One builds retaining wall in order to hold back earth that would otherwise move downwards. One makes use of stone and concrete to build a retaining wall. However, the design must be correct structurally and very strong to withstand soil and water pressures. When correctly done, it serves the twin purpose of retaining soil and rock in a vertical condition besides looking elegant and magnificent. Find a professional firm for undertaking construction of a retaining wall in Pittsburg.
Gravity walls were the earliest kind of retaining walls in existence. Simply put, these were designed such that the weight of the wall itself acts as a solid block for water or soil. Of course, if you want the water to be drained off, you need to create a drainage system. Steel reinforcement is not required.
If you have ever seen a wall made of timber, then what you have seen is a crib wall design of retaining walls. Design is very important in any kind of retaining walls. A poorly designed retaining wall will slowly begin to collapse under the weight of rocks and soil. One needs to understand that a retaining wall needs to be strong enough and withstand variations in diverse climatic conditions.
You can witness these or many other kinds of retaining walls in areas where the ground is at a slope. This is more common in tourist places such as resorts that have been built at a height. Many a times, one can see retaining walls in place on both sides of the road. These prevent soil and rocks from being hurled on the vehicles on the road. In areas where it snows, you can understand the importance of retaining walls. In addition, you can divert water, so that you can prevent roads from flooding.
When you want to build retaining walls of heights up to 10 meters, then cantilever walls are the most economical. There are T-shaped and L-shaped walls used in the combination of a heel and a toe. This reinforcement helps in keeping the structure very solid. There have been various cases of retaining walls built without or using inadequate reinforcement collapsing after a few years or a decade. Improper drainage is also a major reason. Since then, advancement in the science behind erecting retaining walls has made modern erections much tougher and long lasting. Weep holes and geotextiles are used to drain the excessive water.
A simple sign that a retaining wall is collapsing is when it begins to lean giving up its vertical look. More often than not, inadequate design is the culprit. These days, large MSE (Mechanically stabilized earth) walls are used to build over bridges. Thus, you can see how important retaining walls are for modern construction engineering. Modern methods and techniques are far beyond the understanding of laypersons. Thus, it is better to leave the task of constructing a retaining wall in Pittsburg to professionals for getting the best retaining wall for your property.
Retaining Wall Pittsburgh– Lockcrete Bauer provides expert services concerning retaining walls in Pittsburg. Visit us to see the kind of work they have done and what they have to offer you.
