Unless you live on the prairie or somewhere equally flat, you may have the kind of yard that needs a retaining wall to create flat areas where hilly ones exist right now. If you have even a slight pitch to your yard you know that trying to keep the grass drained properly or even just mowing it can be a real problem. But it doesn’t have to be, because a retaining wall can make that hilly area flat and easy to care for.

Creating a retaining wall to dam the earth and make the area in front flat is an ancient technique that was used around the world for centuries. Terraced hillsides in China have made it possible to grow rice in the hilly southern part of the country for hundreds of years. Even here you will see plenty of retaining walls in places like our highways wherever we have had to build roads through the hills and mountains of the country. So if you are considering building a retaining wall in your yard, or even bringing in a contractor to build one for you, there are several building materials to choose from for a retaining wall. Which one you decide to use will depend on the look you want and what you will use the retaining wall to do.

A Material for Every Use

There are six basic approaches when it comes to the material you use to build your retaining wall. What material you decide on will probably be driven my things like cost, availability of the material, the amount of labor it will take to do it and what you want the end product to look like. Here are the basic choices:

1.      Railroad Ties – For many, this is the classic material to build a retaining wall. Originally they were used because you could get them cheaply and they were easy to set it place. The actual railroad ties tend to be coated in a preservative layer called creosote that helps to prevent them from decaying. This eventual decay of a natural product like wood is one reason many now frown upon the use of ties, along with the environmental hazards now tied to creosote. On the other hand, if you can get them without the creosote you will probably find that as the wood crumbles the roots of the plants hold the shape of the retaining wall in place, and make an attractive end result that is very rustic.

2.     
Preserved Wood – Luckily, you can now get wood that has non-toxic preservatives in it to replace the use of railroad ties. You can get them in various sizes and stack them just like Lincoln Logs to make the retaining wall, just like you would with railroad ties. The advantage, of course, is that they are more environmentally friendly, which is why I recommend them. Once you set them in place, and cement them in with stakes or bolts, you will have a retaining wall that will last you a long time.

3.      Gabion Wall Systems – Although this is pretty much used only in commercial situations, you can find residential versions if you look around. Basically this is steel fencing that creates little boxes of metal that are then filled with rocks. This is a great retaining wall for an area where you know it will need to handle a lot of water that needs to be drained off the land regularly, such as a hillside in an area that gets plenty of rain. The Pacific Northwest is a good example of this kind of area. The drawback is that the steel can shift over time, creating gaps and problems.

4.      Concrete – Poured concrete when set up with proper drainage works well for many commercial applications but can get expensive for home use. It also is prone to unsightly mold and mildew, making it an unattractive alternative for anyone is a wet rainy climate. But for places like the Southwest where moisture is not as much of a problem, this could be a great material for a retaining wall.

5.      Cemented Stone – This is the classic stone fence we always envision. Flat stones are laid in alternating layers with cement and the top is capped off with a layer of smooth cement with a a bull-nose finished edge. This can be really strong and is great in areas that don’t have huge swings in temperature as frosts versus high temps can cause the cement to crack. Another disadvantage is that this is very labor intensive. If you feel up to doing this yourself it can be very rewarding because the concept is simple, but if paying a contractor be prepared for lots of labor costs.

6.      Interlocking Cement Blocks – All of the types above are great for the smaller decorative retaining walls, but if you have a large area to cover, the cement blocks are ideal. They are really quite easy to do, even for a beginner. They lock in place, are easy to obtain, and go up quickly.

Basics are Important

All of these materials still need to be handled in the same basic manner. When preparing, you need to be sure you have created good drainage by adding a layer of gravel at the bottom, as well as a 4” drainage pipe before you begin laying any retaining wall material.

The bottom line is that many homeowners find that smaller retaining walls can be planned and built over the course of a weekend or two. If you need a larger area or have special considerations, always check with a local contractor first. Sometimes having them draw up plans is all you need; sometimes you may look at the amount of work needed and decide it is easier to earn the cost of someone else doing it than doing it yourself. Whatever your choices, there are plenty of options for the material to build a retaining wall that will last you at least 20 years or more.

 Although there are many types of material that you can build a retaining wall from, timber is one material that is always beautiful, plentiful and easy to handle. So building a timber retaining wall is probably one of the easiest of the various kinds of retaining walls to build.

When choosing your lumber for your timber retaining wall, make sure that it is pressure treated lumber and is at least 5×6 to ensure it is strong enough to retain the weight of the earth it will be holding.

Here are the major steps for building your timber retaining wall:

Creating the Space – You will need to create a base that you will build your timber retaining wall into by digging a trench about 2 to 3 feet from the hillside you will be retaining, about 12 inches deep. Make sure it is level and add six inches of gravel subbase.

Constructing the Wall – Once you have leveled your first timber to ensure it is even, add your second row. Make sure that the ends of each row are not aligned and that each row is about ½” set back from the one below it. You should use either galvanized spikes or reinforcement bars to anchor the ends of each row of the timber retaining wall to the row beneath it and every three feet along the wall. Install a deadman (a t-shaped horizontal anchor that holds the wall to the soil) every four to eight feet, depending on the length of your wall at about every third row in your wall.

Completing the Wall – Once you have built your timber retaining wall (no more than three feet high) then you will need to backfill the space behind the wall. You begin by putting four to six inches of gravel for drainage (very vital). Add a six inch perforated drainpipe that will drain the excess water to an area at least six inches from the wall. Add more gravel on top of that and continue to add more gravel as each level of the wall is built. When you have completed your wall, you should have a six inch space behind your wall. Fold landscape fabric over the gravel and fill with soil for the last six inches until level with your top of the wall.

