Retaining Walls
Not all yards are created equal. Sometimes people use this phrase to talk about lawn quality. For the purposes of this blog, we’re talking about actual, literal elevation. Some homes are built on higher elevations than others. But sloped yards that have no flat surface for a fence aren’t exactly the best for maintaining a fence for your yard or property line. If you have a house in an area with lots of hills, slopes, and different elevations, your home may benefit from a concrete retaining wall. But what is concrete retaining wall? How do you even know if you really need one? Just how many types of retaining walls are there?
What is a Retaining Wall
As stated earlier, a retaining wall is useful when your home is in an area with lots of uneven landscape. A concrete retaining wall is a wall that holds dirt and soil in place. That means you can install a retaining wall to create a flat space where you only had a hill before. It creates a useable space where there wasn’t any before. Retaining walls also help keep your home’s foundation from being affected by soil erosion. If the soil can’t move downhill and away from your home, there are fewer chances for the dirt holding your foundation in place to wash away, and less of a chance that your foundation will crack as a result.
Reasons to Install a Concrete Retaining Wall
- Erosion This has the potential to damage your property and other people. Soil will eventually flow away from higher elevations given enough time and heavy enough rain. Concrete retaining walls stop erosion by creating a barrier to hold dirt and soil in place. With no place to go, your yard will stay in place and not wash away. Retaining walls also help keep your foundation safe from cracking because of shifting earth.
- No Flat Boundary It is entirely possible to install a fence on a hill. It isn’t ideal, but it’s doable. Flat boundaries set a much clearer property boundary, and retaining walls are great for that. Contractors can build fences as part of a retaining wall installation as well.
- Property Value The style choices you make for your retaining wall also present your home with increased curb appeal. Creating useable space out of hills with stylish and functional material makes your home more appealing to people from the street. It also gives your home a little something extra if you decide to sell further down the road. Your contractors could feasibly pair your retaining wall with a stylish stone wall fencing installation as well.
- Useable Land Installing a concrete retaining wall gives you the opportunity to add more style and flat surfaces to your yard. Whether you’re using that space for gardening or for your patio or terrace, you have far more options than if you left your yard with steep slopes. If you find yourself asking “How thick should a retaining wall be?” you should ask a fencing contractor. It will generally depend on the size of the area, quality of the dirty, quality of the building material, and other factors.
- Water Runoff This is a similar problem to erosion. Rainwater runs down your property. If you have a garden at the top of your hill near your house, it may not get as much water as you’d like when it rains. Also, with open hills for your land, it’s hard to control the drainage points of water from your lawn. A retaining wall allows you to install draining points that get the water runoff from your yard where you want it to go, which could feasibly keep your downhill neighbors happy as well.
More Details and Questions
So you think your home or property may need a retaining wall, but you still have some questions. Many people ask the common questions like “How long do concrete retaining walls last?” and “How high can I build a retaining wall?” If you’re wondering this, then you should look into zoning for your county and city. Different zoning codes exist in different areas, and knowing what you can and can’t do with your concrete retaining wall will help ensure you aren’t fined by zoning enforcement in the future.
People also ask what the differences are with a concrete vs brick retaining wall or a concrete retaining wall vs wood one. Each method of crafting retaining walls has its pros and cons. Wood is easy to install and cheaper than other materials, but it rots quickly and deteriorates faster than the other materials. Brick is sturdy and looks good, but takes an extended period of time to create. It also needs special consideration for drainage. Concrete is strong, durable, and comes in many different design options. It’s only real drawback is requiring special contractors to install it properly.
Concrete Retaining Wall Landscaping
When you want to install a retaining wall you need quality craftsmanship to ensure a proper job. You want to make sure the people you hire to install your new retaining wall are experienced craftsmen who know how to pour concrete so it will last. Just like you’d only hire the best for your residential roofing in Cedar Park, TX, you should only hire the best for your new retaining wall. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to create more flat land for your home, or a clear property boundary. When you’re looking for quality installation service of a concrete retaining wall in Crowley and Fort Worth, TX, contact the fence experts of Ware Fencing at 817-948-4503 for more information today!