Building a retaining wall in the Okanagan often begins with considerably more work than homeowners see in the finished project.
Excavation, rock removal, access, drainage and site preparation can represent a substantial part of the job, particularly on the steep and rocky properties found throughout Kelowna and the surrounding communities.
Fuller’s is adding a new piece of specialized equipment to our fleet that will give us another way to approach some of those challenges.
An Italian-made crusher attachment is currently on its way to the Okanagan and will allow us to process suitable concrete, rock and other inert materials directly at certain job sites.
For retaining wall construction, that capability could be particularly useful.
Retaining Walls Start With What’s Below Them
The blocks or finished face of a retaining wall may get most of the attention, but a properly constructed wall depends heavily on what happens before those materials are installed.
Excavation and preparation need to account for the existing soil, slope, drainage, wall design and loads the wall will eventually support.
This is one reason choosing a retaining wall based solely on appearance or price can cause problems later. Our article on Retaining Wall Mistakes That Cost Okanagan Homeowners Thousands explains some of the issues that can begin during the earliest stages of construction.
The Challenge of Rocky Okanagan Properties
Anyone who has excavated around Kelowna knows what’s underneath a property isn’t always predictable.
Some sites require substantial excavation before construction can begin. Rock, old concrete, previous landscaping materials or an existing retaining wall may also need to be dealt with.
Traditionally, unsuitable or oversized material may need to be loaded onto trucks and removed from the property.
Our new crusher equipment gives us another option.
Where material is appropriate for processing, we may be able to reduce larger pieces of rock or concrete into smaller aggregate directly on site.
That can potentially reduce hauling and make better use of material already available on the property.
Can That Material Be Used to Build the New Retaining Wall?
Sometimes, but this needs an important qualification.
Crushing material doesn’t automatically make it suitable for structural base, drainage or backfill.
Retaining walls depend heavily on correct drainage and properly specified materials. The material used must be appropriate for its intended purpose and meet any engineering or construction requirements applicable to the project.
We’ve previously explained why this matters in Why Retaining Walls Fail in the Okanagan and How to Prevent It.
The benefit of having crushing capability isn’t that we’ll simply reuse everything.
It’s that we have another way to process suitable material and determine whether it has an appropriate use within the overall project.
Fewer Steps on Complex Retaining Wall Projects
One of the biggest advantages for Fuller’s is how this equipment fits with the work we already perform.
A retaining wall project can involve demolition, excavation, material removal, grading, drainage, base preparation and finally construction.
Fuller’s already provides the equipment and experience needed for many of these stages. Adding crushing capabilities can potentially reduce another layer of outside coordination on suitable projects.
It’s particularly interesting for larger properties, difficult-access sites and projects involving an existing concrete or retaining structure that needs to be removed before the new wall can be constructed.
If you’re considering replacing an existing wall, start by looking for the issues outlined in Signs Your Retaining Wall May Be Failing in Kelowna.
Another Tool for Building on Okanagan Terrain
There isn’t one construction method that works for every retaining wall.
That’s particularly true in the Okanagan, where soil, slopes, rock, drainage and property access can change considerably from one site to another.
Our new equipment simply gives our team another tool to solve those problems.
Combined with excavation, grading, drainage, concrete services and complete retaining wall construction, we’re able to look at the property as a whole rather than only the finished wall.
Coming Soon to Fuller’s
Our new crusher is currently making its way from Italy to the Okanagan.
Once it arrives, we’ll be putting it to work and sharing more about how we’re using it on actual projects.
If you’re considering a new retaining wall and have a challenging property, existing concrete, significant rock or an old wall that needs to be removed, we’d be happy to take a look.
Contact Fuller’s Retaining Walls to discuss your property and request an estimate.
