Retaining walls serve various purposes in different properties. There are different varieties of wall systems for other goals. 

Some of the commonly used retaining wall types in construction are as follows:

Cantilevered Wall

The cantilevered wall is probably the most commonly used variety of retaining wall systems. It consists of two parts - the base slab and the stem. The material used for the wall can be pre-stressed, pre-cast, or reinforced concrete. It is built with the base slab located under the ground and the stem protruding above ground with no other support. The base slab has two parts, the heel, and the toe. 

Concrete Retaining Wall

Concrete retaining walls can be built high. They require a more extensive base depth to create a more stable foundation. When constructed properly, they do not have issues like cracking, tilting, or bowling. Plus, they are not vulnerable to degradation due to climate. A common material used in concrete retaining walls is insulated concrete forms or ICF. 

Gravity Wall

Gravity walls are structured in such a way that the wall relies on its weight to stand erect. A gravity wall has a base that is much thicker than its top. The process of “battering” helps improve the wall stability by leaning back into the soil being retained. It means that as the wall becomes taller, it leans backward. The construction of this type of wall requires various construction materials. 

Crib Retaining Wall

Built using interlocking cribs or boxes made from timber or precast concrete, the crib retaining wall is usually used in landscaping to retain garden areas. The blocks are filled with coarse granulated material like crushed rocks to facilitate easy water drainage.

Block Walls

Primarily used in garden areas and landscaping, block retaining walls are of two types, modular and segmental. They use interlocking concrete blocks to hold back the soil. They, much like gravity walls, use gravitational force to resist sliding and overturning. Cinder block walls have also gained popularity as cinder blocks are much lighter than concrete blocks. 

There are numerous other types of retaining wall systems. The retaining wall system best suited for a particular project depends on the location, soil type, and drainage requirement.