Retaining Walls in Nashville TN
Retaining Wall Construction Services in Nashville
Nashville Scapes is a leading Custom Retaining Wall Contractor in Nashville, TN. We specialize in installing luxury landscape Retaining Walls, Raised Garden Retaining walls, and much more. Call today to schedule a free estimate on your next Retaining Wall Project 615-425-1144
Custom Masonry Retaining Walls
Landscape Retaining Walls
Raised Garden Retaining Walls
Gravity Retaining Walls
Cantilevered Retaining Walls
Sheet Piling Retaining Wall
Anchored Retaining Walls
Some Retaining Wall Services we Provide
Custom Masonry Retaining Walls
When it comes to your home, a custom brick retaining wall can instantly take your property from okay to amazing. Nashville Scapes is your number one source for gorgeous brick retaining walls in the Nashville TN area. Over the years we have perfected our craft and have made it our mission to provide quality work at an affordable price. We create durable and timeless designs that are sure to last you for generations.
Gravity Retaining Wall
Instead of using anchors or leverage, gravity retaining walls rely on their weight to resist the lateral pressure of the soil. They can consist of concrete, stone, or bricks, and are generally the thickest type of retaining walls. The construction of shorter gravity walls usually involves segmented concrete units or mortarless stone. Gravity walls often have a degree of setback, meaning they tilt slightly back into the soil, to offer further stability and support.
Cantilevered Retaining Wall
Cantilevers are a type of reinforced retaining wall that uses leverage to resist the lateral pressure of the soil. Cantilevered walls usually consist of solid slabs of concrete, reinforced with steel. They can be either precast in a factory or formed on site. They are usually L-shaped or T-shaped and consist of a thin stem and a base slab. There are two parts to the base: the heel, which sticks out into the supporting soil, and the toe, which sticks out in the opposite direction. Their unique design allows them to convert the horizontal pressure pushing on the wall into vertical pressure in the ground.
Sheet Piling Retaining Wall
Piled walls are another retaining option for holding back soil and earth. For this method, landscapers use long piles to secure the structure deep in the ground, allowing them to withstand a significant amount of lateral pressure. The most common type of piling retaining wall is sheet piling. Sheet piling is the thinnest retaining wall. However, they can still support a significant amount of weight because they typically consist of steel or reinforced concrete. Their installation method deep within the ground helps them stay in place without taking up much space.
Anchored Retaining Walls
It’s possible to build anchored retaining walls in any of the previously described styles, but they must also have an additional tieback anchored in the soil behind the wall. This approach is especially helpful when the wall needs to support a significant amount of lateral pressure. The anchor normally gets inserted into the wall, then expanded through mechanical means or by injecting pressurized concrete that expands and forms a bulb in the soil.
Custom Retaining Wall Installation in Nashville TN
Retaining walls can be a beautiful, functional addition to any landscape in Nashville. They can offer a chance to use more outdoor space or add a dynamic feature to your garden. With so many retaining walls to choose from, the styles, colors, and varieties are endless.
However, there are several things to consider when deciding which type of retaining wall is best for you. Ask yourself:
How tall does the wall need to be?
What material is best? What’s my budget?
If I’m building the wall on a slope, how steep is it?
Will the wall be curved or straight?
How will I allow for drainage?
What style of the wall should I install?
To begin answering these questions, you will first need to learn about how a retaining wall works and what differentiates the various types of retaining walls.
What is a Retaining Wall?
A retaining wall is a freestanding structure built to resist — or retain — the soil behind it. It’s only possible to pile earth to a specific angle without slumping — experts refer to this as the angle of repose. When the desired change in ground elevation is higher than the angle of repose, a retaining wall is a solution.
A retaining wall supports a “wedge” of soil. The wedge consists of all the soil from the retaining wall to the plane at which it would naturally lie without the wall, also known as the failure plane. To decrease the amount of pressure on a wall, landscapers increase its setback, or the degree to which the wall tilts toward the soil. As the setback increases, the wedge decreases, reducing the pressure on the wall.
Depending on the height of the wall and the slope of the soil, retaining walls can support an enormous amount of pressure, so it’s crucial to ensure proper construction. Whether you’re building one to prevent a hill from eroding, or to maximize garden space on a sloped part of your property, there are a few things to consider before you install a retaining wall.
DRAINAGE
Since retaining walls convert sloped surfaces into flat ones, they tend to collect rain and irrigation water. When water accumulates behind a retaining wall, the lateral pressure of the soil increases, putting more weight on the wall. Without proper drainage, this water can cause the wall to bloat, crack or fail.
To prevent this from happening, you’ll need to implement specific drainage measures.
