Waterfront property in Louisiana has been very popular in the real estate market over the years. Everyday access to local lakes, rivers, and bayous, offers landowners in the area a direct avenue to water recreation activities. The beauty of living in these waterfront areas comes with the danger of floods from seasonal hurricanes and tropical storms. It is important to build above the designated flood elevation plain however strict building codes limit ones options in doing so. A product is sometimes needed to elevate a property by use of retaining walls. HESCO Concertainer unit offer an inexpensive solution for mass gravity retaining walls.

The property showcased here is located in Slidell, Louisiana – just miles from the New Orleans area. The landowner purchased this property in 2004 and began designs for residential construction. The land elevation was 11.5 feet above sea level however flood insurance required a base elevation of +14 feet. Concertainer units were used to elevate the property in the area which the home would be built. The retaining wall not only elevated the home to the desired grade but also allows the residence an even sloped yard.

Four foot tall Concertainer units were used with an additional front row of two foot units. Strong-back units were also implemented to assist in stabilization and the prevention of failure. A façade will be built to make the wall esthetically pleasing however the strength of the wall is within the Concertainer units.

This project took a day’s work of two men and minimal equipment equal to that of a Bobcat. The project was built 3 weeks prior to Hurricane Katrina, totally surviving the storm without damage despite the huge storm surge and battering from debris.

HESCO Concertainer units can elevate a property well above distinguished flood plain elevations while preventing a loss of land due to hydrostatic forces.