For more information on the availability of various
styles of segmented retaining walls and other
hardscape products,
click here to visit a member in your
area.
Concrete Retaining Walls Help Cut Costs As
many state transportation departments find
themselves in the middle of strict financial
constraints and state legislatures work toward
balanced budgets, it is important to taxpayers that
states and federal transportation agencies use the
best and most economical systems to construct the
nation's roadways.
According to R. Lance Carter, engineer at the
National Concrete Masonry Association, one solution
to help reduce costs is to use segmental retaining
wall technology that saves money and construction
time and increases roadway longevity.
Segmental retaining walls are structures that use
concrete block and reinforced soil. They provide
significant savings on highway transportation
projects, which means direct savings to the
taxpayer, Carter said.
In the
1980s, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
used segmental retaining walls on two sections of
I-294. Carter reports that "nearly 1 million dollars
was saved on the entire project because the
allowance for segmental retaining walls introduced a
competitive alternative to other wall systems."
In 1995
and 1996, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority,
the country's oldest subway system since 1897,
utilized segmental retaining walls on two sections
of rail. Segmental retaining walls were used on the
Plymouth and Middleboro railway commuter lines that
had not carried passengers since the 1930s.
Within
the state transportation departments, segmental
retaining walls are providing significant cost
savings over other wall systems, especially in the
states of Colorado and Texas.
The
acceptance of this technology is documented by the
Federal Highway Administration, which reports that
nearly 2 million square feet of segmental retaining
wall are constructed yearly in transportation
related projects.
The
Federal Highway Administration further indicates
that these structures offer relative savings of 20
percent to 50 percent over conventional wall
structures and can be used to support bridges.
Retaining Walls Add
Visual Appeal To Landscaping
Across
the country, homeowners planning to landscape
their yards are turning to segmental retaining
walls as their product of
choice.
Why? There are several reasons. First, segmental
retaining walls have a strong reputation for
design flexibility and visual appeal. Homeowners
can choose from a wide variety of product sizes
and placement options.
Concrete segmental retaining walls also are
environmentally friendly and durable. Concrete
segmental retaining wall units are made of
natural materials and produced in a wide variety
of aesthetics. Units may have a split-face,
rugged, natural appearance or a tumbled,
rounded, old-world surface appearance.
In
addition, quality home-improvement products -
like segmental retaining walls - help create a
beautifully landscaped yard. The first
impression of a home is created by its exterior
attributes and that image creates a lasting
impression. An aesthetically pleasing yard helps
to increase your property value.
Finally, segmental retaining walls provide
natural and enhanced beauty to your yard without
posing a health hazard to your family. Another
popular landscaping material,
chromated copper
arsenate (CCA) treated wood, will no longer be
used after December 2003, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency. CCA-treated
wood, which contains arsenic, a known human
carcinogen, is being phased out of residential
applications.
According to experts at the National Concrete
Masonry Association, segmental retaining walls
have always offered the best value per dollar
when considering landscape product alternatives.
The durability of concrete products provides
added security not available with the timber
products of the past. Segmental retaining wall
units also are resistant to erosion and
infestation by rodents or insects
Four Tips for
Constructing Segmental Retaining Walls
Each Saturday and Sunday, homeowners flock
to local landscape and home centers in hopes
of completing projects that will improve the
appearance of their home and ultimately
increase the resale value.
According to experts at the National
Concrete Masonry Association, many
homeowners are finding that concrete
segmental retaining wall units are meeting
this objective.
One reason for this, they say, is segmental
retaining walls are less expensive than
poured-in-place concrete walls and more
durable than timber retaining walls. The
systems are also easy to install; they do
not require mortar or concrete footings.
Here are four tips from NCMA that can ensure
the success and long-term performance of
segmental retaining walls:
·Contact
local utility services to identify location
of underground pipelines, conduits and
utility lines.
·Check
with local building officials or residential
inspection services to determine any
requirements for construction certificates
or inspection. This is often a requirement
when retaining walls exceed four feet.
·
Coordinate delivery and storage of materials
to ensure unobstructed access to the work
area and materials·
·Review
the supplier’s recommended installation and
structural requirements.
Homeowners can find more information in
numerous publications about landscape
construction. Recent publications about
segmental retaining walls include,
“Retaining Walls: A Building Guide & Design
Gallery” by Schiffer
Publishing Ltd. Available at many landscape
and home centers, this book provides a guide
to constructing segmental retaining walls
with detailed, easy-to-follow diagrams and
charts for do-it-yourself homeowners and
landscape contractors
As
many state transportation departments find
themselves in the middle of strict financial
constraints and state legislatures work toward
balanced budgets, it is important to taxpayers that
states and federal transportation agencies use the
best and most economical systems to construct the
nation's roadways. 
choice.
