(COMPOUND AND

RETENTION WALLS)
and
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
RETAINING WALLS
A WALL THAT HOLDS BACK EARTH OR WATER.
Most common types;
■ GRAVITY RETAINING WALLS
Geometry of the walls help to maintain the stability.
Mass concrete walls are suitable for retained heights of up to 3m.
■ (CONCRETE CANTILEVER RETAINING WALL)
cantilever holds back a significant amount of soil. It rests on slab, slab foundation is
loaded by back fill, so weight on the back fill and surcharge also stabilizes wall against
overturning and sliding.
Why ANCHORED wall and PILING wall are not suitable for this
site.
Brick wall Reinforcement
(pros)
■ Low maintenance – Brick is a relatively low-maintenance building material. Also, it
retains color rather well so you won’t have to bother with painting for too often.
■ Eco-friendly – Bricks are made out of some of the most abundant and eco-friendliest
materials in the world – shale, and clay. Also, bricks can be later repurposed for
other landscaping projects like walking paths.
■ Weather and fire resistance – Bricks are playing extremely well with the elements.
They are not damaged by dampness, and they can withstand a lot of abuse caused
by flying debris. Also, bricks are not combustible and don’t help the spread of fire.
■ Durability – A solid, well-made brick is as durable as you can wish for. Nowhere near
as durable as stone, but durable nevertheless.
Cons
■ Price – Bricks befall into the upper price segment of outdoor building materials.
■ Color limitations – Although they come in a range of different colors, compared to
some other materials, bricks do not offer the same degree of variety.
■ Heavy – Bricks are quite heavy material. You have to pay attention to make your
retaining wall a solid foundation.
■ The lack of flexibility – Changing the outer appearance is problematic, but nowhere
near as problematic as replacing a damaged brick.
Boulders wall Reinforcements
(pros)
■ Natural look – Boulders are a great match for any kind of rustic home or
landscaping design.
■ Ease of use – Boulder walls are extremely convenient to build. Some of the projects
can be easily accomplished simply by stacking the boulders on top of each other.
Building the wall doesn’t involve expensive equipment.
■ Availability – Boulders of all colors and sizes are extremely easy to obtain and at a
very affordable price.
■ Durability – boulder constructions are in use since the beginning of humanity. Some
of them are still alive and well. That should serve as an enough of a testament to
boulders’ durability.
■ Boulder
Cons
■ Size – Boulders tend to be quite large.
■ The lack of flexibility – Boulders are what they are – there is very few interventions
you can make on them. Therefore, they can be used for the most basic tasks
(elevating a section of soil), but not so much for some of the more complex projects
(controlling the water flow).
■ Transportation – If the blocks are not locally available, transportation can burn you a
lot of money.
■ Height – Boulder walls can’t be built as high as concrete walls.
Gabion wall reinforcement
(pros)
■ Heavy basis – Gabion walls will stay firmly in the position even in the case of the worst
downpours you can imagine.
■ Flexibility – The baskets and the very materials within them are very flexible and
extremely easy to fit in any kind of backyard setup.
■ Upgradability – Gabion walls are modular. That mean that each of their sections can be
easily replaced or upgraded. Also, the gaps between rock or concrete pieces can be filled
with vegetation and silt which should further reinforce the wall.
■ Ease of use – Gabion walls can be built even with the slightest knowledge of masonry or
architecture. The build times are very short and the transportation is extremely easy to
handle.
 Cons
■ Visual appeal – Although they can play along with a wide variety of coastal and
riverside homes, gabion walls are not that visually pleasing.
■ Prone to rust – If you don’t put enough care into maintenance, wire baskets can
easily rust away, and render the whole setup worthless.
■ Vulnerable to water – Exposure to water can damage the basket and cause the
corrosion of internal elements (depending on the elements).
 DRAINAGE SYSTEM (Retaining wall)
■ Retaining walls are
impervious, which means
water cannot pass through
the wall itself, efficient
drainage is crucial. When
drainage goes
unaddressed hydrostatic
pressure will build up
behind the wall and cause
damage such as bulging or
cracking.
For proper drainage
at least 12 inches of
granular backfill
(gravel or a similar
aggregate) should
be installed directly
behind the walls.
Install perforated
pipe along the
inside or
backfilled bottom
of the wall.
Also install weep
holes to allow water to
drain through the wall
■ Walls should have
porous filter fabric
to prevent soil
from clogging up
the gravel.
Compacting and Reinforcement
■ Compacting backfill in 3 to 4 layers and installing a reinforcement grid directs
pressure downwards rather than against the walls.
 REINFORCED SOIL
■ GEOTEXTILES SOIL REINFORCEMENTS
(placed in layers within a controlled granular fill)can be used as “retaining wall”.
sheet pile walls (most economical) sheet pile is driving steel sheets into a slope or
excavation upto the required.
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
■ Homeowners vulnerable to frequent flooding should consider installing electrical
wiring and systems higher up in the walls. Rewiring may be expensive but that way
they could save considerable costs. The majority of flood damages occur at a depth
of less than half a meter.
Electrical
services