Features of block retaining walls

The peculiarities of block retaining walls are determined by the complexity of the landscaped landscape. The line of products of the construction industry allows you to strengthen and level the errors of the land relief - sliding slopes and slopes, preventing further destruction. The undoubted advantage of using blocks for such purposes is the possibility of solving decorative problems, giving the surrounding area the desired style with little financial costs.

Professional decoding of the term means any artificially created structure, the main purpose of which is to prevent destructive processes on the natural unevenness of the landscape.

For correct planning and selection of building materials, several points must be taken into account:

• the type of soil and its tendency to destruction under the influence of natural factors;

• the type of unevenness, the best ways to strengthen it;

• whether the structure will be a load-bearing or just a stable foundation (calculations are performed on the strength of elements and the structure as a whole);

• in the choice of a suitable material, they are guided by the height, type of walls for the purpose and principle of operation.

Along with traditional materials - concrete, reinforced concrete, brick and even wood - block retaining walls are becoming more common. The massiveness and stability of the structure, undemanding to the type of soil, the possibility of combination, resistance to natural influences in regions with different climates have led to the fact that the device of protective structures is increasingly made from blocks. This is no longer a fashionable trend and not a desire for decorativeness, but a reasonable choice made from practical considerations.

Among the tips for improving the area, giving it an aesthetic visualization, you can often find recommendations for using blocks to transform a problem landscape. The design variability and the reliability of the reinforcement depends on the type of building material used.

• The use of foam blocks in the construction of retaining walls depends on the category. For cheap ones, the front side looks unpresentable and additional cladding is required. However, by choosing more expensive categories, you can do without additional decorative finishes.

• Small FBS block - an excellent solution for landscape design, although they are usually used in the construction of a reinforced building foundation.

• Expanded clay concrete blocks are good for interior partitions, and outdoors they are quickly subject to destruction from natural disasters if they are not equipped with a protective covering.

Arrangement of a retaining wall is often made from concrete, brick (practical and inexpensive, but laborious), from rounded logs (beautiful and not cheap, but not for long), from natural stone (expensive, but strong and durable, and also aesthetically pleasing). Determining the appropriate type is not only taking into account the strength and decorativeness - often the determining factor is the need for equipment of the drainage system, the expected functions and dimensions of the retaining structure. Financial support plays an important role.For those who have significant funds, there are no restrictions on the subject of preference, and if necessary, you have to take into account the price criteria.

The indisputable advantage of erecting a support wall from foam blocks is the lightness of building materials and ease of installation, affordable cost. However, the landowner has other convenient options at his disposal.

The popularity of construction from cinder blocks is explainable, however, they have limitations in height and in the degree of strength - it is necessary to take into account compliance with the requirements for manufacturing technology and the use of a certain type of raw material.

• FBS - strong blocks, but it is preferable to build low retaining structures from foundation (solid section). They are heavy but reliable and easy to assemble thanks to special grooves.

• If there are recommendations to build from wall (this is how Internet experts mistakenly decipher the abbreviation FBS), it is better to purchase from lightweight high-strength concrete. But first, make calculations of the required resistance to loads.

• From sand-cement it is better to pre-select the desired category. It is better not to use hollow ones on complex structures, and decorative facing is used only for decoration, but not to prevent the soil from slipping.

• From pillar blocks choose durable, concrete, expanded clay, splitter, with concrete pouring and installation of metal reinforcement. Their significant advantage is the quick installation of the blocks (due to the size and the ability to give the supporting wall the required decorative effect, by choosing the right color scheme and textured imitation).

The right choice can only be made if all the necessary criteria are taken into account. Therefore, professionals advise to make purchases of building material only after the end of the first stage of the preparatory steps.

Errors in land tenure do not always force the owner to resort to complex, time-consuming and labor-intensive structures. The retaining wall can be in the form of a decorative fence, be a component of a professionally executed landscape design. In some cases, a ready-made standard project from an architectural bureau is used. But sometimes a complex trajectory is required, a curvilinear configuration, for which a professionally made calculation is needed.

It is better to make purchases after accurately measuring the dimensions and calculating the required amount of building materials (with an addition of 5-10% based on shipping damage or possible manufacturing defects).

After that, you can start landscaping, creating a safe and aesthetic visualization of your site.

A simple structure can be equipped with your own hands without paying for the services of professionals. It is enough to correctly make the calculations and apply the markup, guided by the plan. At the dacha, every centimeter of the area matters, so there is an already developed algorithm of actions:

• they dig a trench, strictly following the applied markings, focusing on the thickness of the acquired blocks (in width) and a depth of about a quarter of a meter;

• to start the installation, a base is made of gravel (at least 10 cm from the height of the wall), then they are carefully tamped and a layer of cement is applied;

• hollow cells are filled for greater strength;

• a visor is equipped over the last row in order to minimize the likely consequences of destructive natural factors.

When building a decorative structure, one row of blocks is enough, but if it is necessary to prevent a large mass of soil from slipping, it is better to lay out two rows, equip an earthen rampart from the inside and a drainage system. It will reduce the likelihood of destruction from rain, prevent cracks from freezing if water gets inside the blocks used for construction.

How to saddle a retaining wall from blocks, see the video.