Retaining Walls

A retaining wall is a structure that holds or retains soil and prevents it from sliding or eroding away. It is used to restrain the soil at different levels on each side and is designed to resist the pressure of the soil that it is holding back.

Why the Need for Retaining Walls

A retaining wall also performs other functions that are just as significant as retaining material.  Retaining walls can sometimes be a necessity as they stabilise sloping land and prevent damage to your property. They provide an extra form of privacy, this is why some retaining walls are built around pool areas. These walls are sometimes used to block undesirable views within a property. And can form an appealing framework for your garden. Retaining walls are also helpful in preventing erosion and flooding within your property.

Retaining walls are a fantastic way to add value, character and appeal to your home. Not only will they accommodate sloped areas in the garden these walls can also turn a spare piece of the garden into an extension of your living environment.

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Types of Retaining Walls

There are four basic types of retaining walls which we will classify according to the purposes for which they are built. As these walls are built to create solutions for both residential and commercial needs, we will identify distinctions based on the two.

Residential

  • Gravity Walls – These walls depend on their self-weight and mass to retain soil. They are usually made of concrete, stone, or masonry units. Curvilinear, architectural walls can increase the aesthetic value of a home if the right materials are used. Below is a list of materials you can use to build your own retaining wall in your property.
    • Aussie Block – Features a split texture which is ideal for building large, strong, and durable retaining walls. These can be built to create straight or curved walls, right angle corners, steps, and terraced walls. These blocks have horizontal bevels that frame the block face and have a premium split face texture.
    • Backyard Block – These blocks are inexpensive and easy to install. They require very little maintenance, highly durable, and may be laid as a straight wall, bevelled wall, solid wall or gapped. These are highly resistant to rotting and can be laid as a straight, bevelled, solid, or gapped wall.
    • Concrete Sleepers – Both sturdy and insect-proof, and highly-resistant to rotting, warping, splintering, and splitting, these are steel-reinforced and structurally sound materials. Budget-friendly and cost-effective, they are also easy to clean and maintain. These are perfect for boundaries or tight spaces.
    • Freestone Exposed Finish Blocks – These are eco-friendly because they are made of 40% recycled glass, so they glisten in the light adding a subtle elegance to your home. These are available in two surface finishes, smooth and exposed aggregates.
    • Junior Block – These are highly durable blocks that can create straight or curved walls, right angle corners, steps, and terraced walls. These are easy to stack and have premium split face surface textures.
    • Limestone Block – These blocks are widely used because of their excellent natural insulation and fire and acoustic properties. Easy to use and cut, these blocks are one of the least expensive building materials we have.
    • Retaining Wall Blocks – These blocks have a smooth finish and contemporary colours. They don’t need mortar to install because of their interlocking feature. These blocks are easy to handle and require very little maintenance.
    • Textured Concrete Blocks – This is one of our premium products that have a natural rock face finish. These are a popular choice for their rough texture, strength, and durability.
    • Versawall – This type of block has a split face texture that resembles the form of a natural rock. Its unique interlocking feature is perfect for reclaiming sloping land and constructing garden beds.
  • Sheet Piling Retaining Walls – These are employed when there is limited space available. They are constructed by driving fabricated sections of the material into the ground. Joints of adjacent sheet pile sections are connected in sequence upon installation. Usually made of steel, wood, or vinyl that is driven directly into the soil, the vertical corrugation on these walls is what provides additional strength. These piles only work on soft soils. See image below.

Commercial

  • Cantilever Retaining Walls – Sometimes called Reinforced Retaining Walls, are one of the most common types of retaining walls. These are basically composed of a stem and a base slab and work on the principles of leverage. Usually formed in the shape of an inverted T, these walls are made from reinforced, precast, or prestress concrete. The stems allow for thinner walls and utilize the weight of the backfill soil to resist the sliding and overturning of the soil. They are used to retain soil at a slope that is greater than they would naturally assume, usually at a near vertical position. See image below.
  • Anchored Retaining Wall – Cables or other stays are pinned unto the retaining wall’s top and bottom ends. The other end of these cables is then anchored in the rock or soil behind it. The anchors are driven into the earth on one side and then filled with concrete to provide increased strength. These are used for walls that expect heavier loads and are more suitable when the ground is made of loose soil over rocks. See image below.

What We Offer

Australian Paving Centre is one of the leading masonry stone and blocks suppliers in paving, landscaping, and retaining wall products across South Australia and Victoria. Australian Paving Centre has the best range of retaining wall blocks in Adelaide, with a wide range of textured or smooth block finishes, limestone walls, stone walls, concrete retaining wall blocks and Besser blocks.

Australian Paving Centre specialises in retaining wall supply for commercial as well as residential retaining wall industries. With many years of experience in the landscaping industry, we provide a perfect retaining garden walling solution for your backyard. You can find an appropriate wall product here that will best suit your home, and most importantly your budget landscape.

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