Retaining walls can be a necessary addition to your home landscaping to help create a level surface within your yard. Whether it is to help prevent erosion or to increase the aesthetic appeal of elevated yard features, retaining walls can offer effective solutions.

What is a Retaining Wall?

A retaining wall is a wall that allows soil levels to differ on each side of the structure. Typically, you will find retaining walls along a hillside to help maintain the slope of the soil on one side, but provide the level ground on the opposing side of the wall.

While some retaining walls may be used for commercial purposes, residential retaining walls Memphis TN are popular solutions for homeowners as well.

Types of Retaining Walls

Gravity Retaining Walls

Gravity retaining walls are the simplest of the retaining walls options. These walls may be made of bricks, pavers or stones and function well because they are heavy enough to hold back the soil that is behind them.

Sheet Piling Retaining Walls

If you have relatively soft soil and you don’t need your wall to be too large, a sheet piling retaining wall will be the simplest option. If you do need a larger wall, you may use a sheet piling retaining wall along with additional reinforcement to create an anchored retaining wall.

Anchored Retaining Walls

Anchored retaining walls are typically used if the wall is taller than a few feet. These walls will be reinforced with cables or anchors to add extra security for keeping the wall in place. Using the cables/anchors, can help ensure the wall can withstand the pressure of the downward sloping soil.

Cantilevered Retaining Wall

The strongest of the retaining walls is the cantilevered retaining wall resulting from the steel bar reinforcement. These are typically the go-to choice for commercial retaining walls.

Retaining walls can be made of different materials depending on the functionality and appearance your yard requires so you may want to consider consulting a professional to find the best option for you.