A retaining wall serves more than aesthetic purposes in your home – it also protects against erosion that could otherwise harm trees, wash away vital nutrients, and put the integrity of your foundation at risk.
Understanding retaining walls’ importance helps homeowners appreciate just how vital these structures are to their property. Here are five reasons why it may be advisable to include one on yours.
Structural Strength
Retaining walls serve many purposes, from stabilizing sloped properties to creating level areas suitable for planting and recreation, like patios and outdoor kitchens. Retaining walls are popular among homeowners of sloping lots as they help prevent soil erosion that could potentially damage their home and other structures on their lot.
Retain walls can be constructed out of various materials, though concrete or masonry tends to be the preferred choice due to its durability and ability to withstand any potential loads imposed from soil weight. Professional engineers should design and construct any retaining walls to ensure they remain structurally sound even when loaded down with dirt or gravel.
Drainage is another key function of retaining walls, as water pooling behind one can lead to costly repair and replacement costs. Efficient drainage systems ensure water drains away from walls, helping keep foundations dry.
A beautifully-designed retaining wall can add an eye-catching feature to any landscape, attracting guests and potential homebuyers.
No matter the size of your yard, a well-designed retaining wall can add considerable curb appeal and value to your home. On properties with slopes or steep terrain, retaining walls provide extra living space while making use of unique landscape features of each property.
Retaining walls offer an affordable, durable way to make your home stand out and increase its value. To learn how retaining walls could transform your yard, contact us now!
Drainage
Have a hill that requires rock-climbing equipment to climb or an area where every rainfall leaves soggy soil, washed-away landscaping and pitted sidewalks or driveways behind it? Retaining walls can transform these problem spots into attractive and functional parts of your property. However, improper design could result in collapsed structures causing costly and possibly dangerous damages to both home and yard.
Retaining walls serve an essential purpose: controlling how water drains on your property, which can have significant ramifications. Without adequate drainage, excess rainwater and melting snow/ice could accumulate, leaving behind soggy soil, erosion of landscaping features and even harm to the foundation of your home.
Retaining walls can be constructed from various materials, including wood wall structures, stacked stone or concrete block structures and poured concrete. Whatever material is chosen should meet local building codes and be suitable for both the configuration and height of the wall as well as horizontal earth pressure which results from its weight being maintained on its base.
To ensure that your retaining wall drains efficiently, it is crucial that its backfill be correctly installed and compacted during construction. In addition, installing a perforated drain pipe behind the wall to collect and redirect rainwater can help ensure hydrostatic pressure does not build up behind it causing it to collapse.
To ensure its long-term success, it’s essential to periodically inspect and maintain your retaining wall. Depending on its material composition, periodic cleaning or painting may be needed to protect its surface and prolong its lifespan. In addition, professional maintenance companies should periodically examine and repair it as required.
If you’re looking to add to your landscape, create a terrace garden, or provide space for a firepit, retaining walls can be an excellent way to enhance the aesthetics and value of your property. Get in touch with R&M Concrete’s experts now to discover how retaining walls can transform problem areas of your home into beautiful, functional pieces of real estate!
Curb Appeal
If you have ever watched an HGTV home improvement show, chances are you have come across the term “curb appeal.” It refers to an attractiveness of residential or commercial property from street level that often makes or breaks potential buyers’ interest in purchasing.
Curb appeal can be an excellent investment whether you are selling your home or simply seeking ways to enhance it. When properly implemented, curb appeal can significantly boost a property’s value and resale potential.
Installing a retaining wall is one of the best ways to increase your home’s curb appeal and create more usable space on your property. Not only will they add visual interest and prevent soil erosion, but retaining walls are often used for landscaping terraces, seating areas, walkways and stairs; some can even be designed into sunken theaters or open air amphitheaters to make the most of your yard space.
Other easy landscaping improvements you can make include painting the mailbox with fresh hues and maintaining a manicured lawn, as well as planting trees and installing outdoor lighting to increase curb appeal.
Spending time and effort improving the exterior of your home shows that you take pride in taking good care of it, which gives buyers confidence about purchasing it – they may overlook minor imperfections or updates which would be obvious to an experienced inspector.
Before trying to sell their home, many real estate agents recommend investing in projects to enhance its curb appeal. According to NAR members, 97% believe curb appeal plays a critical role in how prospective buyers perceive a home; many improvements can be inexpensively and simply implemented without too much difficulty; making this worthwhile investment worth taking on by any homeowner.
Water Control
Retaining walls are designed to prevent erosion by keeping soil in place, yet improper design or construction may create drainage issues which cause expensive water damage repairs to foundations, structures and other parts of your property. Proper drainage of retaining walls is key both functionally and safety.
Retaining walls can add visual interest to any landscape, as well as helping maintain it more efficiently for gardening and outdoor activities. They also serve an additional function by creating terraces for raising flowers or shrubs, giving you more usable space for entertaining or relaxation purposes.
Retaining walls are also useful tools for making sloped lawns more functional. If you live on hilly land, using a retaining wall to flatten out your landscape can transform once unusable space into an inviting lawn perfect for family gatherings or just playing outside with kids.
Retaining walls can also help mitigate flood risks during heavy rainfall or storms by creating an effective physical barrier between your home and any approaching waters. This helps reduce flooding risks that could otherwise cause expensive water damage as well as potential health hazards if they contain harmful toxins.
When designing your retaining wall, it is crucial to take into account how it will interact with its surroundings – including soil and water. The weight-bearing side should be backfilled with porous material such as crushed gravel for optimal drainage. Weep holes should be installed behind your wall along with a perforated drain pipe to direct any excess water away from your property and into a drainage ditch or other natural area rather than pooling at its base. Covering weep hole openings with filter material can prevent dirt migrating into your drainpipe, helping reduce maintenance requirements on retaining walls.
