Engineered Retaining Walls

Davis Engineering and Consulting provides design services for all types of retaining walls.

Some retaining walls do not require engineering or an engineers seal. However, many jurisdictions (like Tyler, Texas) require retaining walls to be engineered if the retaining wall height exceeds 4 feet or if there are imposed loads on the top elevation. Three common types of retaining walls are detailed below:

Construction site with a partially built concrete wall and sidewalk, dirt and construction materials on the left, in an outdoor area.

Reinforced Concrete Retaining Wall

Reinforced concrete retaining walls are a good option if there are other concrete elements being poured onsite or if there are large elevation changes.

Construction site with a curved concrete block wall and metal rods for reinforcement

Reinforced Masonry Retaining Wall

Reinforced masonry retaining walls are a good option if there are no other concrete elements being poured onsite and allows easier starts and stops than traditional concrete placement. A decorative veneer can be placed on the exposed face.

Curved brick retaining wall with stairs on top, trees in the background, and a paved area in the foreground.

Segmented Block Retaining Wall

Segmented block retaining walls are an installation-friendly option and has many cosmetic options that do not require a veneer. This style of retaining wall is very common in populated areas due to its appearance.