Segmental Retaining Wall Block Vs Mortared Concrete

Poured concrete foundation walls are arguably stronger than cinder block foundation walls.

Segmental retaining wall block vs mortared concrete.

Our low absorption high strength solid concrete units provide not only the long lasting durability engineers expect but also the limitless number of design options. Segmental retaining walls srws are designed to be used as a gravity wall either with or without reinforcement and can have heights in excess of 40. Segmental retaining walls are constructed without mortar or concrete footings. The walls are structurally stable yet they remain flexible to tolerate minor earth movement without damage.

Incidental water moves easily through a vertical drain that is formed by the layer of wall rock placed behind the block and in the block cores. Without joints poured walls possess a greater lateral strength which essentially means they have a greater ability to resist pressure presented by water and the soil. Mortared concrete block and cast in place concrete walls involve highly paid skilled labor and take more time to install and they will need stone or brick facings if aesthetics are important. Srws are modular blocks made from concrete that are often dry stacked without mortar.

In 1986 allan block introduced its first segmental retaining wall block srw. Since 1987 versa lok has been creating solid solutions for architects and engineers with the industry s original solid top pinning segmental retaining wall system. Manufacturer s recommendations should be followed regarding the capacity of their particular system for the soil loads under consideration. You ll need to consider the purpose of the wall the look your desire and your budget when deciding what retaining wall material is right for you.

Water and weather wear down the mortar over time and can causes leaks. The dry stack construction technique allows the incidental water to escape by flowing around the blocks and out the. Segmental retaining walls can be designed as either conventional or as reinforced soil as illustrated in figure 1. The wall batter compensates for any slight lateral movement of the srw face due to earth pressure and complements the aesthetic attributes of the srw system.

Segmental retaining walls are generally installed with a small horizontal setback between units creating a wall batter into the retained soil ω in figure 2. The individual units interlock with each other to avoid overturning and sliding. This method creates walls that are easy and economical to install. Whether you choose concrete block stone or another material you ll want to understand the basics of retaining wall construction so that you can make sure your wall is designed and built correctly.