One of the great things about a professionally landscaped yard is that certain aspects play a vital role in maintaining the property along with a stunning visual. At the top of that list are retaining walls. It is the rare home that lies on a completely flat piece of land, and quite often, hills and slopes can render portions of a property useless. A retaining wall keeps the earth from moving off a steep slope, and it plays a key role in installing walkways, patios, driveways, and for larger properties, tennis, and basketball courts. To the untrained eye, they can look like a short trim border along a pathway, when the reality is, it is preventing soil and water from running onto the structure. Walls over 4ft high need a professional design and installation.
Water is one of the main culprits for expensive repairs or replacements for homes and property. One in fifty homeowners annually make an insurance claim based on water damage. The average cost to repair this damage is between one and five thousand dollars. A well-placed retaining wall can divert water away from foundations and into a proper drainage system. It can also prevent soil erosion in your yard and from under your home. Other functional uses include flood and sinkhole prevention, reduction of pest infestations, and less maintenance of lawns and gardens.
Using a retaining wall can create a space that adds to your property value by giving you usable space where there was none. They can be combined with water and fire features for a return on investment of over 100% in some cases. Due to the pandemic, more of us have taken to our yards for recreation and tranquility. With that, raised flower beds and gardens are a hot trend. In smaller spaces where ample seating is required, wall seats can be added to the top of the wall while creating a beautifully layered architecture.
The design choices are nearly limitless, as are the styles which are available. The most popular choices of material are concrete blocks and brick. They both have many colors and sizes, and concrete blocks can even be custom-made. Natural stone, like flagstone, is also used often. At King’s Kutz Landscaping, we can combine necessity with your imagination regarding the wall’s appearance. We can create unique patterns and mosaics, integrate steps into the structure, add layers and tiers, lights, and create a living wall with easy-to-maintain plants. We can even use flowers and shrubs to hide the wall as well.
Our professionals have been serving the central Florida area for years. It takes a great understanding of the local environment to make a landscape plan come together, and we have just that. Contact us today for a free estimate for your retaining wall and other landscape needs.
Frequently Asked Retaining Wall Questions
Q1. What are the different types of retaining walls?
A1. Retaining walls come in various types, each suited for different needs and landscape conditions. The most common types include gravity walls, which rely on their mass to resist pressure from behind and are often made from stone or concrete; cantilevered walls, which are made from reinforced concrete and are anchored into the ground; sheet piling walls, typically used in soft soil and tight spaces; and anchored walls, which are reinforced with cables or other stays anchored in the rock or soil behind them. Each type has its specific uses, advantages, and construction methods.
Q2. What materials are used in the construction of retaining walls?
A2. The choice of material for a retaining wall depends on the project requirements, cost, and the desired aesthetic. Common materials include concrete blocks, poured concrete, treated timbers, rocks or boulders, and bricks. Concrete blocks and poured concrete are strong and durable, making them suitable for large, structural walls. Treated timbers and bricks are often used for smaller, decorative walls, while rocks and boulders can create a more natural look. The choice of material affects the wall’s longevity, strength, and maintenance needs.
Q3. How do you determine the proper height and design of a retaining wall?
A3. The height and design of a retaining wall are determined by various factors, including the slope of the land, soil type, load the wall needs to bear, local building codes, and drainage needs. An engineer or a professional with experience in retaining walls should be consulted for significant or complex projects, as they can assess these factors and design a wall that is both safe and effective. Proper drainage is also a crucial consideration to prevent water from building up behind the wall, which can increase pressure and cause failure. The design should include adequate drainage systems like weep holes or drainage pipes.