Retaining Wall Blocks

What are the Different Types of Landscape Walls?

Gravity Retaining Walls

Gravity retaining walls are one of the most basic and common types of retaining walls. Gravity walls rely on a combination of block weight, connections, depth of buried wall, and wall setback to hold back soil. When the right conditions are present, and when built within their recommended height limits, gravity retaining walls are able to resist lateral pressure solely with their weight and embedded depth. These mortar-less, yet structurally interconnected (lipped units and specialized pins) retaining wall systems also permit water drainage to prevent hydrostatic loads. Gravity retaining walls are normally used in non-critical applications, where final wall height will be under 36". For information specific to your project, contact RCP Block & Brick.

Reinforced Structural Retaining Walls

For taller walls, 3' to 50', retaining wall blocks are combined with soil reinforcement products such as geo-grids, earth anchors, or galvanized steel grid reinforcing. These additional reinforcement products help to create larger composite reinforced soil structures. With a properly designed and engineered combination of products, the reinforced soil mass can support greater earth pressure and surcharge loads.

Free-Standing Landscape Walls

Freestanding landscape walls are simply decorative walls that are most commonly used for yard division or decoration. Vertically stacking landscape blocks to create a wall. Freestanding landscape walls do not hold back soil as in the case with a retaining wall. Block are normally connected using one, or a combination of specialized pins, masonry adhesive, and gravity.