Retaining Wall Contractor Richmond Hill ON
At Masonry Richmond Hill, we are experienced and reliable when it comes to hardscape work, particularly retaining walls. Our retaining wall contractors construct sturdy and stable walls that withstand the test of time and hold up well against our fluctuating, often unpredictable weather.
To begin, let’s answer the question “what is a retaining wall and when would we need one”? Its namesake explains a bulk of what it does. It’s essentially a firm wall that supports the lateral soil so that it can be retained on both sides regardless of the height of the land on each end. It’s often used on graded, sloped or inclined land. What are the types of retaining walls? There are about a dozen or so types and subtypes, but we’ll touch on four of them here. |
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Cantilever retaining wall: this is a common type of wall found in commercial or public spaces, as well as residential settings. It uses reinforced concrete to contain a sizable amount of soil. It comprises a base slab, which is made up of the heel and toe, and a thinner stem. This is one of the more economical choices with options for it to be precast elsewhere or formed on site. One caveat, however, is that it requires meticulous engineering, design, planning and construction. So although it is an affordable option, careless mistakes made along the way can be costly.
Counterfort retaining wall: this is a cousin to cantilever walls in that they use a similar reinforced precast or formed on site concrete, but have additional vertical concrete wedges along the back of the wall called counterforts. The purpose of these counterforts is to reduce the forces imposed by the soil and reinforce the wall against the soil. A bonus effect is to add weight to the wall. Counterfort walls are popular and more economical than cantilever walls for heights over 25 feet.
Gravity poured concrete retaining walls: due to the sheer size and mass of this wall, they are generally formed on site and often don’t require reinforcement. The mass of the wall along with the overlying soil is what provides the resistance against lateral soil forces.
Semi-gravity retaining walls: this is somewhat a blend between the gravity wall and cantilever design. It is a slimmer version of the gravity wall as it contains reinforcing steel, but it has sufficient weight to provide the lateral reinforcement required in retaining walls.
Retaining walls are often a necessity in certain graded land scenarios; however, there are often other overlooked advantages, including acting as a: protective structure, a great run-off solution, and a beautiful decorative feature. If you’re in search of qualified, experienced and reliable local retaining wall contractors in Richmond Hill, look no further than Masonry Richmond Hill to provide a wall that will hold up strongly against lateral earth forces, while providing an pleasing aesthetic addition to your property. In Richmond Hill, where the land grade is wide and varied on both residential and public spaces, having the proper retaining wall construction is paramount in providing structure and protection on your property.
Counterfort retaining wall: this is a cousin to cantilever walls in that they use a similar reinforced precast or formed on site concrete, but have additional vertical concrete wedges along the back of the wall called counterforts. The purpose of these counterforts is to reduce the forces imposed by the soil and reinforce the wall against the soil. A bonus effect is to add weight to the wall. Counterfort walls are popular and more economical than cantilever walls for heights over 25 feet.
Gravity poured concrete retaining walls: due to the sheer size and mass of this wall, they are generally formed on site and often don’t require reinforcement. The mass of the wall along with the overlying soil is what provides the resistance against lateral soil forces.
Semi-gravity retaining walls: this is somewhat a blend between the gravity wall and cantilever design. It is a slimmer version of the gravity wall as it contains reinforcing steel, but it has sufficient weight to provide the lateral reinforcement required in retaining walls.
Retaining walls are often a necessity in certain graded land scenarios; however, there are often other overlooked advantages, including acting as a: protective structure, a great run-off solution, and a beautiful decorative feature. If you’re in search of qualified, experienced and reliable local retaining wall contractors in Richmond Hill, look no further than Masonry Richmond Hill to provide a wall that will hold up strongly against lateral earth forces, while providing an pleasing aesthetic addition to your property. In Richmond Hill, where the land grade is wide and varied on both residential and public spaces, having the proper retaining wall construction is paramount in providing structure and protection on your property.
