Mortared Concrete Block Retaining Wall Vs Srw

Incidental water moves easily through a vertical drain that is formed by the layer of wall rock placed behind the block and in the block cores.

Mortared concrete block retaining wall vs srw.

Water and weather wear down the mortar over time and can causes leaks. The stone is split at the quarry either 8 in. Simply stack them in rows or mix heights within a row for a random look. The dry stack construction technique allows the incidental water to escape by flowing around the blocks and out the.

Mortared concrete block and cast in place concrete walls involve highly paid skilled labor and take more time to install and they will need stone or brick facings if aesthetics are important. As with a concrete block wall build a firm gravel base and ensure good drainage. Concrete blocks are manufactured in units ranging from 4 inches to 12 inches in width but the most commonly used block has dimensions of 8 inches x 8 inches x 16 inches. The addition of reinforcing steel to either wall system complicates the issue.

Although type s mortar must have a minimum compressive strength of 1 800 psi it is often mixed for strengths between 2 300 and 3 000 psi. You don t need mortar with a stone retaining wall. Earthworks retainers work on standard concrete block and create a mechanical connection with geogrid making it a winning combo for strength and longevity. The concrete used to fill the block voids must have small gravel so it can flow readily into all the narrow voids.

Type s is the common choice for many below grade applications such as masonry foundations manholes retaining walls and sewers as well as at grade projects like brick patios and walkways. After the concrete blocks are laid the voids can be filled with a cement based mortar or poured concrete that contains small pea gravel. The hollow core design combines with mortarless construction to allow water to drain freely from behind the segmental retaining wall. Wide and at several lengths and heights.

Calculate the amount of mortar and the number of blocks needed to construct the wall. Step 2 install steel reinforcing. The hollow block wall is depending solely on the strength of the thin mortar bed between each concrete block. Without joints poured walls possess a greater lateral strength which essentially means they have a greater ability to resist pressure presented by water and the soil.

In 1986 allan block introduced its first segmental retaining wall block srw. Build beautiful and durable retaining walls at an astonishingly low cost. For example you can make a concrete block wall stronger than a poured concrete wall by simply adding some reinforcing steel and additional mortar to the.