Preparing Your Home for Retirement

A retaining wall can help to flatten slopes or support soil which is located on an incline. This article looks at the things you should consider when constructing a retaining wall.

The location of the work

Conduct an assessment of the area to determine if a retaining wall will be needed. You should also check if a functional drainage system is present. If there isn't, this will also need to be constructed. Retaining walls are designed to prevent soil from washing away. If the wall is not protected, it could collapse due to waterlogging or heavy rains. There is also the matter of examining the soil at the base of the retaining wall. Clay-based soils contract and expand rapidly, so they can put a retaining wall at risk.

The angle of the slope

You should measure the length and width of the area that you want to retain. If there are changes in these measurements, then that change should also be included when you calculate the length of your wall. You need to find out what angle is needed for the wall to support your load properly. 

The type of retaining wall

There are two common types of retaining wall.

Gravity retaining walls

Gravity retaining walls use gravity to resist lateral earth pressures. The immense weight of the material which is used to construct the wall and the force of gravity prevents material from breaching the barrier.

Column retaining walls

This type of retaining wall is reinforced by columns that are positioned along the load-bearing edge. The number of columns needed will depend on the soil type.

The reputation of the construction contractor

It's best to hire a professional when building a retaining wall. The professional will inspect the site and tell you what type of wall they think is best. 

When you're looking to hire a retaining wall contractor, get a sense of their reputation by seeing what they've accomplished in the past and interviewing their previous customers. You should also make sure that the contractor is correctly insured and request assurances to shield against losses if there are problems with the wall.

Retaining walls are easy to install if you do the research beforehand and work with an experienced contractor. If you would like to find out more, you should make contact with a local construction company today. A contractor or rep from the company will be happy to discuss your project in detail.

For more information, contact a retaining walls service.