Most retaining walls these days are either made of natural stone or a paver material, otherwise know as segmental retaining walls. It used to be common practive to use railroad ties to create retaining walls, but those are mostly extinct around here.

As I drive around following up on client requests or doing follow up inspections I can't help but notice all of the failed retaining walls in the area. I have stopped to take a look at a few of them and can't help but be surprized at what I see. Most are not installed properly, and could potentially have huge impacts on the property.

Retaining walls were used mainly for structural purposes, such as building bridges or for building structures in the sides of hills, etc. With the introduction of new products they are being built in homes for non-structural reasons too. An example of this would be to build a raised flower bed next to a patio, building a raised patio, or contructing a sitting wall next to an outdoor kitchen.

Whatever the reason for the new retaining wall it is a significant investment and you want to make sure it is installed properly. With the expansive soils we have in North Texas it can rip apart a wall in a matter of months or years if the proper installation steps were not taken. Next time you are driving around town take a look at the walls in the area. How many do you see leaning over, splitting down the middle or does not appear to be level...it's just a matter of time before they completely fail. Imagine the potential consequences when the wall does come down... 

Retaining walls can add beauty and character to any landscape when done correctly. The National Concrete and Masonry Association, among other things, sets the industry standards for installing segmental retaining walls. If you are considering having a retaining wall installed on your property please make sure your contractor is certified by the NCMA.