With their ability to hold back soil and stop erosion, concrete retaining walls are crucial components of construction and landscaping projects. These walls can improve outdoor spaces’ visual appeal in addition to their practical uses. Understanding their characteristics and construction method is essential for any builder or homeowner, whether they are to be used to stabilize embankments or create terraced gardens on sloping terrain.
The strength and longevity of concrete retaining walls is one of their main advantages. These walls, which are composed of reinforced concrete, can withstand considerable soil pressure over time. Because of this, they are perfect for bearing large loads and withstanding the forces applied by retained soil, particularly on steep gradients.
Building a concrete retaining wall usually entails a number of consecutive steps. First and foremost, the site needs to be properly leveled and prepared, with adequate drainage. After that, trenches are dug to make room for the footing, which is an essential component that equally distributes the wall’s weight and keeps it from settling.
Forms are erected to specify the contours and composition of the wall after the footing has been placed and compacted appropriately. These forms, which are typically constructed of metal or wood, act as molds for the concrete to be poured into. In order to strengthen the wall and keep it from cracking under pressure, reinforcement bars, or rebar, are frequently placed within the forms.
The pouring of concrete is the next important step, which needs to be done precisely and carefully planned. To guarantee the integrity of the wall, the concrete mix has to be the right consistency and quality. A strong, cohesive structure that is resistant to soil pressure is formed when the concrete solidifies and forms a bond with the rebar.
The curing of concrete, which entails keeping it damp and shielded from harsh weather to encourage appropriate hardening, is one of the finishing touches. Any formwork is removed once the wall has cured, and it can then be textured or treated to give it the desired look. In order to avoid water accumulation behind the wall, which could eventually jeopardize its stability, drainage considerations, such as weep holes or drainage pipes, are also addressed.
To sum up, in order to build sturdy, efficient structures that improve both functionality and aesthetic appeal in landscaping and construction projects, it is critical to comprehend the characteristics of concrete retaining walls and the construction process.
- What it is?
- Design Features
- What brand of material is suitable for pouring?
- Pros and cons of use
- How to make a calculation?
- Materials and tools for self-construction
- Description of the technology for pouring a support structure with your own hands step by step
- Wall reinforcement
- Creating formwork
- Creating drainage and other actions
- Features of device technology on a site with a slope
- Possible difficulties and errors
- Price for pouring work
- Video on the topic
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What it is?
Retaining walls are found in urban and suburban settings with uneven terrain. They choose to fill retaining walls if the area contains hills or ravines, which make it difficult to design a typical garden and set up a lovely yard.
In this instance, the area is separated into multiple zones, terraces are constructed, and the wall is crucial. These kinds of structures artificially reinforce terraces, allowing owners to design the yard anyway they like without worrying about slope issues.
The following tasks are carried out by retaining walls:
- zoning of the territory;
- addition of landscape design;
- keeping soil from washing away;
- water redirection;
- in areas with slopes, creating an obstacle to soil erosion.
In addition to adding beauty to the garden, retaining walls can shield alleys from damage. It can be utilized as a sizable plant pot in landscape design. Such a structure’s primary function is to keep areas and foundations safe from soil erosion and sliding.
A wall is still required even though planting plants will stop the soil from sliding because the roots of the plants will hold the soil in place.
Insects can easily destroy a healthy root system and cause the earth to slide downward when they nestle into plant and tree roots over time.
This design is particularly crucial in sloping areas where it is hard to forecast when the earth will collapse. Concrete and other materials are used to build the walls, which are then finished to taste. The outcome is a stunning and useful external element.
Design Features
The design of a retaining wall determines whether it is solid or simple. In the first example, the wall is supported by a mortar foundation. Stone is used to lay out simple structures without the use of mortar.
Even considerable soil sliding won’t be able to move a massive main wall due to its immense weight. When soil is used in an arrangement where the wall is thin, forces are created that tip the earth in the opposite direction.
Reinforcement is also used in the construction of permanent retaining walls, and excavation is required for thin-walled ones. When money is tight, cantilevered corner retaining walls are built; these make great locations for planting vegetation.
Retaining walls that are low, between 30 and 80 cm high, are mostly ornamental. They are produced in parallelepiped or trapezoid shapes. When the soil swells, they won’t move. If the wall is low, the fertile layer is replaced with non-metallic material and the foundation is not poured. The lower portion is 30 cm deeper if the height is higher.
