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Walls
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the benefits a segmental retaining wall over a poured concrete wall or a
wall built from rock and mortar?
A. The primary benefits of a segmental retaining wall over a poured concrete wall or a rock and
mortar wall are as follows: Segmental walls are designed to allow for the release of water which
prevents hydrostatic pressure (water pressure). Being that they are dry-stacked without mortar,
they have the ability to be much more porous and allow for greater water permeability, which
will ultimately aid in the life and structure of the wall. Additionally, segmental retaining walls are
exactly as stated, they are segmental. The reason this is an advantage over poured concrete
walls or rock and mortar walls is that the wall allows for movement in the earth without
impairing the integrity or the structure of the wall. A poured concrete wall or a rock and mortar
wall is a rigid system that can crack when the ground moves or heaves.
Q. How are segmental retaining walls built and what constitutes the success of a lasting
well built wall?
A. Segmental retaining walls generally follow a routine design for construction. Factors that
generally constitute a successful wall are as follows: a well compacted footer, the proper
backfill, wall alignment as it is being built, and the use of reinforcement, such as geo-grid.
However, each wall is designed or engineered according to many factors. These typically
include: the height of the wall, the soil consistency, surcharge above the wall, what the wall is
retaining, and the placement or location of the wall. A lasting retaining wall should always meet
these factors and any other factor that could jeopardize the success of the wall’s intentions on a
case by case situation.
Q. When do I need a permit or engineered drawings for a retaining wall and can you
provide these services?
A. Generally, a retaining wall can be built without a permit in most locations if the wall is four
feet in height or less. However, every municipality has its own regulations and requirements for
retaining walls and should be inquired upon before construction. Should the need for a retaining
wall be above four feet in height, it is usually required that a permit and engineered drawings be
in hand before construction. Typically, most segmental wall manufacturers recommend that a
retaining wall be reinforced above four feet in height. This is the situation where a retaining wall
goes from being a gravity wall to a reinforced wall. Reinforced walls consist of a magnitude of
technical information that an engineer can provide the municipality and the contractor for safe
and suitable construction. Advanced Wall Design, Inc. can provide these services with a
licenced civil/geo-technical engineer and can obtain all necessary permits needed for the
commencement of construction.
Q. Why should I consider a segmental retaining wall for my yard or place of business?
A. A retaining wall can provide a wide array of benefits for businesses or private homeowners.
A retaining wall can assist in the following: making an unusable hill a usable area, provide
stability for the placement of parking lots or buildings, add aesthetic value to the home or
business, and increase the market value of a home or business due to the transformations that a
retaining wall can provide.
Q. Is there a warranty on your workmanship and retaining wall products?
A. Advanced Wall Design, Inc. offers a one year warranty on all workmanship. Additionally,
most manufacturers warrant its products to meet ASTM guidelines and specifications for a
lifetime.
wall built from rock and mortar?
A. The primary benefits of a segmental retaining wall over a poured concrete wall or a rock and
mortar wall are as follows: Segmental walls are designed to allow for the release of water which
prevents hydrostatic pressure (water pressure). Being that they are dry-stacked without mortar,
they have the ability to be much more porous and allow for greater water permeability, which
will ultimately aid in the life and structure of the wall. Additionally, segmental retaining walls are
exactly as stated, they are segmental. The reason this is an advantage over poured concrete
walls or rock and mortar walls is that the wall allows for movement in the earth without
impairing the integrity or the structure of the wall. A poured concrete wall or a rock and mortar
wall is a rigid system that can crack when the ground moves or heaves.
Q. How are segmental retaining walls built and what constitutes the success of a lasting
well built wall?
A. Segmental retaining walls generally follow a routine design for construction. Factors that
generally constitute a successful wall are as follows: a well compacted footer, the proper
backfill, wall alignment as it is being built, and the use of reinforcement, such as geo-grid.
However, each wall is designed or engineered according to many factors. These typically
include: the height of the wall, the soil consistency, surcharge above the wall, what the wall is
retaining, and the placement or location of the wall. A lasting retaining wall should always meet
these factors and any other factor that could jeopardize the success of the wall’s intentions on a
case by case situation.
Q. When do I need a permit or engineered drawings for a retaining wall and can you
provide these services?
A. Generally, a retaining wall can be built without a permit in most locations if the wall is four
feet in height or less. However, every municipality has its own regulations and requirements for
retaining walls and should be inquired upon before construction. Should the need for a retaining
wall be above four feet in height, it is usually required that a permit and engineered drawings be
in hand before construction. Typically, most segmental wall manufacturers recommend that a
retaining wall be reinforced above four feet in height. This is the situation where a retaining wall
goes from being a gravity wall to a reinforced wall. Reinforced walls consist of a magnitude of
technical information that an engineer can provide the municipality and the contractor for safe
and suitable construction. Advanced Wall Design, Inc. can provide these services with a
licenced civil/geo-technical engineer and can obtain all necessary permits needed for the
commencement of construction.
Q. Why should I consider a segmental retaining wall for my yard or place of business?
A. A retaining wall can provide a wide array of benefits for businesses or private homeowners.
A retaining wall can assist in the following: making an unusable hill a usable area, provide
stability for the placement of parking lots or buildings, add aesthetic value to the home or
business, and increase the market value of a home or business due to the transformations that a
retaining wall can provide.
Q. Is there a warranty on your workmanship and retaining wall products?
A. Advanced Wall Design, Inc. offers a one year warranty on all workmanship. Additionally,
most manufacturers warrant its products to meet ASTM guidelines and specifications for a
lifetime.
Call us at 859-689-4202.