Retaining walls are crucial elements in landscaping and provide essential structural support for loose soil in yards and gardens. In areas with extreme weather conditions, it becomes crucial to use weather resistant materials in retaining wall construction to ensure the stability and structural integrity of retaining walls in the long term. Steel is one of the best materials for retaining wall construction and in this post, we take a closer look at how retaining wall steel can handle extreme weather conditions.
Types of Retaining Wall Steel
While many different types of steel can be used in the construction of retaining walls, there are several types which are more common, such as:
- Galvanised Steel: Galvanised steel is steel that has been coated with a layer of zinc. This provides the underlying steel with protection from the elements, making it resistant to rusting and corrosion.
- Corten Steel: Corten steel is a type of weathering steel that is designed with outdoor use in mind. When exposed to the elements, Corten steel forms a protective patina that helps to protect it from further erosion. This patina is also aesthetically pleasing and can be incorporated into your landscape design.
Performance of Steel in Extreme Weather Conditions
Steel is highly durable and resistant to extreme weather conditions, including:
Wet and Humid Conditions
Unlike other materials such as wood, steel does not rot and is less susceptible to wet and humid conditions. While it can rust, steel that is designed for outdoor use such as Corten steel and galvanised steel have protective coatings that prevent rust from occurring. These properties make retaining wall steel a low maintenance and reliable choice for outdoor retaining walls.
Extreme Cold
In freezing temperatures, steel is also more capable of resisting cracking or warping as compared to materials like wood or concrete. The inherent strength and flexibility of steel allows it to maintain its structural strength and integrity even when subjected to extreme cold, ensuring its reliability and ability to provide structural support to a retaining wall.
Strong Winds and Storms
As one of the strongest commercially available building materials, steel is able to withstand strong winds and storms without buckling or experiencing other structural failure, unlike other materials such as wood which can break or splinter in such weather conditions. Its high tensile strength makes it ideal for areas that experience frequent extreme weather events such as hurricanes or cyclones. Strong steel retaining walls can also help to protect the surrounding structures and landscape during extreme weather events.
Get Your Retaining Wall Steel from RW Steel
RW Steel is the number one supplier of retaining wall steel in Melbourne and the surrounding areas. We also offer a large catalogue of other steel products that will meet all of your steel needs including galvanised steel posts, 150uc steel, 200uc steel and much more. Contact us today for more information or to find out more about how we can help with your next building or landscaping project.