Buildings, whether they’re large homes, businesses, and massive structures- require repair over time. It does not matter that concrete is a main basis of these structures. Although, more than 2 billion tons of cement is produced each years, for these purposes- and, concrete is the material that is used more than another other by Americans- that does not make buildings immune from repair or construction. In fact, as structures age, repair becomes a natural process, and this is partly because of earth. Soil erosion and shallow landslides can occur-just to name a few. If the earth seems like it’s turning against your buildings, and becoming an unnecessary evil, there are certain processes that can help. Here’s information you need to know about your concrete structures, concrete projects, concrete sidewalks, and protection.
Retaining Walls
By definition, retaining walls are rigid walls used for supporting the soil mass laterally so that the soil can be retained at different levels on the two sides. Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain soil to a slope that it would not naturally keep to. In simpler terms, these walls keep soil in place. They can be constructed for homes on hills or slopes. They can also be constructed in backyards to hold soil with plants or flowers. This makes for a neat backyard, and retaining walls stand-in as a type of decoration in a way. Retaining walls can also be used in front of larger buildings where the soil is plentiful. Additionally, retaining walls can be created from a variety of materials, such as concrete blocks, poured concrete, and rocks- just to name a few. Many retaining walls are formed from concrete blocks and so they appear similar to small brick walls. However, you should consult a civil construction company to find out what type of retaining wall is best for your needs. This all depends on the type of soil you have.
So, what makes retaining walls important and necessary? Retaining walls essentially help prevent or control soil erosion. As discussed previously, buildings need repair or construction over time because of the natural processes earth goes through. One of these processes is soil erosion. Soil erosion occurs when the earth (or soil) begins to move downhill. When the soil or earth starts to move downhill, this can cause problems with your property. Not only will it consume space, but if you live somewhere/work somewhere where landslides are prevalent, soil erosion can make landslides worse. Lastly, soil erosion can damage your home or business’s foundation. Retaining walls protect your structures from soil erosion, landslides, foundation issues, and they are even ideal for preventing erosion from water runoff. Therefore, retaining walls are very important and necessary.
Channel Lining
Channel lining is different than retaining walls in that it’s not a wall. However, channel lining helps structures and projects, just like retaining walls help structures and projects. The purpose of channel lining is to prevent water loss in channel. Basically, channel lining keeps the water in place. Similar to retaining walls, channel lining can help prevent soil erosion as well as water runoff. Much like how retaining walls can be created using many different materials, there are three basic channel linings. First, there is concrete lining. Concrete lining is the most common lining because it is strong, long lasting, and durable. The second material is Gabion lining. This lining uses loose stones and wire. Gabion lining is essentially a wall-like protectant that is created when the wire is formed into a cage, and the stones are placed inside of the cage. Lastly, there’s tied concrete block mats. Concrete blocks are tied together to form this lining.
Abatement
Now that we’ve discussed some protection for outside your home and business, it’s time to talk about the inside of your structure. Abatement is the removal of Asbestos from a concrete structure. Asbestos is a combination of minerals, that when released from a structure can cause illness. Therefore, it’s important to remove Asbestos. Abatement protection is also important. It’s important to wear gloves, masks, and a protective body suit.
