Month: April 2016

What Causes Problems with Retaining Walls in McLean?

When retaining walls in McLean start having problems – also known as “failures” – they must be taken care of right away. Small problems usually can be fixed, before they become big problems. Of course, some problems can be prevented with some forethought and care.

There are generally 3 different types of failures: frost-heave failures, wet soil failures, and blowout failures.

In frost-heave failures, the retaining wall was built without proper drainage or a footer. When the wet soil freezes, it can heave upward and severely damage the wall. The ways to avoid frost-heave failures begin during construction. The wall should rest on gravel (which allows for proper drainage) and the base or footer should be buried under the frost line.

Wet soil failures are also caused by drainage issues, causing the soil in the wall to become saturated. The hydrostatic water pressure and weight of the wet soil can cause the retaining wall to collapse. To prevent wet soil failures, gravel should be used to funnel the water away from the wall. Care should be taken that topsoil is only used in the top 6” behind the retaining wall.

When a retaining wall has a blowout, it’s because a load of weight is added within 3 feet of the top of the retaining wall. This causes the top of the retaining wall to start leaning, until it tips over. If you are expecting to drive near or put a shed or something else heavy near your retaining wall, tell your landscape engineer before wall construction begins. They can increase the size of the footer to manage the load, and increase the number of tiebacks to provide additional support.

Want properly constructed retaining walls for your home in McLean – the kind of retaining walls that last for generations? Contact the retaining wall experts at Premier Paving & Planting.

Invasive Tree Roots in Burke VA: Prevention and Care for Paver Patios

Burke VA has a lot of trees, so it should come as no surprise that many homeowners there find that they have issues with invasive tree roots and their paver patios. Precautions should be taken to prevent damage and repair paver patios as soon as possible.

Prior to installing a paver patio, tree roots should be removed. That’s because tree roots will cause problems with how the pavers lay – either jacked up by the roots – or if the roots die, the pavers will dip or cave into that void.

Prevention
Before installation, there are three ways to prevent invasive roots from damaging paver patios in Burke, VA:

  1. Patio installers can leave at least 3-6 feet of space between the trees and the edge or the pavers.
  2. Patio installers can build a cement barrier into the soil to prevent the tree roots from reaching the paver patio
  3. Landscapers can remove the trees, stumps, and the tree roots.

Repairing Paver Patios
If you have a cement patio, invasive tree roots could cost you thousands. But lucky you, you chose to go with pavers for your patio. That means that the pavers can be removed, the root problem addressed by a professional landscaper, and then the pavers can be reinstalled. Your paver patio will look good as new afterwards.

For more information on Burke VA paver patios, please contact Premier Paving & Planting. Premier Paving & Planting has experts in paving and landscaping, we can address both root and paver issues.

Established in 1987, Premier Paving & Planting, Inc. provides free estimates, and delivers a full compliment of high quality landscape services, including concrete work and lawn and garden services, along with installation of permeable and non-porous paver and hardscape surfaces and structures. NCMA and ICPI certified, Premier Paving & Planting is licensed and insured, and carries an A+ rating from Angie’s List.