Medium-height walls are built on sloped areas with height differences of one meter. A heel is used to expand the structure at the bottom, and concrete is poured on site to form the wall. Polymer pipe drainage is necessary if the retaining wall is average in height.
A thin layer is built for high walls, with soil acting as a barrier.
What brand of material is suitable for pouring?
The proper material must be chosen in order to pour a concrete wall. For this purpose, M200 grade concrete is most frequently utilized.
There are multiple attributes of concrete that fulfill the specifications needed to be used as retaining wall material:
- belongs to class b15;
- moisture resistance from w2 to w6: during hardening it is able to withstand a water column pressure of 0.6 atm;
- density 2200-2400 kg per cubic meter;
- fast hardening;
- compressive strength – 196 kg/cm. kv.;
- withstands loads up to 20 MPa/m.cube;
- mobility from P2 to P4;
- frost resistance F100.
Concrete M200 is very resilient to harsh weather conditions and has a low heat conductivity. It produces a solid and dependable solution that is used in industrial and civil construction.
Pros and cons of use
Retaining walls are typically constructed of concrete, but occasionally they are made of brick, wood, or natural stone.
Concrete is still more appropriate for this use for the following reasons:
- choice;
- strength;
- resistance;
- simplicity;
- flexibility;
- good appearance;
- environmental friendliness.
The site owner has the freedom to choose concrete and determine on their own what kind of structure will be used.
Precast concrete panels, on-site concrete casting, and concrete blocks are all equally appropriate for this use. This material can withstand a great deal of water and soil because it is so strong. The completed retaining wall will only get stronger with each passing year.
These walls are strong, resilient to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing, and unafraid of harsh chemicals and salts from the road.
Concrete walls are simple to construct; you can easily add curves, corners, and even stairs with their assistance, adding diversity to your website. Concrete is inexpensive to maintain and can be finished with a variety of materials. It is suitable for construction and doesn’t release any hazardous materials.
There are a number of drawbacks to using concrete, including:
- Firstly, this is the need for careful planning and design, which not every site owner can do.
- Secondly, this is the complexity of the work, which should only be performed by qualified craftsmen.
- Thirdly, such walls are difficult to dismantle, and it may be necessary if there is a desire to redo the design.
In this piece, we examine the fundamentals of building a concrete retaining wall and provide straightforward instructions for each stage of the procedure. We help you every step of the way, from choosing the best materials and site preparation to comprehending the uses and advantages of retaining walls. You’ll discover the significance of appropriate drainage, the techniques for constructing the wall and laying the foundation, as well as vital advice for guaranteeing longevity and visual appeal. This guide gives you the knowledge to build a concrete retaining wall that is both strong and efficient for your property, whether you choose to work with professionals or take on the project yourself.
How to make a calculation?
The dimensions of the structure, including its thickness and other indicators, must be determined during the planning stage in order for it to perform to the fullest extent possible.
It is necessary to follow certain SNiP requirements when performing calculations:
- at 60 cm the wall should be minimally buried in the ground;
- from the height of the entire wall, its width should be within 50-70 cm to start calculations;
- the wall should be recessed towards the elevation by 12.5 cm per linear meter;
- the top cut for a solid wall must be at least 40 cm.
The regulations require that the type of drainage be selected, either longitudinal, transverse, or combined. For instance, if there is a 130 cm height difference on the ground, the standards state that a wall should be roughly 2 meters high with deepening dimensions. The soil type—that is, the specific adhesion value—is also factored into the calculations.
Materials and tools for self-construction
After the computations are finished, you can start getting the supplies and equipment ready.
To build reinforced concrete walls on your own, you’ll need:
- concrete mixer;
- wooden beam;
- buckets;
- water;
- nails;
- a simple pencil;
- expanded clay;
- shovel;
- Master OK;
- roulette;
- building level;
- cement grade M200 or class b
Additionally, reinforcement walls will be required. Wooden boards will be helpful in creating formwork for pouring; these boards must be positioned around the future retaining wall’s perimeter and then filled with concrete.
For drainage, expanded clay is utilized; however, crushed stone and gravel can be utilized in its place if it is hard to find. If there is a chance that the formwork will bend from the concrete, metal corners can be used to help secure it firmly with nails.
