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Choosing From the Different Types of Retention Walls

  August 4, 2025

Choosing-From-the-Different-Types-of-Retention-Walls

Retaining walls form the heart and soul of landscaping and property improvement by holding soil in place and preventing erosion. They help control runoff water, are designed to protect structures, and generally improve a property’s visual appeal. As retention wall contractors, here are some retention walls and their benefits to help you with your next project.

Gravity Retention Walls

Gravity retention walls restrain soil under the force of their weight and are constructed with stone, concrete, or brick. These walls are wider at the base and lean toward the top. Because of their simple design and ease of installation, they are suitable for lower-scale and lighter-duty projects.

Gravity walls are an inexpensive approach for managing residential landscaping as they require no other support. Gravity walls are versatile in design, allowing homeowners to mix various designs and materials to fit their landscape. Retention wall contractors work with gravity walls when space is available and light landscaping is required.

Cantilevered Retention Walls

Cantilevered retention walls have a stem with a base slab that can take heavy loads. They are made for commercial and industrial projects for larger, more complex designs. The base slab is intended to extend below the wall, increasing stability and soil retention without requiring as much material.

One of the essential features of these walls is that they efficiently carry heavy loads, making them economical for big projects. Cantilevered walls are also durable for demanding applications and are a promising choice for strength and cost efficiency.

Counterfort Retention Walls

Counterfort retention walls are similar to cantilever walls, except vertical reinforcements, called counterforts, are provided for support. They are spaced behind the wall to transfer some of the load to the base slab. These walls economize on materials for construction without compromising the strength and stability of the wall.

Counterfort walls are usually adopted in tall walls or situations that induce heavy surcharge loads. They withstand tremendous pressures and, as a result, hardly require any material. Such structures are well-suited for large commercial or industrial sites where heavy, deep soil is imposed on the wall. Retention wall contractors understand the importance of counterfort walls when the project requirements demand strength and durability.

Anchored Retention Walls

Anchored retention walls are most suited when space does not permit the classic wall approach or when additional stability is required. These walls are anchored by cables or rods to the soil or rock, providing stability. The anchors also strengthen the walls against lateral pressures from the soil.

The design of anchored walls presents flexibility depending on the size of the project. Not having large bases or using massive materials makes them suitable for narrow locations or where height exceeds other types of walls. Because these walls use fewer materials, they are affordable compared to other designs and a good choice for retention wall contractors in a space crunch or when extra strength is called for.

The Benefits of Professional Retention Wall Contractors

At Dhillon Bros Paving, we specialize in manufacturing customized retention walls according to your requirements. Gravity walls for your residential properties, cantilevered walls or anchored walls for your commercial projects, there is nothing that we cannot design or install. The retention wall contractors on our team ensure that the walls we build are held to the highest standards, giving you a strong durable wall, complemented by beauty, for years. Reach out to our friendly team to learn more about how we can help you with your next landscaping project!

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