The Benefits Of Retaining Walls
March 5, 2020What to Consider When Installing a Water Feature
March 5, 2020Retaining walls can offer a lot of benefits from adding texture to your yard to the function use of keeping the soil from moving and crumbling. If you are unsure about a retaining wall, there are some things that you need to consider.
What Is A Retaining Wall?
A simple answer to this question is that a retaining wall is a structure that is designed to keep rocs and soil in place. These walls are generally made of stone, but there are many different types. You can have an anchored wall, gravity wall or a cantilever wall.
Where Do You Need Retaining Walls?
A retaining wall is generally used when there is an area with a slope leading to your home. The wall will stop the soil and debris spilling onto your property or causing damage to your home. These sloped areas will be particularly problematic when there is rain because the runoff weakens the soil structure causing it to slide. The retaining wall will be the buffer you need between this shifting soil and your home.
The Aesthetics Of Retaining Walls
While most people feel retaining walls are purely functional, they can also add a new aesthetic to your home. When you have an experienced builder work on the retaining wall, they can add multiple tiers to your yard. There is also the chance for more personality to be added to the landscape. Deep slopes can break the look of a landscape and a retaining will take care of this.
Which Retaining Wall Should You Look At Getting?
This will depend on the situation and reason for the retaining wall. A simple gravity wall is ideal if the wall will not have a lot of pressure against it and they use the weight of stone or concrete to hold everything in place. However, if you have soft soil and tight space, your best option will be sheet piling for the retaining wall.
The Benefits Of Retaining Walls
These walls will have aesthetic and functional benefits that you need to know about. They will also add value to your home and are affordable as they are made from high-quality materials for a reasonable price. Retaining walls are durable and long-lasting while being earth-friendly. There is also a range of choices available.
Adding Value To Your Home
The overall value of your home can be increased through different home renovation projects and a retaining wall is one of them. The beauty of the retaining wall is that it is easy and affordable to install. If you are adding a wall using natural materials, you will find that it is easy to adjust and change if you need to.
Retaining walls also increase the value of your home by increasing the versatility of the space around the house. If you want to separate your flower gardens and vegetables, you can do this with a simple rock retaining wall.
The Choices Available
When it comes to choices, there are different rock types and other materials available. You can also choose different construction methods available as well. You can choose a gabion wall that is stone-filled mesh which is shaped to fit. You could also look at a dry stack wall that is made from stones and no mortar or a traditional stone wall that uses mortar to keep everything in place. There are also eco-friendly products that can be used which are kind to the planet and economical.
Durable And Low-Maintenance
One of the great things about retaining walls is the low maintenance. Once the wall has been constructed, you do not have to worry about anything else unless you have a dry stack wall and want to move the stones. The amount of maintenance performed on the wall will be a personal choice, but you can leave it alone after it has been build and you are happy with it.
As retaining walls are made with natural products, they are able to withstand harsh weather conditions. The materials used are often local to the area making them more durable to the local weather conditions. This reduces the long-term costs you face as you will not have to repair or replace these walls.
The Functionality Of The Wall
A retaining wall is a functional addition to your landscape. When these walls are constructed correctly, they will be able to withstand a lot of pressure against them. There are many retaining walls that hold back water and soil for decades without any maintenance.
These walls can provide a structural slope retention from 50 to 70 degrees. They can also be used to create a tiered and eye-catching vertical garden. If you choose an environmentally friendly wall, they can often be installed faster and will be more economical than the traditional retaining wall.
Environmentally Friendly Options Are Available
More and more people consider how their decisions affect the planet and building a retaining wall is no different. Fortunately, naturally built retaining walls will use 50% less concrete than traditional walls. This results in less disruption to the vegetation of the area while reducing any storm run-off. Retaining walls that use sustainable products are aesthetically pleasing, affordable and as long-lasting as traditional walls with the benefit of fitting into the area better. There is also a reduced impact on the local eco-system.
When you add a retaining wall to your property, you will have a durable, simple and aesthetically pleasing solution to a landscaping problem. These walls will also increase your property resale value while ensuring your property is safe from shifting soil. You can choose green materials for the wall to reduce the impact it has on the environment without compromising on function, durability or beauty.