Will Truemont Material’s Redi-Rock solutions work for walls near sensitive natural areas?

Tybee Island, situated 17 miles east of Savannah, Georgia, is a stunning coastal community along the Atlantic Ocean. Residents and visitors appreciate the vast wind-sculpted sandy dunes. But what happens when these golden dunes begin to shift and threaten the safety of homes near the beach? When a Tybee Island homeowner faced the task of protecting their home from encroaching dunes, they turned to Truemont Materials for a retaining wall to fortify their home against the elements yet minimize impacts on the surrounding sensitive natural area.

What is a “Sensitive Natural Area”?

Florida and South Georgia’s vital, sensitive natural areas, such as swamps, marshlands, wetlands, and coastal dunes, play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance. Their protection is paramount, especially during activities like earthmoving or construction.

For the Tybee Island project, a sensitive coastal dune system couldn’t be disrupted in front of a resident’s home, so the Redi-Rock gravity wall system was selected for a retaining wall that would allow the surrounding dunes to crest at the top of the wall, protecting both the home and the environment.

What type of wall can I build in a sensitive natural area?

While many types of retaining wall systems may be considered viable solutions for sensitive natural area projects, the Tybee Island project owners faced the challenge of building a wall system that limited dune disturbance while providing an aesthetic match to natural surroundings with natural stone-like textures. The wall itself couldn’t include geogrid reinforcement, as this would cause additional disturbance, which ruled out other wall types, including Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls, hybrid walls, and smaller, drycast block segmental retaining wall (SRW) systems requiring geogrid placement.

Needing to keep the elements from taking over their property, the homeowners elected a Redi-Rock Gravity wall system for their retaining wall. With the ability to reach heights of up to 20 ft (6 m) in specific site scenarios without the need for geogrid reinforcement or tiebacks, the excavation for this project was kept to a minimum, all but eliminating the disturbance of the surrounding dunes. The homeowners felt comfortable knowing a Redi-Rock wall, provided by Truemont Materials, would protect their property for decades to come. With an authentic textured look that blended seamlessly with its surroundings, the completed Redi-Rock wall was a win-win solution, keeping encroaching dunes at bay and providing a robust solution with a natural look.

Why are wet cast blocks the best material for constructing retaining walls in sensitive natural areas?

In coastal and wetland environments, wet cast blocks can withstand the pressure and potential erosion caused by water flow or shifting dunes. They feature additional benefits for projects, including:

• Lower porosity levels leading to less water absorption, therefore reducing the risk of water infiltration, which can weaken structures.
• Higher block density and overall strength mean the blocks are less likely to crack or degrade and perform better in freeze-thaw cycles. Though freeze-thaw cycles aren’t necessarily a concern in southern climates, this durability speaks to the overall strength of the blocks.
• Blocks are produced in controlled environments, resulting in uniform shapes and quality, which is critical in water applications where precision is vital.

Truemont Materials helped provide an awesome gravity wall solution for this project in Tybee Island, not only providing unbeatable strength and versatility but also setting the stage for a welcoming and secure outdoor haven. Its meticulously crafted stone-like textures seamlessly merge with the natural beauty of the dunes, elevating the overall charm of the property. Choosing Redi-Rock demonstrates a dedication to safeguarding both one's investment and the delicate surrounding ecosystems, offering homeowners true peace of mind.