How a Retaining Wall Can Help Protect Your Landscape
April 02, 2019
By Painters in CT
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Linkedin
Why Do I Need a Retaining Wall?A retaining wall is a great landscaping feature that can help frame and shape a property and provide multiple benefits as well. Many different types of properties have retaining walls such as businesses, schools and homes. You may not even realize the great benefits a retaining wall offers, as they are built to naturally fit into a property. Retaining walls are not only built for looks, they also serve a very fundamental purpose, expanding your useable outdoor living space. When a retaining wall is built correctly, it will be able to provide support for architectural structures on your property like the driveways or sheds and prevent the land under them from sliding downhill. The wall helps to counteract the gravitational force of a hill, helping to make sure the soil beneath them is stable.
AestheticRetaining walls are versatile and have countless ways they can be utilized in someone’s yard. They can be used to create flower beds or to even out a yard’s surface. They are a great way to make your landscape look unique and extend your home’s beauty outward to the rest of your property. Many times, you will see a retaining wall at a park or pubs garden, where they act as a retainer for plants, statues and decorative landscaping elements.
Structure and Erosion ProtectionIf you aren’t just going for looks, retaining walls can provide more practical benefits such as preventing soil erosion and protecting your home from the effects of erosion. Retaining walls can help to prevent downslope movement and retain the soil by providing support. In turn, this helps to protect your property from destructive landslides and the flow of underground water to your basement too.
Creating More SpaceSeveral instances may require for your yard to need a retaining wall. If your home sits at the top of a hill, you may be concerned about flooding. Adding several retaining walls to act as “steps” going up your front lawn will not only help you to break up your yard space and with drainage, but also allows you space to plant and garden. If your home sits on the bottom of a hill, you probably want to focus on protecting against the risk of flooding.
A retaining wall can help to protect against harmful flooding or the risk of erosion. Without a wall, erosion of a hill’s soil can cause damage to your property over time. If you are looking to build a pool or have a walkout basement, your home may require a retaining wall in order to better protect their entrance to the basement. In order to install a pool, the ground has to be perfectly level, which is why a retaining wall might be required to do so. This could also apply if your home has a garage that is under your house, a retaining wall may be needed in order to support your home and frame your driveway.Types of Retaining WallsThere are two types of retaining walls that are most common: gravity and engineered walls. Gravity walls use the weight of the material to hold the wall intact and retain the soil behind it. Engineered walls use Geogrid to stabilize the soil, which is s geo-synthetic material that reinforces soils and holds back the slope of a hill. The outside of an engineered walls is usually finished with a veneer to over the underlying construction of the wall. Retaining walls can be made up of various types of materials from stone to concrete, varying in function as well as appearance. A segmental retaining wall creates an interlocking system to hold a wall together to strengthen its structure. Natural stone is usually used for smaller walls in order to achieve a more natural but beautiful look. Wood timbers and railroad ties can also provide a natural aesthetic, although wood does not have the same longevity that stone does.
Let us Help You!
Our team of experienced contractors will gladly help to consult you in your need for a retaining wall for your property. We have the knowledge and expertise to help your retaining wall vision come to life. Contact Painters in CT, LLC today for your free retaining wall estimate!
