Retaining Wall Ideas That Last

No matter how big or small, there are several things to keep in mind when you decide to have a retaining wall installed on your property.

Everything from materials, designs, and current garden trends, as well as vetting the various retaining wall companies comes in to play at the beginning of a project of this complexity. Most, if not all, retaining wall ideas are large investments, and as a consumer you deserve for it to pay off. With that in mind, here are some tips to follow so that your wall can look great and stand the test of time.

1. Design

Retaining walls don’t have to be straight lines. Use creative design elements, such as curves, to add character to the wall. Look at how it will match your property. Companies such as Faltz Landscaping generally offer pictures of projects on their website to showcase designs.

2. Function

Consider your lifestyle and the space around the wall. Design elements such as shelving, colors, patterns, and stone size can make for a decorative display worthy of an outdoor family area or barbecue pit to entertain guests. Both of these have become fast growing garden trends.

3. Height

This is where you’ll most likely need to get help from one of many retaining wall contractors. For instance, Faltz Landscaping continues to have many ongoing projects in this particular outdoor area. A few things have to be considered structurally when building a long lasting wall. First and foremost is height. Depending on building codes, you can install a wall yourself if it is less than four feet tall. Anything over four feet tall should be constructed by retaining wall contractors.

4. Drainage

Drainage is a main concern in any structure. Water is the main enemy of stone, and seeing as most retaining wall ideas incorporate stone, the water has to have somewhere to drain away from the wall. The base is the key support for the entire wall, and thus deserves a good amount of time dedicated to it. Stones can be either natural or manufactured, manufactured being the easiest to work with. Retaining wall companies tend to work with both, depending on customer preference.

5. Backfilling & Leveling

Two more key points for the longevity of the wall are backfilling and leveling. Backfilling involves adding successive layers of gravel as a support barrier behind the retaining wall. After each layer is added it is tamped to reduce settling over time. Checking for level should occur after each layer of stone is added, regardless of whether natural or manufactured stone is used.