Does a Sloped Landscape Need a Retaining Wall?

How do you fix a sloped lawn? This is one of the questions that may linger in your mind as a homeowner. Retaining walls are one of the best ways to fix any sloping property. Besides mitigating soil erosion, retaining walls will serve as an attractive focal point escalating a curbing appeal to your property. But when does a slope need a retaining wall?

When Controlling Floods and Preventing Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is prevalent in many landscapes and, if not managed, will distort the appearance of your outdoor garden. Retaining walls will come in handy in supporting the existing soil structure and mitigating the surface runoff by reducing gradients. This will, in turn, slow the water speed on the soil surface, lowering the rate of soil erosion.

Retaining walls will enhance water drainage on your landscaped area, preventing flooding. Drainage pipes and channels can be easily integrated during wall construction for effective flood control.

Through terracing, the retaining walls will minimize the gradient, facilitating water absorption in the soil rather than running off the surface.

If You Want To Flatten a Hill

Do you have gardening ambitions, but your hilly landscape brushes them off? If so, you need to incorporate a retaining wall. With retaining walls, you can come up with terraced areas suitable for planting your favorite plant or flower.

You can create a flower garden on the front side of your property to spice up the overall appearance. In the long run, your outdoor space will be flat, giving you a clear view of your surroundings.

When Reshaping Slopes

When does a slope need a retaining wall? A retaining wall will come in handy if you want to change the slope of your backyard to an eye-catching spot.

Retaining walls will trigger an aesthetic appeal to the slope structure and surroundings. When reshaping your outdoor slopes, it is advisable to hire a professional retaining wall contractor to get a meticulous job done.

When Coming up With Outdoor Seating Spaces

Having a moment of outdoor relaxation will enable you to unwind from your busy schedules and have enough time to meditate. Often or not, retaining walls have a low height and can serve as a perfect chilling spot as you admire your outdoor garden space. This is achievable without investing a single dime in purchasing yard furniture.

If You Are Interested in Separating Your Backyard

Retaining walls will visually separate your backyard, enabling you to have different zones for different activities. To create a more cascading effect, you can contemplate having connecting stairs around the separated zones.

Materials To Consider When Constructing Retaining Walls

Which materials should you use to build stunning retaining walls? Below are available options.

Stones

Natural rocks can boost the elegance of your retaining wall due to their natural appearance. For the best outcome, involve a professional when constructing the retaining wall with stones.

Blocks

Blocks are one of the best materials to consider when you want to build a retaining wall in the easiest way possible. Building a retaining wall using blocks entails stacking the blocks on top of each other. It is a cheap method as you won’t need cement to join the blocks together.

Wood

If you love uniqueness and elegance, you can consider using wood to construct a retaining wall. When using wood, ensure it is treated to boost its durability level and provide sufficient resistance against moisture. Untreated wood will quickly rot due to bacteria present in the dirt and moisture. You can go a notch higher and paint the wood retaining wall to create a thrilling appearance.

Gabions

Gabions are simply rocks encased in a wire netting to spark a thrilling visual appearance. The square nature of gabions makes it easy to construct short retaining walls and demarcate your front yard.

If you aren’t thrilled by the grayish tones of the rocks, you can consider packing dirt via the wire netting and plant something colorful or green that will give your retaining wall a breath of life.

Benefits of a Retaining Wall

A retaining wall can be beneficial to your landscape in the following ways.

Protects and Preserves Nearby Structures

If your house is located on a lower level than the surrounding land, there is a high risk of the soil on the elevated area sliding down, causing damage to your property or weakening the foundation. Constructing a retaining wall can hold the soil, preventing it from sliding down.

A Retaining Wall Boosts Your Home’s Value

Do I need a retaining wall to hike my home value? Yes, retaining walls will increase your home’s value.

Potential clients pay keen attention to the exterior of a house rather than the interior. You will likely receive higher offers from potential clients when listing a house with a magnificent exterior. Retaining walls will enhance the appearance of your house, boosting its value.

Prevents Sinkholes

Sinkholes are common in areas where water gradually dissolves into the carbonate rock. Depending on the deterioration speed, the sinkholes can be either small or large, and the holes are dangerous to the structure. Retaining walls come in handy in hindering the damage to your landscape structure by the sinkholes.

Diverting Rainwater

With a unique retaining wall design, you can divert the rainwater that drains off and divert it to be utilized for other purposes in your house. With a retaining wall, you can have a collection system to direct the rainwater into your lawns or gardens.

Final Thoughts

Well, at this point, you have gained a better understanding of when does a slope need a retaining wall. It’s advisable to seek professional guidance before embarking on the retaining walls project.