Retaining walls block mold are a best way to add both depth and height to your garden and give usable flat area. The top type of retaining wall is one that uses a natural land structure, making it hard for others to detect that there is an artificial boundary between hard levels of the garden.
In this article, we will give you depth pros and cons of retaining wall block mold for a retaining wall project, and how they are constructed. Let’s get started.
Pros of Retaining Wall Block Molds
A retaining wall block mold offers many positives. But, you may not resonate with all the positives depending on your needs and home. Either way, there are good reasons why it is more popular than other types. Here are some of its benefits:
It Is Highly Affordable
Price should not be your top priority when choosing building materials for building your home. However, we cannot ignore how reasonably priced wall block molds are. They are one of the most affordable ways of installing retaining walls in your home. The wall blocks are made using affordable and readily available materials. Since the materials making them are cheap, and they’re poured into set molds to produce various blocks at a given time, it makes sense that the blocks are not expensive.
You can use these affordable wall block molds to build a terraced retaining wall or another type of retaining wall that needs a lot of materials to construct.
Various Colors to Choose from
Flexibility in design is another great thing about this material. You can choose the color (s) you like tan, black grey, and pale red. But you can also find it in other colors, like earthy sage if you want more variety. But note that these colors may not be readily available at your local home improvement site. But you can work with a local landscaping expert to find the color you want for your wall block molds.
At the same time, it is worth mentioning that they come in different shapes. The molds used for creating blocks for retaining walls vary slightly, thus, allowing you to have several shape options to choose from. But note that your constructor may need to cut some blocks so your landscaping can fit perfectly into these bricks.
You Can Stack It in Several Ways
There are different ways of installing your retaining wall. Depending on your project, you could stack this material in a way that allows you to have a flexible design. The various stacking designs many homeowners love include:
- Solid Stack: this is the most basic way of stacking your block wall mold. You just stack your solid wall molds and layer them using a mortar to hold the wall in place.
- Lip System: you can choose wall blocks with a lip system, which allows you to stack each succeeding block of rows using a small lip on the back’s block to hold the structure together. With this system, you can create a slight steppe look.
- Hollow Blocks: choose wall block molds that are hollow at the center. Then stack them up and pour gravel in the hollow spaces. As these areas fill up, the retaining ball wall will be as strong as a solid block wall.
- Pin System: you can also build a pin system with your retaining wall block mold. You just have to choose blocks with pin holes. Then place pins in the holes to lock the blocks and hold them together.
Strength and Durability
The material used for making these wall block molds is impenetrable, which means it can withstand pressure and water from the earth. This quality is crucial if you stay in a place prone to flooding, like close to a hill or where water travels downhill. Your retaining wall can keep floods from destroying your home if it has proper drainage.
Also, since the molds can withstand pressure and force better than other materials, your retaining wall can last many years with little maintenance. Besides being long-lasting, the molds, especially those constructed with concrete, can withstand fire, rust, and rot.
Cons of Retaining Wall Block Mold
There are not many drawbacks to retaining wall block molds, which is why they are a popular option among property owners. Plus, the cons that this material has may not really affect you. Nevertheless, here are some disadvantages of the block mold for retaining walls.
May Not Be That Decorative
You may find block wall molds less attractive if you compare them with other retaining wall options. For instance, you may find hues of wooden retaining walls and controlled chaos made with natural stones more attractive than these blocks. But let’s not forget the function of a retaining wall is to support beautiful landscaping. So, while the design of the blocks matters, it may not be that important.
Another thing to consider is that although the wall blocks come in various sizes and colors, you may struggle to achieve uniformity. If you are hoping for a unique retaining wall, you may be disappointed using these blocks.
May Need a Professional
Another significant drawback of these wall block molds is they need a lot of work during construction and installation. Not to mention, they are heavy, even hollow ones. Therefore, it makes it hard to construct the wall yourself.
It can be challenging to shape the block mold retaining wall in the corners and curves, especially if you are new to building retaining walls. One, you may not have the right tools to cut the wall blocks, and two, you may not have the right skills to do so.
Permanence
You can decide to construct your wall in your backyard to keep the soil from the hill from destroying your home. But after some years, you decide to move the wall into another place.
That is where the challenge is, as it will not be that easy with these wall block molds, especially if it was constructed with concrete. Not only will you use a lot of effort and money, but you will need to invest time in planning and in design compared to a fence or a wooden wall. Please think through this before undertaking this project, as you may regret it later.
FAQs
Do I need a retaining wall for my home?
You may benefit from a retaining wall if you live in a landscape that’s often experiencing dirt erosion or drainage problems. A retaining wall is also crucial for a home located downhill from a soil fault line. It will prevent them from being destroyed should there be sudden erosion. Lastly, this wall is excellent for someone looking for a practical and beautiful landscape that needs low maintenance. The wall is simple and can beautify your outdoor environment without denting your pocket.
What types of retaining walls are there?
Retaining walls are of different types, and thanks to technological advancements, experts are constantly discovering new materials for building these walls. Common products used are railroad ties, treated timbers, wall stones, natural stones, concrete blocks, and bricks.
Some homeowners choose wood because it is inexpensive and simple. However, it has a short lifespan and requires high maintenance. Note that your retaining wall and the integrity of your structure diminish the wood decomposition. For this reason, some people prefer stones, rocks, and boulders, although they can be expensive and labor-intensive. Not to mention, maintenance may be complex since they can become home to rodents and weeds with time.
What are the different types of concrete block molds?
Concrete block molds are manufactured in several shapes like sold blocks, Styrofoam, hollow blocks, curbstones, paving blocks, hollow floor blocks, etc. These blocks are used in several construction sectors. For instance, curbstones are used to cover the sides of the roads, while paving blocks are used for paving the sidewalks.
Conclusion
A retaining block wall mold is an excellent investment. It helps prevent environmental damage to your home by keeping soil behind it and can add value to your property by making your space functional and beautiful. However, it has some cons
that you need to consider. Before you decide to do this project, we advise you to consult with an expert in this field to ensure you are getting the right design and installation per your needs. Remember that the project needs proper planning and design. But when executed in the right manner, it is worth every penny. So, look for a professional in this field to enjoy the desired outcome.