After all of this, just add whatever groundcover or flowers you would like to the top and enjoy your efforts. Oh- and don’t forget to boast to your neighbors how you made this beautiful timber retaining wall yourself!

A landscape retaining wall is more than just practical, it can be a very beautiful way to add dimension to a simple front yard or garden or to organize a backyard into both adult lounge areas and children’s play areas. And it is one of the few landscaping projects that can be done in a weekend and have a huge impact on the use of your yard.

There are a variety of materials you can use when building a landscape retaining wall for your back yard or garden. You can use traditional red brick or river stone or slab stone. Often, if you have stone or brick for trim on your home you can even use that same material for a landscape retaining wall, tieing in your garden and house visually. You can also build a landscape retaining wall from brick or stone that isn’t even real brick or stone. There are some really beautiful stone walls out there that were made using molds and concrete that create the look of an old stone wall in a garden without the work of dealing with heavy stones.

Another popular material is wood or even old railroad ties. Although these have to be replaced more often than a stone wall, they have a very different look that might suit your garden better than brick or stone. There are a variety of ways to approach this and many places to get this kind of material, often at a discount. Used railroad ties are often advertised on EBay or similar sites. You are only limited by your imagination – so here are a some books and videos to give you some great ideas on what kind of landscape retaining wall you want to build.

Finally, to complete a softer more landscaped effect for your retaining wall, you might consider what plants you will use once you have built your wall. Because the slope behind the wall will contribute plenty of moisture, growing plants along the tip edge of the wall will also help control erosion, a major reason for creating the wall in the first place. Low-growing plants or ones that tend to creep will be a good choice for your initial plants. Several good choices for this might be: Trumpet Vine, Morning Glory, Moon Flower (the last two are particularly good together) or Nasturtium. For a more “English Garden” look, try Creeping Flox and Vica or Periwinkles.

No matter what you are looking to do or what material you use, a landscape retaining wall is something that will add beauty and value to your home and yard for years to come.

In the last twenty years, a new kind of retaining wall has been gaining popularity with homeowners, particularly the Do-It-Yourself folks. Up until now, if you wanted to build a retaining wall you were limited to the labor intensive materials of brick, stone or rock. Timbers, particularly railroad ties were easier to install but tend to only last about fifteen years before the rot requires replacement. But with the development of concrete retaining wall technology, a quicker easier method has arrived for building retaining walls.

Poured Concrete

Poured concrete retainer walls are the strongest of the two types of concrete retaining wall. They are also very versatile and can look quite spectacular when using various molds to create the look of stone walls without the hassle or cost of real stone. All you need to do is set the forms, create whatever texture you want by installing liners in the forms, and then pouring either colored or plain concrete into the forms. After it has set, you just strip the forms and then stain the concrete to complete it’s transformation from ordinary poured concrete to stunning looking stone or rock. You can also use many kinds of cast-in-place form liners to do a variety of very creative looks.

Concrete Blocks

Concrete blocks are used in another kind of concrete retaining wall. These types of wall use lips, gravity and filled cores to connect rows and increase strength. The blocks can also come in a variety of finishes and textures to suit just about any landscape. When building a concrete retaining wall from concrete blocks, you should use all the rules mentioned in the landing page of this site regarding safety and engineering concerns.

Whichever type of concrete retaining wall you choose to build; be sure to plan carefully and allow plenty of time to complete the project so you don’t rush yourself. A well built concrete retaining wall will last you a lifetime and both enhance and protect the home it surrounds for years to come.

Although a brick retaining wall is probably the one most pleasing to the eye, it is also one that involves a lot of work, especially in regards to preparation. None the less, when it comes to the end result, I think you will agree that it is worth the effort. There is just something so solid and comforting about the look ar a brick retaining wall, that it adds a whole new dimension to the area where you decide to add it.

There are two very important elements you need to be aware of it you are planning to build your own retaining wall for the first time. Let’s take a look at them one at a time:

 ONE – Because a retaining wall works very much like a dam, holding back the soil you have behind it, most areas have a height limit of three feet (two feet in some areas) subject to permit. There is a good reason for this – the wall must hold that weight load (and shock load if you area is subject to earthquakes) so check if you are not sure. Local hardware stores are often a good source for this kind of information.

TWO – Drainage considerations are very important when planning out your retaining wall. If you already have drainage problems in the area where you plan to put a retaining wall, you could run into major problems. You should consult with a local contractor if this is a problem before you begin planning. Also- be sure that your drainage from the retaining wall does not run towards your house.

There are several steps to building a brick retaining wall. You begin by digging down and building a foundation in the ground that will sit below your brick wall. This foundation is made of concrete or mortar and will sit directly in the ground. When building your wall using the overlapping bricks and mortar, it is important to remember to add in weep holes. These are small sections of pipe inserted into the wall every few feet to ensure drainage. You may also want to consider planning for a gravel drainage system that works with the weep holes to move moisture away from the brick retaining wall, especially during storms. Because the mortar between the bricks is susceptible to cracking, care needs to be taken to ensure that the bricks are properly grouted and mortared at the time of construction.

If this looks like more work than you were prepared for, you can build an interlocking brick retaining wall that does not need mortar or complicated foundations. These mortarless brick systems have a cavity behind and a small lip in front that hooks each row together. They work on the principle of using the cavity behind the brick (that is filled with earth as you complete each section) to build pressure that pushes the brick forward straightening the joints between the lips and the blocks beneath. This type of interlocking system will give you a finished product that looks totally professional and is within the reach of the weekend project do-it-yourselfer.

Whichever way you decide to go, the end result will be a brick retaining wall that is both practical and beautiful for many years to come.