What Materials are Retaining Walls Made From?

Over the years, many types of materials have been used for retaining walls to alter the landscape around us. The most common materials used include treated timber, natural stones, bricks, and concrete blocks.

While wood is comparatively inexpensive, it tends to be a poor choice due to its very short lifespan. As wood decomposes, so does the integrity of your retaining wall. Stones, boulders and rocks help to create beautiful retaining walls, but the installation of these materials can be costly and labor intensive. Additionally, maintenance of stone walls can be difficult because they may erode over time and become home to weeds or rodents.

Cast-in-place, or mortared, retaining walls are another viable option. They can be constructed with a variety of veneers, bricks, or flagstones which add style and texture to your space. However, these materials are rigid and do not flex with climate changes, earthquakes, and other natural forces. They can also be very expensive to construct.

Segmented retaining walls, or SRWs, are constructed of concrete masonry blocks that interlock for easy of use. These blocks stack together simply without the need for mortar and create a maintenance-free retaining wall. This option will fix a grading or sloping issue add usable land, and solve many other problems. The SRWs use very similar techniques found in the mortarless construction of the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China, and will stand the test of time.

Whichever type of retaining wall material you choose, Cornerstone Masons will exceed your expectations. Contact us today to schedule a free estimate!