What is a Retaining Wall and Why Are They Important?

A retaining wall is a structure, typically built from materials such as concrete, steel, timber, or reinforced soil, and is used to hold or retain soil and/or land that sits behind it. Without this construct to retain the soil (backfill), the mound would typically collapse.

They are mostly used to prevent the earth from moving downwards due to the force of gravity and erosion – after all, it would be a shame if the force of gravity eroded the land sitting behind the new patio you just had constructed.

There are many uses for retaining walls, ranging from simply decorative to more practical uses during and after construction. While the overall purpose is usually the same, the styles vary depending upon the particulars of the function.

Factors to Consider when Building a Retaining Wall

The types of materials used in the formation of the retaining wall are dependent upon the load in which it will be having to retain; the materials chosen will also impact the lifespan of the wall.

Another key consideration is how much load the structure will be bearing. The greater the load, the stronger the materials need to be. This is where hiring a professional service, such as Osborne Construction, can come in handy. We will come out to your property and provide an evaluation of what will be best suited for your land.

It is also highly important to check with local building authorities before construction as it could impact water flow and affect your neighbours, so it is key to obtain any required permits prior to construction.

Once the zoning is complete, the construction portion of the retaining wall includes four (4) key considerations: support; foundation; backfill; and drainage details.

Support

Typically, the structure will be sloped towards the earth they will be containing in order to push back against the lateral pressure being applied. This approach is typically called a step-back wall and is fairly simple to create. However, sometimes the pressure from the earth is so great that additional supports are required to keep the wall in place.

Sometimes this may mean that the wall must be taller (usually greater than three (3) feet high) and completely vertical. If even more support is needed, extra can be provided from the use of buried footing, steel reinforcements, cantilevered design, or tie-backs. All of our experts at Osborne Construction are well-versed in this area and can provide any additional information at the initial consultation.

Foundation

Depending upon the size and power requirements, the foundation in which the wall is constructed is very important. While a small wall that isn’t required to retain much force is perfectly fine to be built in a trench filled with gravel, a large wall needs a sturdier foundation that will prove the test of time like concrete which can be poured to hole down the footings.

Backfill

The newly built wall will have space behind it that will need to be filled. This backfill should be either gravel or sand as neither of these will swell in the event of rain – soil, on the other hand, will swell and put additional, unwanted pressure on the wall.

Drainage Details

As stated above, it is important to consider the water flow of the area prior to starting the build. Depending on the materials used, there may or may not be an issue. If blocks are used, along with a sand or gravel backfill, water is able to flow between the individual blocks and drain out causing no problem. However, if the wall is built from solid materials, like on the side of a garage or a basement, there is nowhere for the water to flow, and cracking will result. The key is to implement a drainage system such as drainage tile which will carry the water away harmlessly.

Why is Outsourcing Important

Reaching out to a company such as Osborne Construction to build your retaining wall can help because we are able to work the job from start to finish. Our team has members who are well educated and have years of experience to ensure that both a strong, durable wall is built and that there will be no resulting damage due to improper drainage.

Reach out to Osborne Construction today and we will send someone over to conduct an evaluation!

