A retaining wall can be useful as it usually creates a beautiful landscape that is appealing and has depth. Remember that a retaining wall can provide an artificial slope in your garden or backyard. And, a retaining wall can be utilized for both aesthetic and practical purposes.
It can be used to protect paths, dug-out house pads, or driveways or can even have visually-pleasing separation for the garden beds. This post explains what to look out for before building a garden retaining wall.
Preparing for construction
Constructing a retaining wall can be a tedious and expensive project, though it usually depends on the environment. This is because you need to excavate the area before building a retaining wall.
Also, depending on the size of the project, this can be an activity that needs a shovel, elbow grease, and an excavator to do the job. In the case of an excavator, you can figure out how the 2-tonne excavator can get to the project site and the damage that it can cause along the way.
The building materials
In most cases, you can have an option of a couple of materials when you decide to build a retaining wall. There are usually advantages and disadvantages of each material, though at the end of the day it can come down to balancing the longevity of materials and your budget. It’s a good idea to stretch your budget so that you can construct a durable retaining wall. Because the project can be disruptive, it’s a good idea to make sure that the retaining wall lasts longer.
You can choose to use Larvikitt, concrete, and treated pine when building a retaining wall, or even a more durable option such as a 40MPA concrete sleeper. The good thing is that treated pine sleepers are usually affordable and can last between ten and fifteen years if you install and maintain them properly. Concrete sleepers can cost more than pine sleepers, but they tend to last at least twice as long. They can hold well for up to 40 years if you install and maintain them properly.
The other options you can find on the market include brick, stone, and block. However, you may have to waterproof these materials, making them an expensive option. If you are looking for design rather than function and have a big budget, then this can be the best option.
Drainage
One of the most common causes of retaining wall failures is inadequate drainage. Many good retaining wall contractors usually understand the importance of building drainage, but it can also benefit homeowners to know why and how drainage works.
A retaining wall is designed to hold some amount of soil. Therefore, if you don’t install drainage behind a retaining wall, then rain or even water from your hose can build up to add extra pressure to the retaining wall. This wall is designed and constructed to withstand water pressure from the soil that is behind it. But if more pressure is applied to the wall, there are good chances that it can lean or bulge.