Last month we welcomed Ecocrete as our new Terraforce licenced manufacturer covering the Free State Province, ZA. Based in Bloemfontein, the company’s main line of trade is the manufacturing of quality pre-cast and custom concrete products for building and civil industries. Ecocrete also provides installation services of their specialized products. Contact them for all your retaining walls needs in the region. (more…)

It is not unusual for properties to sit nestled in a steeply sloping garden, leaving no space for a pool or patio. It also not unusual for a wooden deck to provide that space for outdoor entertainment, considering that it, on the surface, seems to be one of the most straightforward solutions in providing more space for living, entertaining, sunbathing, barbecues, and relaxation. (more…)

Sometimes Terraforce blocks are specified for more exceptional purposes than the run-of-mill uses encountered by retaining wall contractors daily. One of these involved the creation of an underground space for a Fat Trap at world renown restaurant, Overture, at Hidden Valley Wines in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Terraforce walls by Dassenberg Retaining Systems (more…)

For South African educational campuses, sports facilities are always a top priority, and when Somerset College, one of the co-educational private schools in South Africa, was faced with a large, steep hill standing in the way of expanding their existing sports campus, major earth moving was unavoidable. (more…)

Developers and Architects are often faced with the challenge of restricted or even no space at steep or small building sites. This is when retaining walls with the smallest possible footprint on plan must be designed to make it all possible. (more…)

The year 2019 marks our 40th anniversary of being engaged in the earth retaining and erosion control industry.

Initially as a supplier and installer of wire mesh gabions, we soon switched to the more sustainable concrete block method of our own design. It was a good choice, and with only one competitor from Europe in this sector, our business grew steadily and is now represented by dedicated licensees on all continents. (more…)

Versatile step block creates safe space for play

In July 2018, Eikestad Primary School Stellenbosch in South Africa, decided to transform a bland, paved space into a place for play for their students. Find out more about the 4×4 Step Block.  Installed by Decorton Retaining Walls. (more…)

Retaining walls can do so much more than just stop soil erosion and flooding issues. Along with other hardscaping and landscaping, retaining walls can transform your grounds by providing depth and verticality to your landscape, providing raised platforms for gardens, terraced views of your property, and beautiful concrete block textures. (more…)

Limited space and precipitous slopes called for some specialist geotechnical engineering in the construction of some of the concrete block wall structures in Bakoven on Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard. Installed by Terraforce Recommended Installer, Dassenberg Retaining Systems.

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Initiated by the Department of Public Works as custodian of state land, this large retaining wall is located on the West Coast, Pepper Bay harbour area, to stabilize existing eroded embankments in the interest of public safety.

Over 79 000 precast concrete Terracrete grass blocks, manufactured by Terraforce licensee, Klapmuts Concrete, have been used to line a 6.5m wide section of 1.8km stormwater drainage channel next to what will become the Vlakkeland low-cost housing estate in a peri-urban area on the outskirts of Paarl, Western Cape.

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Wetland rehab with Terraforce

In 2005, Steyn Swanepoel, from Steyn Swanepoel Landscape Design, and Luis Jordaan, his experienced project manager, were faced with complex site conditions when devising a remedial solution for an overgrown wetland located on privately owned land within the city bowl below Table Mountain. (more…)

By Holger Rust, Founder, TERRAFORCE

The “why” part is easy to answer. We want to protect our valuable possessions and infrastructure, such as houses, tourist destinations, pipelines and harbour entrances against the dynamic forces of wave action. (more…)

A solid foundation.

After 39 years of providing concrete earth retaining and erosion control solutions, Terraforce blocks are a recognized and trusted brand amongst many industry experts in South Africa and abroad. To arrive at this juncture required significant – and tireless – effort. When registering the Terraforce trademark in 1982, we understood that to survive in this line of business a lot more was required than just producing and selling of blocks, or to free-load off the advances made by others. (more…)

Retaining walls have been used extensively in the mining industry in applications such as retaining structures at the interface between the coal bunkers and conveyor belts to retain differences in ground levels. (more…)

At Terraforce, we cannot stress enough the importance of a correctly installed Terraforce retaining wall: an improperly built retaining wall may bulge, crack or lean, creating an eyesore and a headache for you. (more…)

Going forward with integrity and passion!

As we approach our 40^th year in business, we at Terraforce look back on a solid track record, while being acutely aware of the need to provide dependable, sustainable and lasting solutions. Not only for our own people, but our partners and customers, depend on it as well.

While the most critical contributor to the success of any segmental retaining wall (SRW) will always remain detailed planning and competent workmanship, planting will transform a functional structure into an eco-friendly environment that can create a dazzling display of colour, scent and texture. Add to that the possibility of drought and water restrictions, it is obvious that planting a retaining wall should not be taken lightly. (more…)

Solving problems – Terracrete eco-surfaces help drain and filter water at Langrug informal settlement, Franschhoek

In an interview with Future Cape Town in June 2016, Shannon Royden Turner, director at Actuality states: “We’re stuck in a paradigm of not even realising we’re part of nature”. And she is right. (more…)

Welcome to 2018 and hoping that all of you had a peaceful festive season! Looking back on the past twelve months, we are very happy with the quality and scope of projects completed – our best of 2017. Some amazing work by our recommended contractors and Terraforce licensees, without you this would not be possible. (more…)