The main purpose of a retaining wall is to retain soil; however some walls are a focal point for homeowners that are looking to spruce up their yard. A retaining wall can help bring out the look of flowers beds and surrounding landscape, and the height of the wall can make your entire property stand out.
If we haven’t met before allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Back 40 Landscaping and our expertise is in retaining walls and hardscaping. We also like to bring education to those looking for retaining wall solutions.
The simple definition of a retaining wall is that it is a structure that holds, or retains soil behind it. Retaining walls are designed to restrain soil to a slope that it would not naturally keep to (typically a steep, almost vertical, or vertical slope). Areas that retaining walls are used in are areas where the landscape needs to be shaped severely, and engineered for a more specific purpose, like hillside farming, or roadway overpasses. A professional engineer should always be brought in when necessary to ensure the integrity of wall.
The Average Price For A Small Retaining Wall That Is 25 Ft Long And 4 Ft High Starts At $15k
The Average Price For An Average Retaining Wall That Is 80 Ft Long And 4 Ft High Starts At $40k
The Average Price For A Large Retaining Wall That Is 100 Ft Long, 4 Ft High And Terraced With A Staircase Starts At $80k
Retaining walls come in a variety of materials that can be used to build wall systems.
These include concrete blocks, poured concrete, treated timbers (Wood retaining walls), rocks and boulders. All of these materials can retain soil, but some will have a shorter lifespan than others. Other than wood, concrete walls typically come in a variety of colors and shapes that homeowners can choose from, allowing the wall to either blend in with the surrounding area, or act as a focal point to the space.
Pros Of A Retaining Wall
When retaining walls are built correctly:
Cons Of A Retaining Wall