Shauna
Shauna
15:50 21 Jan 22
Mark is very professional and knowledgeable. He explained to my husband Brian what was happening in our side yard and... why our basement flooded. He was very patient - as we had many questions and were out of province. Very trustworthy and easy to work with. If you need excavation work done - 100% recommend Mark and his crew.read more
Zac Young
Zac Young
17:30 16 Dec 21
Osborne Construction completed an external basement repair, involving concrete pad removal, trenching, foundation... repair, waterproofing and parging. Mark was responsive through the full process to a changing scope as the work proceeded and we felt the quality of work was strong throughout. We expect to have Mark's crew completing more work for us soon and expect others will find their work quality and good value as well.read more
Barb Van Giessen
Barb Van Giessen
00:00 13 Dec 21
Mark and his team came to our place to rebuild a retaining wall, install a fence and lay a concrete pad. They were... very responsive and friendly. I enjoyed hearing them chatting and laughing together.Mark did a good job of letting us know what was going on. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars a few things took longer than we planned. Some of that was because of supply issues.The work was done very well and you can tell the guys are experts at their field.read more
David Ritcey
David Ritcey
12:33 04 Dec 21
Mark and his team helped to transform our backyard. They helped us to design a layout that was ideal for our family and... stay on budget. They were friendly, kept us up to date with our project and very easy to contact. We will definitely use them again and recommend them to anyone looking for an outdoor upgrade.read more
Koral Kliewer
Koral Kliewer
23:28 24 Oct 21
Overall good experience. Mark provided detailed pricing and we had no surprises in the end. We had a couple minor... scheduling delays but we’re related other issues out of Mark’s control. He was always available via text or call and responded in a timely manner. Would recommend their services to anyone looking.read more
Frantic Dancer
Frantic Dancer
19:21 21 Jun 21
June 2021 - Just had Mark do a 2 day job for me fixing a leak on the corner of my house. Excellent job. You will find... Mark knowledgeable, eager to please, thoughtful and precise which is rare in his line of employment. I highly recommend you contact him for your needs.read more
dave wilson
dave wilson
21:31 16 Dec 20
had them waterproof my foundation to eliminate a wet basement issue. squeezed their equipment into my backyard and dug... up the entirety of my back foundation. waterproofed, new weepers. did an excellent job. very professional and thorough. if i had known how easy and reasonable it was going to be i would have done it years ago. very happy with the work. would certainly recommend them.read more
s simpson
s simpson
23:17 19 Oct 20
After having three previous contractors guess what is causing a leak through my garage wall, Mark determined in 10 min.... where and how the leak was occurring. By simply placing a small twig in a hole at the base of the front wall, he was able to demonstrate very quickly the primary entry point of rainwater. Because of his expertise, the work was completed at 1/4 the cost of other estimates and on time. Steve (Waterloo)read more
Lisa Fletcher
Lisa Fletcher
00:43 09 Oct 20
Great job redoing sidewalks and courtyard, exceeded my expectations. Easy to work with, great communication, on time... and on budget.read more
Don Campbell
Don Campbell
10:52 30 Sep 20
Marc and I installed a large geothermal system in the fall of 2019. The hard, hard clay made it take longer than either... of us expected, which led to some scheduling conflicts. Marc handled this well and got everything finished with only a small delay. He was well prepared, worked long hours and at times went above and beyond to ensure a professional result. I would happily recommend Marc to anyone looking for light-duty excavation services.read more
Sandra Schizkoske
Sandra Schizkoske
11:31 23 Sep 20
We hired Mark to remove our inground pool and he did an excellent job. He finished on time and on budget. He rebuilt... our walk way and it came out better than we expected. We were very happy with him and his worker.read more
Denton Daley
Denton Daley
23:32 14 Sep 20
This was the best service hands down. They protected our property while driving over our lawn to get to the backyard. ... They took the utmost care and ensured we didn't have any worries with their work. I highly recommend Osborn Construction for any residential excavation!read more
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Client Testimonials

"Mark and his team did a great job on our new landscaping project. They dug out and prepared new flower beds for planting, prepared sidewalks for flagstones, and helped with drainage issues on the driveway. Their expertise and attention to detail are just what we needed so we could do the next steps of the project ourselves. I would highly recommend this business for any exterior work!"

Dan & Kathryn C.

Mark and his crew completed the work on my property on time and on budget. Their expertise really showed when planning my project, scheduling everything, and working carefully in a tight space. I'm really happy with the results, and would gladly work with Mark again in the future!

Allen H.

Osborne construction did an excavation, fill, and concrete job on over 5500sqft of driveway and patio space around my home. He finished on schedule, and left the job site clean and ready for the next phase. They're easy to communicate with, and are very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend them. !

Alex D.

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