- Weep holes: Weep holes are small horizontal holes drilled in regular intervals throughout the wall. As water collects behind the wall, it can escape through the holes, relieving the pressure.
- Perforated drainage pipe: Perforated drainage pipes are near the bottom of the wall, buried in the soil. The drainage pipe has several holes drilled around its circumference, so it can catch water as it trickles down through the soil.
- Granular soil: You can also use granular soil to help the water move more freely toward the drainage pipe and weep holes. Since granular soil has coarse grains and no cohesive strength, it allows other drainage systems to effectively collect water and expel it from the area.
Retaining Wall Services in Nashville, TN
Height of Your retaining Wall
Several factors go into determining the maximum height of a particular retaining wall. While each type of wall comes with various limitations, you must also consider factors like wall material, slope gradient, climate, and more. To find out the height limitations for your retaining wall project, always consult with a professional mason or contractor. A retaining wall that’s too high can be susceptible to cracks and breaks, so it’s essential to consult with an expert like Nashville Scapes before you start any project.
You should also be aware of any laws in your area that limit your ability to build a retaining wall. Some states only allow professional contractors and masons to construct retaining walls above a specific height. Since building a retaining wall typically involves digging into the ground, you should also call Music City Excavation before you begin your project. They’ll tell you if there are any utility lines on the property to avoid.
WALL ENGINEERING
No matter what type of retaining wall you choose for your project, you should understand the importance of engineering your wall. Despite its simple appearance, a retaining wall is a sophisticated structure that’s resisting the power of gravity at every moment. As the name implies, a retaining wall keeps soil from following its natural slope and eroding away. Wall failure can ruin your curb appeal and can even result in lawsuits. It’s vital to have your wall engineered and installed by a certified retaining wall contractor. Several factors might warrant the need for a licensed engineer such as the contractors at Nashville Scapes.
- Wall height: Most municipalities require permits and a licensed engineer for any wall over four feet. You should consult local building codes in your area, or a retaining-wall-certified contractor, to determine the exact wall height rules regulating your construction.
- Parking lots: If you’re using a retaining wall to shape a parking lot, the structural integrity becomes even more critical. The weight of vehicles driving in the parking lot can put added stress on a retaining wall. An engineer can ensure your retaining wall is structurally sound.
- Gravity wall: If the wall’s weight, rather than mortar, keeps it intact, you should consult a licensed engineer. The precise angles of setbacks and sliding wedges will keep your wall firmly in place with sound engineering.
If you are unsure if you need an engineered retaining wall, the best course of action is to consult a licensed engineer 615-425-1144.
Retaining Wall Services Near Your Nashville TN Office
Retaining walls come with a variety of advantages, but the installation process can be an elaborate and expensive endeavor. Before you invest your time and money in a retaining wall, consider the most common reasons for building them.
- Stability: If you’re looking to build a deck or garden, installing a retaining wall will help even out and stabilize the land. Maintaining a garden on a sloped landscape is challenging, and it can lead to the soil loosening and falling downward.
- To prevent erosion: When rain or irrigation water repeatedly flows across sloped soil, it slowly erodes. Retaining walls can slow or even halt this process, as they make the landscape even and decrease the flow of water.
- Design: Aside from their functional purposes, retaining walls can also be purely aesthetic. They can add interesting features and stunning designs throughout a property. You can use them to add a terrace to the backyard, carve out a patio or create a driveway.
- Boost curb appeal: A well-placed retaining wall adds a level of elegance and sophistication to your landscape. If you’re looking to sell, a retaining wall can help boost the look of your landscape and the overall value of your home.
Retaining Wall Contractor in Nashville
Nashville Scapes offers the highest quality brick retaining wall services in the Greater Nashville area. Our expertise is evident through our attention to detail, and we provide both residential and commercial clients with precisely what they are looking for. As a family-owned business, we have a personal interest in every project we do, as well as an eye for what will be most beautiful for your home or business. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and a professional approach to every job we take on. We are committed to providing you with high-quality products that will last for years to come at a price you can afford.
With many different options available, we can work with you to create a customized look for your home or business that suits the needs of your specific project. Whether it’s a fence or patio you’re wanting, or you need retaining walls due to steep terrain, we have the experience necessary to get the job done right.
Our stunning brick retaining walls can help add value and curb appeal to any project while also helping create an atmosphere of peace and privacy in your backyard or garden. All our installations are unique, custom built just for you; however, when it comes to brick retaining walls in Nashville there’s no need to look any further than Nashville Scapes!
A Recent Testimonial From one of our clients
We had Nashville Scapes come to the house to install a Custom Landscape with retaining walls for our raised garden. They did a great job and the price was good for what I received, I would definitely recommend their retaining wall construction services to anyone needing one made from scratch.
Susie H. Nashville TN