Retaining Wall in Orange County, Ca.

Segmental Retaining Walls, commonly referred to as SRWs, are walls composed of individual blocks. The word “segmental” describes the fact that they come in separate units or components, and are placed in the ground without the use of mortar. They are stacked dry, and primarily rely on their weight for stability. With the benefits that SRWs provide, including easy installation, low costs and design flexibility, it’s no surprise that these products are becoming increasingly more popular among homeowners and professionals.

One advantage Segmental Retaining Walls offer is ease of installation. Because SRWs are comprised of individual units, it is often possible for one person to do the job. In addition, the units are dry-stacked, so you do not have to wait for the mortar to set. Individual units fit together easily and will not crack due to being separate and not mortared together.

The same qualities that contribute to the ease of installing SRWs also provide cost savings to the homeowner. Savings are generated in part because no mortar is necessary. Labor and materials costs are typically lower because heavy-duty construction equipment is not required for installation and on-site soil can usually be used. According to the NCMA (National Concrete Masonry Association), segmental retaining walls offer the best value per dollar when considering landscape product alternatives.

Equally important to both homeowners and landscape professionals is the design flexibility offered by Segmental Retaining Walls. SRWs are available in units of various sizes and weights, making it possible to construct a retaining wall in even the most challenging terrain. If you have curves or other unique layouts, you’ll have no problem installing a Segmental Retaining Wall system. SRWs are so versatile that they are ideal for both heavy-duty walls in commercial projects and smaller installations in residential back yards.

Article by Belgard Hardscapes

Retaining Wall in Villa Park, Ca

Made from high-strength concrete, retaining wall systems are incredible complements to paver stone products. For residential or commercial settings, these durable, dry-stacked, segmented wall units utilize a pinning system that improves stability and makes installation easy. Create one-of-a-kind landscape features with outdoor products before the year is over. 

Check out some retaining wall block samples below:

Buff Smooth Standard

Buff Weathered Mosaic

Buff Weathered Standard

It's that time of year again when the wind starts to pick up here in southern California. And when the wind starts blowing hard, that spells trouble for our mild obsession with wooden fences surrounding our homes. It seems that every house in Orange County has a wooden fence, and maintaining those fences is not at the top of our home improvement list. In fact, we usually forget about them until it's too late.

Wood rots, chips and breaks down over time; not to mention it doesn't fare well under harsh weather conditions. The sun's harmful rays, mild to extreme wind, and annual rainfall all negatively impact the structure of your wooden fence. Plus, wooden fences are not very "green" for the environment either. So, rather than use your hard-earned money to update your vulnerable wooden fence again, why not invest in a block wall for your home instead.

Block wall in sunny Tustin, Ca.

Retaining wall with brick columns in Irvine, Ca. 

Block walls have been around for thousands and thousands of years, with some of them still around today. The obvious reason is because concrete blocks can withstand harsh weather conditions much, much, much (did we say much?) better than wooden fences. Their foundations are incredibly sturdy, and are symbolic of strength, stability, and protection. Primarily serving as retaining walls for aesthetics purposes, they also control erosion and fare much better against unwanted noises and sounds in your neighborhood to help maintain and sustain a peaceful environment for your property.