RCC Retaining Wall vs Brick : A Comparison of Cost, Strength and Use

Ashwini Kumar

3 weeks ago

Building a retaining wall is important for many construction projects, especially those with slopes, differences in elevation or soil preservation. India and many other countries often use brick retaining walls and RCC retaining walls. Still which is better, the first or the second? When is it better to use one form of animation over another?

Here, we’ll discuss and contrast brick vs RCC retaining walls by considering their prices, structural strength, durability running time and the most common purposes they are used for.

What is a Retaining Wall?

A retaining wall is designed to keep soil in place by standing against land slopes where land erosion or slides could occur. An array of places are served by using retaining walls.

Creating new roads
Foundation walls as well as those at the edge of a site.
Using the land slopes as a base for construction depending on the wall’s height, the nature of the soil, water pressure and how much weight the wall will carry, a retaining wall may be built from bricks or Reinforced Cement Concrete.

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Brick Retaining Walls – An Overview

Structure: Typically, brick retaining walls are erected by gluing burnt clay bricks together with cement mortar. Since their mass and thickness help withstand soil pressure, these walls are called gravity walls.

Proper Height:
This brick walls is chosen for objects up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) in height. Beyond this, the thickness and cost increase, making the wall less dependable.

Usual Applications:
Miniature garden walls
Building boundary walls on sloped land. Areas designed for momentary vehicles or those with less load. Projects suited for people with limited income.

Brick retaining wall benefits

Building a retaining wall with bricks has many benefits.

In many areas where clay bricks are available, they cost less than concrete.
Laid bricks can simply be stacked by the mason to form a solid wall.
Aesthetic Appeal:
Brickwalls can add style to your yard and make your garden more attractive.
For light loads, this is a great type of bike.
it is the ideal container for light soil and other land-based items.

Issues with Brick retaining wall

What are the issues with using brick retaining walls?

Bricks have little resistance against significant pressure or water weight.
Can’t Be Used for Tall Walls: The structure doesn’t remain strong over 1.5m.
Water Absorption: Bricks soak up moisture and might wear out if moisture isn’t directed away from them for a long time.
Mature trees do not live more than 25 years, depending on the climate and how well they are maintained.

RCC Retaining Walls: An Overview

Structure: RCC retaining wall are used to resist pressure from above and to the side. RCC walls are made from cement, aggregates and steel reinforcement. Often, the walls surrounding a foundation are built to support the upper body and prevent sinking. Depending on how it’s made, bridges can be as low as 1.5m or as tall as over 10m.
Most Uses:

Things like road embankments
Basement walls and the foundation walls
Bridge abutments are supports that hold your bridge in place.
Houses built on hills
Sites that have high water pressure

Benefits of using RCC Retaining Wall

The main benefits of using RCC Retaining Walls are strength, Sturdness and long lasting characteristics.

Buildings with this type of RCC structure are known for being very strong.
Effective for withstanding pressure from soil as well as water pressure.
Durability: With the right aspects in place, the building may last for over a century.
Versatility: Landscape designers can form them straight, curved or stepped, depending on the needs of the landscape.
Resists Vibration or Seismic Load: Such walls have enough strength to handle pressures caused by passing vehicles and mild earthquakes.
Takes Up Smaller Space at Base Camp: A cantilever wall uses less area than a brick wall.

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Restrictions when using RCC retaining wall

Initial outlay for Solar PV Systems is high.
Because it takes more materials and skilled specialists, it is more costly to build than other types of housing.

Takes more materials and skilled specialists, it is more costly to build than other types of housing
Requires Skill in Engineering:
Designing a wall, especially a tall one, involves checking the structure.
Time needed for construction:
It requires the use of formwork, must be allowed to cure and takes longer than building brick walls.

Comparing the prices of building with RCC Retaining wall vs Brick wall

Considering the cost factor is extremely crucial when selecting between a brick and an RCC retaining wall. Here is a well-organized comparison.
The parameter to consider is whether the structure is a Brick Wall or an RCC Wall.

Note: On first sight, brick walls are cheaper, yet for tall or water-exposed walls, RCC can be a smarter choice due to the costs ahead.

S.No	Parameter	Brick wall	RCC retaining wall
1	Cost per sft (India,2025)	Rs 350 -Rs 500	Rs 600-Rs 1000
2	Cost per Sqm	Rs 3800-Rs5400	Rs 6500-Rs 10800
3	Material Cost	Low	High
4	Labour Cost	Moderate	High
5	Formwork required	No	Yes
6	Steel required	No	Yes (6 -10kg/m2)
7	Suitable height range	up to 1.5m	1.5m and above

RCC retaining wall vs Brick wall price comparison

Comparison of duration for RCC Retaining wall vs Brick wall

S.No	Step Involved	Brick wall	RCC Retaining wall
1	Site preparation	1 day	1 – 2 days
2	Wall construction	Fast (3- 5 days for 10m length)	slower (5-8 days)
3	Curing period	5-7 days	7 – 14 days
4	Total Duration	nearly 10 days	15 – 20 days

Duration comparison for RCC retaining wall vs brick wall

Strength & stability comparison for RCC Retaining wall vs Brick wall

S.No	Feature	Brick wall	RCC wall
1	Load Resistance	Low	High
2	Water Resistance	Poor	Excellent(with waterproofing)
3	Seismic Stability	Week	Good with proper reinforcement
4	Durability	10–25 years	50–100 years
5	Resistance to Erosion	Low	High

Strength & Stability comparison.

When to use Brick wall ?

You should use brick for:

The height of the walls is only less than 1.5 meters.
You are limited by your budget.
You do not design for massive weight from the surrounding material
It is used for landscapes that are only meant to last a short time or serve as decorations

When to use RCC Retaining wall ?

You should use RCC retaining for:

Walls should stand higher than 1.5 meters.
The wall helps hold back type of soil that is only loosely or wetly in place.
Your area contains roadways, tanks full of water and basements
Landslides and earthquakes are common at this location.

FAQ’s on the above topics:

1.Is RCC better than brick for building retaining walls? When it comes to taller, long-term and load-bearing types of walls, you should be especially go for RCC. RCC projects are designed to provide better strength and longevity.

2. Can I use brick walls for a 2-meter retaining wall?
Not recommended — it may fail under pressure. Go for RCC or reinforced brick masonry.

3. How long will an RCC retaining wall last?
A house built well can be used for 50 to 100 years.

4. Comparatively which option is low cost, brick or RCC retaining wall?
Can you tell me what’s better? RCC may be more expensive upfront, but it’s better for the long-term safety of the structure.

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