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.
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.
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.
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.