3 Things To Do When Building A Retaining Wall

Posted on: 13 July 2022

If your home is on a piece of land that has a sloped topography, a retaining wall could help you solve a wide range of landscaping problems. Retaining walls can be used to prevent soil erosion, minimize water runoff, create a terraced garden space, and establish a focal point for your landscape design.

A retaining wall can look like a simple project to complete, but a lot of time should be spent planning the construction of your retaining wall.

Here are three things that you can do to ensure that you end up with a functional and fashionable retaining wall in the future.

1. Start With a Solid Foundation 

You don't want your retaining wall to sink, shift, or move after it has been constructed. The only way to ensure that your retaining wall remains firmly in place is to start with a solid foundation.

Experts suggest digging a trench that can be filled with crushed rock to prevent any shifting or settling of the retaining wall.

The overall depth of the trench will be determined by the height of your retaining wall. An experienced contractor will be able to help you create a solid foundation that your retaining wall can be built upon.

2. Use the Right Materials

The quality of your retaining wall will depend, in part, on the materials that you choose to use during construction.

You can construct your retaining wall out of pretty much anything, but you will have fewer issues if you choose to use a material that is easy to work with. Common materials that experts suggest for retaining walls include natural stone, brick, timber, and concrete.

You will want to factor in the color palette of your home's exterior when selecting retaining wall materials to ensure that the new structure doesn't detract from the beauty of your residence.

3. Backfill Properly

It is essential that your retaining wall has a proper backfill if you want it to function efficiently over time. A retaining wall that is meant to help control soil erosion and runoff will have a drainpipe installed at the base of each wall section.

A backfill material must be placed over this drainpipe to protect it against potential damage. Sand and pea gravel make great backfill materials because they are affordable and will allow water to seep into the drainpipe with ease.

Be sure that you tamp down your backfill to provide better support for your retaining wall.

To learn more about retaining wall installation, contact a company like Sculptured Earth.

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