If you're considering building a retaining wall but are confused about which to go for, poured concrete is the best option. Poured concrete retaining walls are flexible in design and can be painted. They can be built in different shapes and forms, whether curves, rectangles, etc. Of a surety, a poured concrete retaining wall will look good on your property.
Why Should You Build Poured Concrete Retaining Walls?
The main reason for building retaining walls is to control erosion and limit its damage to properties. Most homeowners do not see a reason to build a retaining wall if their property is not affected by erosion or built on hills. However, not only do retaining walls protect your property, but they also beautify it. There are shiny and decorative materials that give your home a classy look. Apart from that, retaining walls help you to save more space.
- Strength and Durability: Although many contractors have used concrete block walls for a long time, poured concrete has become preferable due to its strength and durability. It has been tested to build solid foundations that last longer.
- Flexibility in Design: : Poured concrete can be shaped more than moulded blocks. Instead of settling for a rigid structure, additional designs can be made to the building even at the last minute.
- Lower chances of leaking: Unlike concrete block walls, the leaks are less. Due to the resistance to water and soil and no joints, poured concrete is water resistant, keeping the building strong for a longer period.
- Fire resistant: The inability of concrete to burn due to its non-combustibility makes it a safer option for fire-resistant buildings. Poured concrete is the best for fire resistance compared to concrete blocks.
- Low maintenance: The most durable and cost-effective retaining wall is poured concrete. It requires low maintenance as it isn't affected by fire or water. Also, you do not have to deal with the mess caused by erosion.
- Water resistant: Poured walls have better lateral support to soil property, enabling resistance to the force of water and soil from outside. They are also easier to waterproof compared to block walls.
- Modernised look: Poured concrete walls look more beautiful and modernised. The smooth look and diversity in the design structure are unique.
- Eco-friendly: Used as a substitute for concrete block retaining walls, poured concrete retaining walls are thick and strong, and the structure insulates noise pollution. Poured concrete blocks are built to support the soil and prevent air, water and weather effects.
- Appearance: When you build a poured concrete wall, it can fit into both traditional and residential areas. They can be made to look however you want. Unlike bricks and stones that give a more traditional outlook, concrete can provide both appearances simultaneously, depending on what you want.
- Poured concrete allows you to add any and as many designs as you want. You can decide to use brick stencils, paint, and stones for additional design.
- Concrete walls are reusable if maintained well. After being torn down, you can use the concrete for other purposes like roadbeds, garden walls, etc.
Why Should You Hire Nation Landscaping and Paving to Build Your Poured Concrete Retaining Walls?
Nation Landscaping and Paving is an international company located in Adelaide, South Australia, with many years of experience in landscaping services. Our five-star rating from customer reviews is proof of our unparalleled competence. Here is why you can solely rely on our services.
- Competence: Due to our expertise in landscaping services, your work will be completed in no time. We build durable walks using original materials with a 100% completion rate.
- Client Satisfaction: Our utmost priority is satisfying our customers by building exactly what they want. All you have to do is dream it and bring it, and we bring your dreams to realisation. Our commitment to excellence has driven us to satisfy our customers beyond their expectations.
- Quality work: Using authentic materials, the quality of our work is second to none. The materials are highly accounted for and supervised.
- Work experience: Being one of the oldest landscaping companies in South Australia, you can trust us to build your desires.
- Skilful personnel: Building poured concrete retaining walls are rare in residential areas due to the expertise needed to build them. The foundation needs to be well structured and built by an architect unless it will affect the entire building. Finding such skilled architects and engineers to build it is rare. However, this is what we know how to do best at Nation Landscaping and Paving. We can help you design your walls, and be rest assured that there will be no single mistake.
Nation Landscaping can arrange a convenient time to visit your home or business so that an accurate quote can be provided. contact us and we'll be in touch within 48 hours. Our dedicated team look forward to meeting you.
Poured Concrete Retaining Walls FAQs
- Can a retaining wall be built on the boundary? - No, retaining walls cannot be built on a boundary. They should be at least 3 feet away from the boundary. However, the laws controlling the construction of retaining walls are different. Before constructing a retaining wall close to the boundary, it is important to consult your neighbour as one area would be sloppy and the other levelled.
- Can a retaining wall be a pool fence? - Yes, it can. We recommend that a retaining wall be built as your pool fence. Most houses do not use retaining walls, which affects water diversion, especially if your pool is on a sloppy level. The walls enable easy diversion of water. When rain falls, the water and dirt do not go into your pool.
- When does the retaining wall need to be engineered? - When your retaining wall is passed two to three feet high, it needs to be engineered. This ensures that the wall is strong enough to last a long time. In Adelaide, though some areas do not require council approval for engineering retaining walls, it is important to get council approval if you're in a place where it is required.
- When do I need a retaining wall? - The shallow area around Adelaide is prone to erosion. If your home is frequently affected by erosion, you'll need a retaining wall. The poured concrete retaining wall is preferable to serve as a strong barrier against erosion, especially if your home foundation is affected by water or a sliding hill.
- Can a pool also be a retaining wall? - Yes, it can. There are various designs we have available for pool retaining walls. It can be made in and around the pool. The walls barricade the pool and can differ in height ranging from one foot and above.
- What is the strongest retaining wall? - The strongest retaining wall is poured concrete. It lasts longer than any other retaining wall. It is denser than a block and has better lateral strength. It usually lasts for more than a century.
- Can I fix my poured concrete wall with natural stone or tiles? - Yes, you can. Both ceramic tiles and stones can be fixed on concrete walls. To ensure a steady attachment to the walls, thin-set mortar is used. The type of filler used for your joints depends on your preference.
- How thick should a poured concrete retaining wall be? - The average thickness of a poured concrete wall is 8 inches for walls that are 8 feet or less.
- Can I pour concrete myself? - No, you can't. Though it looks simple to mix concrete and build retaining walls on your own, you need experts and architects to make a building plan for you. Laying the foundation is risky because a mistake can restructure the whole building.
- What causes cracks in a retaining wall? - There are a lot of reasons that can cause your concrete retaining wall to crack, especially if not well managed. Though they can last for years with low maintenance, a few cracks can still occur. Concrete is mostly affected by water. Even though it has good water resistance, when they absorb too much water and shrink afterwards, it causes a crack in the walls. Also, during construction, if too much water is mixed with concrete, it can affect the overall structure of your walls.
- Can I use chemicals to clean concrete walls? - No, you cannot. As much as you are tempted to use the chemicals to clean off those stains, don't. Concrete walls are easily affected by chemicals. Applying chemicals to your walls will damage them in no time.
