|
Wood or block for a retaining
wall?
What do you recommend for retaining walls, pressure-treated
lumber or mortarless block?
There are several factors to consider when installing a
retaining wall. First, you need to know whether drainage is an
issue
“Well made walls are backfilled with gravel for drainage and
have slotted pipes covered with sleeves that drain most of the
water away,” explains Bernard Kelly, owner of Australian
Landscaping and Construction. “But still, every wall directs
water toward its base, and put simply, water behind a wall
makes wood rot and fail.”
Next you need to consider price. Wood is generally cheaper, so
it’s still commonly used. “…although wood prices are rising and
companies like Allen Block are developing cheaper types of
block with simple and faster installation procedures,” Kelly
notes.
Another thing to consider is whether you’re planning to sell
your home in the near future. If you are, you may be tempted to
take the cheaper option, but Kelly explains that most home
buyers are very mindful of the fact that wood rots, and make
allowances that are sometimes out of proportion to the price
difference between wood and block walls.
Building a retaining wall involves many different issues - soil
type and water control are critical, with wall failures often
being attributed to contractors with little or no experience.
“State regulations restrict the building of large critical
retaining walls to contractors with a Class A license, so the
first thing to do if you’re considering a retaining wall is to
make sure the contractor has a Class A license,” Kelly advises,
adding that Australian Landscaping and Construction is fully
licensed and insured.
Whichever type of wall you choose, make sure the installers are
experienced with that type of wall. “I insist on the
experienced wood installers installing wood walls and the
experienced block installers installing block walls, and not
mixing my teams,” adds Kelly, who specializes in difficult
drainage sites and almost always recommends mortarless block
walls.
“Remember, the pyramids were built with mortarless block,”
Kelly concludes.
by j. Silverman -
Back
to Top
###
Source: http:// Contractors.com
| 
