What Are Retaining Block Walls Used For?
Does your garden need retaining block walls to stop the water from coming into your home? Or are you just wanting one for more aesthetic purposes? Whatever the reason is, reading this All Angles Masonry post is important.
A retaining wall that is frequently used as a stabilizing structure to hold sloping ground in place and to stop the erosion and the movement of soil. It has to be both sturdy and substantial, in order to accommodate and redistribute the lateral pressure due to the sloping ground. It is designed with seepage holes, as these allow collected groundwater to escape and releases additional pressure created by the accumulation of water.
Different materials can be used to construct such a wall. Stone and concrete frequently used, and there are special blocks made out of aggregate materials and light concrete. Some styles will interlock, which makes assembly simpler, cheaper, and less time consuming; this is because each block will fit securely to the next and because of this, they do not need mortar to hold them together.
A retaining wall can either be a series of “steps” or tiers that bring a more attractive design, in addition to helping with erosion control. The design can include the planting of different flowers or materials in each tier, which will bring more texture, color, and interest to an otherwise uninteresting area. Other than the aesthetic value, a tiered design will also offer better erosion control by breaking down the soil, and pressure held back by each division of the wall.
Previously, large stones and railroad ties were used to create a tiered retaining wall. However, today, there are several styles and blocks available just for this purpose, and most people prefer to choose preformed blocks, as they are affordable and easy to use.
Here concludes our post for the day, if you are interested in block walls in your Albuquerque, NM garden, call us on (505) 209-3665 today.