Description of the technology for pouring a support structure with your own hands step by step
The first step in retaining wall technology is trench excavation. You have two options for doing this: hire an excavator or complete the task by hand with shovels. Shovels are used to level the trench.
Wall reinforcement
Reinforcement is used to strengthen thick and high retaining walls. Rods and metal rods are used for this purpose.
The foundation is strengthened by the placement of reinforced mesh or rods at the bottom of the trench, which is followed by a layer of crushed stone or expanded clay.
Throughout the ditch’s entire contour, the rods are positioned vertically. First, thin wire is welded to the vertically positioned thick rods in a horizontal manner.
The end product is a lattice structure with bridges connecting it that are thinner than the thickest reinforcing in the structure.
Creating formwork
The next step involves creating the formwork. Use wooden boards that are at least 3 cm thick for this. Use 5×10 cm wooden cross-section blocks to join the boards.
Metal pins are used to secure the formwork; they are hammered into the ground in increments of no more than 50 cm. After building the remainder of the structure, they start erecting the formwork from the back wall.
Creating drainage and other actions
Materials that absorb moisture are used to make drainage. This can be accomplished by drilling a 10 centimeter hole in the retaining wall and inserting a moisture-removing polymer tube into it.
Next, combine the solution in the amounts listed below:
- cement 1 part;
- sand 3 parts;
- fine crushed stone 1 part;
- water 1 part.
After the reinforcing belt is put in place along the whole length of the formwork, concrete is poured. Water is periodically added to cured concrete to keep it from cracking. Roofing felt or roofing felt is used for waterproofing at the last stage.
Features of device technology on a site with a slope
The method will be similar if the site has a slope, but you will need to consider the site’s size and terracing during the planning phase. The landowner will need to hire machinery to dig a trench for retaining walls and divide the area into multiple horizontal zones.
Plant roots can stabilize a mild slope, but if there is a significant height differential, building a concrete wall will be necessary.
OSB boards work better for formwork because the wall’s base must be buried as deeply as possible in the ground. Additionally, drainage needs to be efficient; pipes made of polymer or asbestos-cement are used to install it. Transverse drainage with drainage is preferable.
Possible difficulties and errors
Retaining walls could collapse in the event that the master makes a mistake if technology is not followed.
The most typical issues:
- insufficient foundation depth;
- poor drainage;
- failure to comply with the rules for resting a wall on a hill;
- the height and weight of the wall are too high;
- construction on soft soils with close water levels.
These mistakes can cause the walls to collapse, develop cracks all over them, and collapse in the lower portion as well. It is best to invite a team of experts if there is insufficient experience with construction and calculations.
Price for pouring work
The entire cost of constructing a concrete retaining wall varies depending on the Russian region:
- In Moscow, for such work they will ask for from 3,500 rubles per linear meter, while from 1,500 rubles you will have to pay for arranging the foundation of the wall.
- In Novosibirsk they charge from 5,500 rubles for a wall up to 100 cm, while they will charge another 1,500 rubles for digging a trench.
- In Krasnodar, turnkey work will cost from 5,940 rubles per linear meter.
A sturdy construction meant to retain soil and stop erosion is a concrete retaining wall, which is essential for maintaining landscapes with different elevations. There are several important steps in its construction, starting with meticulous planning and site preparation. Make sure the area is free of debris and adequately compacted before adding concrete to create a solid foundation.
After that, formwork is erected to shape and size the concrete into the desired wall shape. To achieve the strength and appearance of the wall, precision is required in this step. In order to improve the wall’s structural integrity, reinforcement bars—such as rebar—are frequently added inside the formwork, particularly for taller or load-bearing walls.
After mixing and pouring the concrete into the formwork, it is allowed to cure and solidify. In order for the concrete to reach its maximum strength and longevity, curing is essential. It’s crucial to keep the concrete covered during this time to prevent it from drying out too quickly or from being exposed to harsh weather, which could lower the quality of the material.
The formwork is removed to expose the retaining wall’s sturdy structure after the concrete has sufficiently dried. In order to make sure the wall satisfies both functional and aesthetic standards, finishing touches like surface smoothing and imperfection correction are applied. In order to avoid water accumulation and possible damage, proper drainage behind the wall is also taken into account.
Adhering to construction best practices and paying close attention to detail are essential when building a concrete retaining wall. You can build a strong and useful structure that improves the stability and beauty of any landscape by carefully following these steps.