RetainingWallExpert.com

Retaining Wall Failure - San Antonio TX

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:07:03 PST

Retaining Wall Failure in San Antonio, Texas

This past Sunday (January 24, 2010) a large retaining wall failed in a San Antonio, Texas subdivision. Initially 80 homes were evacuated when crevices up to 15 feet deep appeared after the 1000-foot long retaining wall failed. READ MORE .....

Allan Block 90-Degree Corner

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:22:52 PST

Have you ever tried to construct a 90-degree bend using Allan Blocks and wondered where to make the saw cut?

THIS VIDEO SHOWS YOU HOW! Take a minute and learn how to make PERFECT 90-degree outside corners with Allan Block. READ MORE ....

Drilled Pier Walls

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:29:26 PST

EMAIL ME YOUR RETAINING WALL QUESTIONS

Rock Anchors and Moving Mountains

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:22:36 PST

PDF showing rock anchors for Costco, St. John's, NB, Canada

What began as simply "moving a mountain" quickly became an engineering challenge. The task: find a safe way to quickly and safely anchor the bottom of a 7-meter high retaining wall from falling off a 10-meter high cliff onto the heavily-travelled roadway below! Canada, here we come!

Because excavating solid bedrock in New Brunswick, Canada, was prohibitively expensive, we assisted the design engineer in developing rock anchors for the lowest region of the MSE retaining wall on the top of a rock outcrop. READ MORE ...

Fences Down Under

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:43:02 PST

We received this question from West Perth, Australia. How close can you excavate for a new wall near existing fence posts?

From: Frederick
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 4:00 AM
To: JoeK@RetainingWallExpert.com
Subject: wall question

Hey guys, I just found your website and its great.

I need to build a retaining wall in my back yard but the neighbouring fence is five feet higher than the ground level, how do I build the retaining wall without the fence falling down?

thanks guys

Frederick in West Perth WA 6005
_______________________________________________________________

Frederick,

We'd be glad to help with your wall project. By the way, I've got some relatives in Australia, but they live near Adelaide! My wife visited a number of years ago, and my father-in-law usually travels there about every 2 years, and spends a few weeks traveling from Perth to Sydney.

Anyway, back to your wall question ..... Read More ...

Radio Show March 21 2009

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:01:23 PST

AT HOME WITH GARY SULLIVAN SHOW!

Thank you Gary Sullivan, 55KRC (550AM), and Executive Producer Joe Strecker! During the "At Home With Gary Sullivan" Show on March 21st we answered retaining wall questions from across the U.S. from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. What a real treat - thanks, guys!

If you'd like to download the podcasts, click here:

AT HOME WITH GARY SULLIVAN, MAR 21

Gary Sullivan and Joe Kowalski at 55KRC

Advertise with us!

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:20:03 PST

ADVERTISING PROGRAM TYPES:

NATIONAL, STATE-BY-STATE, PER-CATEGORY, "MOUSE-OVER", and MEMBER AREA.

NATIONAL ADS can include:
- Rotating Banner Ad below US Map on Home Page (high visibility, rotates with other National Ads);
- Fixed (non-rotating) advertisement on right side of Home Page (very high visibility, does not rotate with other National Ads, appears on Home page at all times unless a state is actively clicked, also appears on all Category pages;
- Can be purchased yearly or monthly. Call for rates.

STATE-BY-STATE ADS can include:
- Graphic and/or text listing to the right of the US Map when any state is actively clicked;
- Fixed (non-rotating) advertisement on right side of Home Page when a state is actively clicked;
- Can be purchased yearly or monthly. Call for rates.

PER-CATEGORY ADS include:
- An exclusive, fixed (non-rotating) banner ad on the top of the Category of your choice. Ad appears full-time when articles are read, videos are watched, and when that category is viewed.;
- This is an excellent option for very targeted ads in specific categories ;
- Can be purchased yearly or monthly. Call for rates.

"MOUSE-OVER EFFECT" ADS include:
- Only one per state!
- A graphic and text Ad appears when the mouse is "over" the state of your choice on the US Map!
- No click is required!
- An excellent option for the highest visibility in each state;
- Can be purchased yearly or monthly. Call for rates.

