and installation, with each qualified and passionate team member well-versed in both location/soil analysis as well as local building regulations and compliance.
Contact Firm Fencing today for a free quote on a retaining wall, or with any queries about the wide range of available residential and commercial fencing and wall services.