Benefits of Using Precast Concrete Retaining Walls

Nilex Inc
3 min readJun 12, 2021

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A retaining wall is a protective structure designed and built to define exterior sections of a property and hold back loose soil. It is designed in such a way as to withstand lateral pressure exerted by soil or other material that are held by the wall. At Nilex, we take pride in the production of precast concrete blocks that are extremely practical and can be used to enhance the value of your property and give you that extra security to safeguard your family and your property. A variety of materials can be used to build retaining walls, but precast concrete is the preferred choice because of the many advantages it offers.

Quick Construction

As the name suggests, a precast concrete retaining wall is constructed using concrete blocks that are precast. They are not poured on-site in a traditional fashion. They are manufactured in a facility which is temperature-controlled. Then they are shifted to the project site for assembly. Assembly of these blocks is simple and does not require highly skilled workers. Wall panels are simply lifted into place. After this, concrete caps are placed over the support posts to cover the opening and the wall is completed.

Cost Effectiveness

It is critical to understand that molds for the precast concrete blocks for retaining walls can be reused over and over again. They can be reused up to 50 times. This helps in cutting costs which are eventually passed on to the consumer. Also, because of the way they are made, the walls are long-lasting and durable. This results in minimal maintenance costs when compared to other retaining walls. The only maintenance under normal circumstances is just the occasional wash and inspection. It also helps in further reducing the cost due to the fact that it takes much less labor to install a precast concrete block retaining wall than traditional construction. Many factors will affect the quality of the end product if concrete is poured on-site such as adverse weather, lack of sunshine and curing time, among others.

Precision

As the precast block retaining wall is prepared in a controlled facility, it is simple to achieve precision in quality and specifications. There is zero waste produced on-site as there is no pouring of concrete for construction. The prepared walls are just lifted into place and not constructed. Traditional construction methods will involve wastage which is completely avoided in the use of precast blocks.

Extended Durability

It is recommended that retaining walls are constructed to withstand and support a great deal of weight. If retaining walls are constructed using traditional methods such as bricks or blocks, they will begin to bulge over time. They are most vulnerable at the joints which are filled by hand. On the other hand, precast concrete blocks and panels can last several decades because they don’t have any potential damage points. These walls are often reinforced with special fiber to resist any damage from constant weight bearing. The stability of these concrete blocks makes it easy to maintain the landscape around water features. It also prevents silt from building up in ponds.

Aesthetic Appeal

Precast concrete blocks are available in a variety of finishes to achieve the desired aesthetic goal of your property. Some prefer a more natural look that will blend with the surroundings while others may prefer a smooth finish which is easier to clean and less likely to allow harboring of pests and water stagnation on the wall. Nilex offers systems that are both economical and versatile, incorporating advanced technology for structural and landscape applications.

While choosing to construct a retaining wall system, it is important to conduct a comprehensive study of your site to understand the kind of soil, its drainage requirements, the nature of the slope and the weather conditions around the area. Nilex is committed to customer satisfaction and will provide you with superior products for your next retaining wall project.

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Nilex Inc
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Nilex is a leader in the geosynthetics industry providing Geosynthetic Solutions for Civil and Environmental projects including Economic, www.nilex.com