Retaining Wall Styles
Armour Stone or boulder stone retaining walls are built using natural stones. Amour stones are removed from quarries, and boulder stones are the product of site development excavations. These stones retain the soil behind them by their weight. Each stone will weigh anywhere from 500 to 3000 pounds. These retaining walls are generally laid without the need for mortar or glue because the weight of the stones and stone-to-stone friction from the contact between stones creates enough shear strength to retain the soil.
Pre-cast Wall Blocks are manufactured in a controlled environment and are specifically designed for retaining walls. They have construction specs appropriate for the exact retaining wall stone being installed. These wall stones often have notches or keys to help increase the load-bearing ability of the overall retaining wall. The height and load-bearing requirements of the wall will determine the appropriate size of each pre-cast wall stone unit.
Concrete Block retaining walls are pre-cast hollow units designed to be stacked vertically, mortared in place, and filled with stone or concrete. These retaining walls are usually faced with a veneer stone or brick for an esthetic appeal. The construction of these walls has more steps involved and therefore can cost more than pre-cast retaining wall stones.