When it comes to choosing their next
home remodeling project, many homeowners opt to look outside to the potential
that lay untapped in their yards. Though retaining walls may seem like a project that’s not quite related to home
renovation, they are actually very important to the overall value and
structural stability of many of the homes they surround, and a remodeling
option that can have positive returns. Retaining walls are constructed to hold
soil back and can be made of concrete, interlocking blocks of stone, treated
wood, or other materials. It is recommended that if your retaining wall will be
larger than three feet tall, that you consult a general contractor or engineer as the structure is meant to hold heavy loads
of saturated soil and also impacts how water runoff interacts with the
landscape.
As flat, level residential lots become
less available, more homes are being built on sloping ground, or else were
deliberately built there for the views such inclines afford, such as homes
built on mountainsides. In these situations, homeowners can benefit from a
retaining wall, or system of retaining walls, to protect their house and
property from the effects of gravity and the weather. These homes tend to suffer from soil
erosion, where the dirt slips
and tumbles downhill, often aided by the natural flow of water runoff, and
sometimes bringing the now unmoored plants and trees with it. Not only does
soil erosion undermine the flora of a home’s landscape, but it also comprises
the foundation of the home. As the soil around and underneath the foundation
gives way, the foundation can begin to slump and crack. Some homes may even
experience the give of soil erosion on one side of the foundation, and the
pressurizing effect of eroded and settled soil from further uphill on the other
side of the foundation. Retaining walls can stop soil from sliding away from
the house, help manage where water run-off is directed, and catch and keep soil
and debris that have eroded from further up the slope, thus helping to maintain
the integrity of the home’s foundation.
Aesthetic Benefits
In addition to the structural benefits
of retaining walls, there are several aesthetic benefits that homeowners can
enjoy. Retaining walls can improve a home’s curb appeal and transform an
outdoor space. The effect of the lovely terraces that retaining walls create is
that of a landscape with dynamic dimensions, filled with tiered gardens,
staired pathways, and layered, even surfaces perfect for outdoor recreation,
lounging, or dining spaces. Some homeowners will even embed an outdoor
fireplace or stunning lighting fixtures into their
retaining wall to further enhance this appealing outdoor feature.
Mares & Dow
Construction has been serving the Bay Area since 1983. Before you take on your next home
remodeling project, such as adding a retaining wall, contact
our experience general contractors today!
