A segmental retaining wall is cutting edge technology made of concrete.
Manufacturers make these wall blocks in the same facilities used to make pavers. This ensures that all the blocks are uniform size and strength.
You can select a purely functional appearance or a block that mimics natural stone. Segmental retaining walls are designed to work as a system.
How a segmental retaining wall is built
The construction of a segmental retaining wall is quite different from that of a traditional masonry wall. For a segmental wall, we dig a wide, shallow footer and fill it with compacted aggregate. We level the base then immediately start laying the block.
Pins are used to align the blocks. Some blocks include tabs or notches formed right into the block. At certain intervals, we place a product called geogrid between courses of block and extended out behind the wall.
Then, we backfill with clean gravel immediately behind the wall, and often finish the wall with a cap.
The advantages of segmental retaining walls
Segmental retaining walls will move with the slight expansion and contraction of the soil due to freeze and thaw. This design advantage results in an extremely durable wall system. Another advantage of segmental retaining walls is fast construction time.
As mentioned above, segmental walls come in a variety of styles. Greenworks a call and our experienced designers will help you determine which style is right for your project.