WHEN developing your commercial property, contractors will recommend using retaining walls. Precast retaining walls protect the property from soil erosion and ensure that the area remains safe, preventing damage to the land and its assets. Thus, the retaining wall the builders install must fit the property’s location, soil, drainage, and more. However, several types of retaining walls are available. Therefore, it is necessary to determine which precast retaining wall is perfect for the property.
Important things to know
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Before the contractors choose the retaining wall, they need to evaluate the location where they will place the retaining walls. Further, they would consider the wall’s design and the applicable drainage system. After the assessment, the contractors can choose the appropriate soil retaining wall. Often, the contractor or the designer will collaborate with a professional retaining wall manufacturer to meet their specifications regarding strength, absorption, and deviations in height and width, as well as additional reinforcements needed.
Types of retaining walls
As a property owner, it is advantageous to know the different types so that you can have a good idea about the retaining wall your contractor suggests.
Cantilevered walls. Contractors use cantilevered retaining walls for deeper excavations involving a height of about 5.4 metres. The wall works on the concept of leverage and is available in L-shaped and inverted T-shapes along reinforced concrete or masonry. The contractor will not use more building material when using cantilevered retaining walls. With this type, the vertical stress behind the wall transfers to the foundation, effectively preventing the retaining wall from topping because of the lateral earth from the soil.
Embedded retaining walls. As the name implies, embedded walls penetrate the ground. They depend on the passive resistance provided by the ground for support. This retaining wall is often used for metro stations, car parks, and basements. Builders use different methods based on the ground conditions, constructability, and the required water tightness of the excavation when building embedded retaining walls. They are similar to cantilever walls by extending deeper than the excavation to use the passive earth pressure on the ground underneath them.
Gravity walls. A gravity wall is lower, with the usual height reaching below 1.2 metres. However, depending on the builder’s specifications, the retaining wall can be higher. Moreover, they are heavier than other retaining walls, and they use their sheer weight and mass to prevent soil erosion. The massive precast concrete walls lean back and have interlocking edges, making them withstand pressure from the soil.
King post walls. King post retaining walls are cost-effective systems that builders use temporarily or permanently. They can be erected to about five metres in height in most ground conditions, including rock, and are especially effective as flood defence walls, retention of embankments, and basements. Builders install the H-steel columns along the line of the proposed wall about one to three metres apart and fill the space between the posts with precast concrete panels. The thickness of the precast panels is between 100mm and 280mm.
You can find other types of precast retaining walls, including bolt-down, modular, cast-in, and heavy-duty retaining walls, suitable for different locations and soil conditions. A professional contractor will know which retaining wall is suited to your property.