MEMBER AREA ADS include:
- Rotating banner ad in the Member Area (aka, www.EngineerOnStaff.com)
- Can be purchased yearly or monthly. Call for rates.

EMAIL: Joseph W. Kowalski

or call: 513-984-8095

Steep Reinforced Soil Slope

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:36:17 PST

A Reinforced Soil Slope (RSS) is a very steep soil slope that uses geogrid to allow the slope to be steeper than nature will normally allow.

Gslope Slope Stability Software

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:56:31 PST

A complete retaining wall design analyzes wall stability and Global Stability. One of our recommended software programs for global stability is Gslope!

GSLOPE allows geotechnical engineers to carry out limit equilibrium slope stability analysis of existing natural slopes, unreinforced man-made slopes, or slopes with soil reinforcement. The program uses Bishop’s Modified method and Janbu’s Simplified method. GSLOPE allows either method to be applied to circular, composite, and non-circular surfaces.

Retaining Wall with No Stone Drainage Column?

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:15:15 PST

This video shows an innovative design of a monster retaining wall with no stone drainage column.

Fred Creek Wall in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:39:12 PST

When the natural banks of Fred Creek, a storm water runoff channel near the campus of Oral Roberts University (ORU) in downtown Tulsa, began eroding and threatening the stability of the banks and associated utilities, the city needed to stabilize the stream banks while providing an attractive green area for jogging trails and parks...

Strata Systems

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:20:23 PST

Strata Systems has extensive experience with retaining walls of all types. Strata systems geogrid products have been proven in many installations throughout North America with a broad variety of modular block facings.

Keystone Century Wall Units

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:10:22 PST

Keystone Century Wall is a dry stacked yet mechanically connected wall that evokes the old world charm of a mason crafted structure. Random and rugged yet blended with color and character, these high strength concrete modules appear as natural stone, but have the latest built-in technology of the Keystone pin assured connection. Designed specifically for taller wall structures and heavy loading conditions, Keystone Century Wall blends the distinctive look and character of natural stone with structural integrity that lets you build with confidence.

Keystone Standard Unit

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:46:24 PST

The Keystone Standard Unit is an American original. What started the industry is still the industry leader. Its height-to-depth ratio delivers a structurally sound, engineered wall system with superior construction stability, durability, and strength. The choice for tall walls and critical structures.

Reinforced Soil Slope at Lowes

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:20:50 PST

This video discusses the innovative design of a 44-foot high geogrid Reinforced Soil Slope with a concrete face at Lowe's Home Improvement that used some lime-treated lean clay soils within the geogrid zone.

Stone Strong System

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:29:52 PST

Stone Strong is so revolutionary; you'll save your customers a lot of money, including a dramatic reduction in labor and excavation costs. Which means you'll blow competing bids out of the water.

Monster Walls Keystone Century

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:22:46 PST

This monster retaining wall video discusses the use of Keystone Century blocks and Strata Grid in a 37 feet high wall that needed to withstand loads from parking structures and have ramp accessibility.

Keystone Compac Unit

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:28:58 PST

The Keystone Compac Unit is the perfect choice where the deep embedment length of the Standard unit is not required. An installer's favorite, its lighter weight and shorter tail design makes it easy to handle for smaller walls.

Keystone Elite133 Series

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:56:26 PST

Keystone 133Elite

The forward-thinking design of the new Keystone 133Elite™ combines great looks with an exciting new way to increase efficiency. The Keystone 133Elite is perfect for large wall applications. Its 8” x 24” face dimension creates a larger-scale look, aesthetically matching the larger wall look and feel, while reducing the number of units required to complete the job. Never before have wall designers had so much flexibility in creating the perfect appearance for their Keystone wall. In addition to conventional textures, Keystone’s patented StoneArt™ embossing technology can produce units with specially designed natural textures- in combination with the wide variety of colors available in most Keystone products. The Keystone 133Elite can satisfy a wide array of design requirements from corners to sweeping curves. The Keystone 133Elite is simply the best combination of strength, beauty, and efficiency on the market.

Attaching Fencing to Caps--Right or Wrong?

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:16:44 PST

We recently got an email asking: What is the best way to attach a vinyl fence to the top of an Allan block wall?

Our answer was: Don't, if you don't have to.....but it has been successful in the past.....(Read Full Article)