Retaining wall construction dates as far back as 5000-6000 B.C. Surrounded by soil, tree branches were placed in horizontal layers to help maintain the structure. Practice, at that time, instructed facing the mass with sun dried mud ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The SRWs have many ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Fast-forwarding to today, the landscape of the SRW market is changing. Architectural design is one of the new driving forces for the SRW industry. Not satisfied with the looks of the past, architects are demanding more aesthetics to enhance their designs created for individual sites. These designs include multiple shapes and colors to satisfy their architectural desires.

Another factor driving change in the look of concrete segmental retaining wall blocks is the occurrence of graffiti, an epidemic hitting most metropolitan areas. The older straight-faced blocks are a prime target for this graffiti movement. With their vertical look and flat texture creating a ?EUR??,,????'?????<www.graffitihurts.org, states graffiti attracts crime, drains tax dollars, decreases property value and even reduces business growth. Since many retaining walls are in new metro development areas, they become easy targets to graffiti artist. Annually, communities are spending millions of dollars trying to remove this blight.

Working closely with developers, designers, and municipalities, the block manufactures are creating new looks that are less appealing to the ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The industry is also working on ways to improve the look of block faces and achieve a more natural stone appearance. If this trend continues, the industry may eventually introduce the same manufacturing process to their tall wall product lines. Once this is achieved, architects will have a unique alternative to conventional SRW systems.

With the site developmental challenges before us in most communities, the SRW future is on solid ground. In addition to this growth, there has been exciting new facing designs to enhance SRW projects. Most SRWs are an integral part of today?EUR??,,????'?????<

Replacing the old singular block style with the new multiple shape products creates a much less appealing structure to be painted on by graffiti ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Building Blocks

1980s: Decade when segmental retaining walls emerged as a landscape feature.

5000: Psi, the recommended strength for SRWs for New England sites, due to the harsh winters in the part of the country.

4: Feet. This is the height under which the combined weight of a segmental retaining wall can resist the weight of the earth being retained without reinforcement.

Source: Ideal Concrete Block