LinkLogs Outdoor Fireplaces, Inc., now offers LinkLogs Retaining Walls made of the same kinds of specially crafted interlocking concrete logs that have already made our range of outdoor fireplaces well known in the Eastern United States. At LinkLogs, we not only manufacture all the logs for our Retaining Walls, but our skilled personnel will install the walls as well. LinkLogs Retaining Walls require minimal excavation and no footings. They are constructed by securely fixing the attractive face logs in place with tieback and deadman logs at right angles behind. LinkLogs Retaining Walls are extremely strong but lighter than other types. They have a certain inbuilt flexibility, which means they move with the frost action and then return to their original position. But that is the only movement they will experience. Because each course of logs is securely tied in behind as well as to the course above and below it, the earth cannot push the walls out or “herniate” them as it so often does with ordinary block retaining walls. In addition, LinkLogs Retaining Walls are designed so that moisture passes through them, thereby significantly reducing damaging water build-up (otherwise known as “damming” or hydrostatic pressure). What’s more, each individual log is treated to prevent freeze damage. LinkLogs Retaining Walls are more structurally sound than comparable systems, which are usually only face blocks with no perpendicular members tying them back. Not only that, LinkLogs Retaining Walls are approximately 30 percent less expensive when installed.

Advantages of LinkLogs Retaining Walls
Simplicity: Because our walls are built close to the surface of the ground, not below the frost line, there is no major excavation, heavy equipment is not usually required, and disturbance of the construction site is minimal to nonexistent. The entire wall can be constructed manually if necessary.

Flexibility: The system offers design flexibility, easily adapting to handle curves, angles, and grade changes.

Speed: Because the system requires minimal excavation and no footings, and because the individual concrete LinkLogs are from stock, our walls can often be in place while other types are still on the drawing board.

Durability: The design of LinkLogs Retaining Walls allows the wall to move with the frost action and return to its original position. Also, the free-draining design allows water to pass through, thereby greatly reducing hydrostatic build-up. Some walls constructed on the LinkLogs principle
have been in place for over 30 years.

Environmentally Compatible: LinkLogs Retaining Walls will not rot or leach preservative chemicals. They require minimal excavation, and so heavy equipment along access roads is kept to a minimum, therefore making our system ideal for use in environmentally fragile or restricted-access areas. Retaining walls constructed on the LinkLogs basis have been used on projects under the jurisdiction of a state Department of Environmental Protection
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Cost efficiency: LinkLogs Retaining Walls offer significant cost savings because they either eliminate or greatly reduce:

• Design costs
• Excavation costs
• Equipment costs
• Labor costs
• Weather-related costs
• Damage from earth movement, such as blocks popping out
• Damage from water damming up behind the wall
• Rotting Maintenance
  

Environmental problems: There are no callbacks with a LinkLogs Retaining Wall. Experience has shown that LinkLogs Retaining Walls are at least 30% less expensive than comparable systems such as cast-in-place walls.

Engineering:The LinkLogs Retaining Wall concept is based on established engineering principles, and each of our walls is designed to meet or exceed industry requirements for strength and safety.


Consultation
Whether you need assistance with a particular design or application problem or a budget estimate that you can “hang your hat on,” our engineering and sales staff are at your service. Please feel free to call us at any time.

Installation
Installation of a LinkLogs Retaining Wall begins with the placement of the base logs, either level or conforming to site contours. The base logs are painstakingly placed in position to ensure the structural integrity of the completed wall. Notched tie-back logs are then laid perpendicular to the base logs at a slope predetermined to cant the wall face toward the retained earth at 1" per vertical foot. This cant, coupled with the interlocking nature of LinkLogs, accounts for the unique strength of our Retaining Walls. After the base and tie-back logs are placed, the cribbing is built up rapidly. It is the relatively small size of the cribbing modules in the LinkLogs system that provides the flexibility for the wall to be easily adapted to angles, curves, and topographical variations. As each level is installed, the wall is backfilled with well-compacted, free-draining gravel. The gravel and the wall itself allow drainage and all but eliminate destructive hydrostatic build-up or water “damming.” Every log in the wall is interlocked, including the tie-backs and the rear cribbing. The tolerances in the interlocking joints provide the flexibility that allows a wall to adapt to frost action and then return to its original position. The top-level logs are designed for appearance. After the fill is graded behind them, the finished wall is virtually indestructible and has been constructed with a minimum of labor and disturbance to the site.
The LinkLogs Solution
LinkLogs Retaining Walls are comprised of many individual concrete logs, each formed in a steel mold and compressed and vibrated for strength and consistency. Every log is reinforced with a #3 rebar longitudinally. The logs are 5" square, with numerous different shapes and lengths. The formed logs are cured for 12 hours at controlled temperatures and attain 90% of their maximum strength within seven days. All logs are subjected to rigid quality controls, as each is manufactured individually. LinkLogs products may also be used as flower beds and borders, and in a range of other landscaping functions.


In the final step, the logs are palletized and placed in inventory at LinkLogs’ plant in North Carolina, ready for delivery to the construction site.

For sales information, please contact
Shannon Reeves, National Sales Manager
704-905-1380
shannon@linklogsfireplaces.com