If you’re looking for the strongest, most stable, and longest-lasting retaining wall in Denver, you should consider a mechanically stabilized earth wall (MSE). Although MSE walls aren’t the most complicated or unique retaining walls on the market, they’re often regarded as the best.
MSE walls combine modern engineering and tools with ancient practices and materials to form an impenetrable, durable barrier. If you’re curious and want to know more about mechanically stabilized earth walls, you’ve come to the right place.
Slaton Bros can create the perfect retaining wall for you, including MSE walls. Contact us online or call (303) 806-8160 to learn more about our services.
What is Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall Construction?
MSE walls are a special, durable type of retaining wall designed to handle massive amounts of weight and pressure. You’ll often see MSE walls beneath bridges and overpasses on the highway or along hills and mountains. While there are many different types of MSE walls, depending on your available materials, they all follow the same general pattern.
- Several layers of backfill, soil, and sediment
- Elements implanted into the soil for reinforcement
- An outer wall facing made of brick, rock, or another material
The key to installing an MSE retaining wall that holds up over time is hiring an experienced retaining wall contractor. An experienced retaining wall contractor will know how to combine the different elements of an MSE wall and choose the best facing for the application. Contact us at Slaton Brothers to learn more.
Different Types of MSE Walls
While different types of MSE retaining walls exist, many don’t have specific names. Instead, the different types of MSE walls are identified by your different facings, reinforcements, and backfill materials.
- MSE Wall Facing
Slaton Brothers offers several facing options to give your MSE wall an aesthetically pleasing look. These options include cruciform, full height, rectangular, square, and others. You can also choose from different rock types, stones, and bricks.
- MSE Wall Soil Reinforcements
While the outer facing will determine how your MSE wall looks, it plays a smaller role in strength and stability than the soil reinforcement materials you choose. Typically, these options include high adherence ribbed reinforcing strips, Geostrap geosynthetic reinforcing strips, high adherence ladders, or two-wire wide ladders. The right soil reinforcement will depend on the location and implementation of your MSE wall.
- MSE Wall Backfill Materials
Finally, you’ll have several different types of soil to choose from when it comes to your backfill materials. This backfill sits behind the wall facing, so you can’t see it, and it’s permeated by the soil reinforcement materials you choose.
Benefits of MSE Walls
- Extremely durable and long-lasting
- Capable of handling high loads and massive amounts of pressure
- Perfect for high-traffic areas
- Resistant to seismic movements and other underground activity
- Has the ability to move and shift with the earth
- Ideal for locations where other retaining walls aren’t a viable option
- Offers a number of facing options for aesthetics
The MSE Wall Construction Process
In addition to the benefits listed above, MSE walls have a fairly simple construction process.
- Forming a plan – During this stage of the construction process, we’ll meet up with you and help you decide which type of MSE wall is best for your needs. We’ll also perform any necessary surveys and create a quote for you.
- Building the wall – This is the part where we build your MSE wall. This process takes time, but we’ll keep you updated throughout the entire process.
- Final inspection – Once your MSE wall is constructed, we’ll return to the site and perform a final inspection and walk-through to ensure everything is up to code and done correctly. We’ll also answer any questions and address any concerns at this time.
Because of how important MSE walls are, it’s important to hire an experienced and capable retaining wall contractor to handle the job. MSE walls use a similar installation process for every implementation, meaning you can save time and money by hiring someone with experience. Contact us online or call (303) 806-8160 for the best and most experienced retaining wall contractor in Aurora, Denver, and the surrounding areas.
