Retaining walls play an important role in preventing erosion and landslides associated with that erosion. Do you need a retaining wall at your property? How can you tell?
Here are a few examples of situations in which it is important to have a retaining wall in place:
- Your home is on uneven land: A property that has a lot of slopes or dips may require retaining walls to allow you to level off the land into terraces, which will significantly enhance its usability. If you are at the top of a hill, this will provide you with more flat, usable land that you can turn into a garden, playground, patio area or swimming pool.
- You have property that sits either on or at the bottom of a hill: Having a retaining wall is most important if you sit at the bottom of a hill or partially downhill. These types of properties are much more prone to suffering from the effects of flooding and soil erosion. This means if you do not have a retaining wall, it is possible you could have water, mud and soil flow into your property and cause some significant damage, such as damage to the foundation and compromised structural integrity. In this way, retaining walls ensure the usability and safety of your land and property.
- You have specific gardening goals: Gardening can be challenging on uneven properties, so if you want to create a tiered garden to transform your property, you will need retaining walls to make that happen. You can get as fancy with your retaining walls as you want, and a landscape designer will be able to draw up some custom ideas that will complement your existing architecture and landscaping.
- You know you’re in an area prone to flooding: A retaining wall can prevent water from flowing into your yard. They will feature a portion that has drainage stone behind them, preventing water from building up and allowing it to gradually flow through the wall. This results in fewer mud pools and puddles forming on our property and prevents you from creating a dam behind the retaining wall that could cause flooding surrounding your property.
- You want to improve your property’s aesthetics: If you simply are looking for aesthetic upgrades, retaining walls might be a good option for you regardless of your need to protect against erosion or create more level areas. When designed well, retaining walls can be very attractive elements of your landscaping and create some beautiful gardening opportunities. This, in turn, can increase your property value.
These are just a few examples of some of the circumstances in which it makes a lot of sense for you to look into installing retaining walls on your property. So, if you’re wondering, “Do I need a retaining wall for my house?” we encourage you to get in touch with the experts at Grade-1 Underground today. We will be able to provide you with some suggestions to consider for your property.