With so many more homes being built on hills these days in Portland and happy valley, retaining walls have become more and more in demand. Whether you are trying to expand more usable space by leveling out a sloping yard or to hold back an eroding bank a retaining wall will give you the desired results you are looking for. Retaining walls are not only functional but can be beautiful as well, with different block types, colors, wall designs and even stairs built directly in the wall a retaining wall can give your home a much-needed upgrade in appearance. Here at underway construction, we have years of experience building both segmental block and rock walls that will fit your style and needs. Want a wall with stairs built directly into it? we can do that to. A retaining wall that is correctly built will stand the test of time and for that to be true it all starts with the base. After determining the walls’ location height and material, excavation begins to reach compact soil and desired depth. Gravel is then graded out and packed in layers to provide a stable base for the wall to be built on. For walls over 2ft in height or areas with a high-water table a drain is installed behind the wall at the base to relive water build up. Installing the first course of the wall perfectly is one of the most crucial steps. This course holds up the entire wall acting as a footing and determine the wall being straight and level. Each block must be straight in line (unless making a radius) and flush in height with one another while maintaining level in all directions so the top of the wall will be perfect. We achieve this with skill experience and a little muscle. The average wall block weighs 70lb and each block is set to a string to maintain a perfectly straight line and then tamped in place upon an already packed gravel base. After the first course is installed, additional courses are installed over lapping the seam below to maintain what is known as a running bond. Once the desired height is reached a cap block of matching color or contrasting color is cut to fit and glued down. Let us know your retaining wall needs to figure a plan that will exceed your expectations.
