Retaining walls are a landscaping necessity for many homes in California’s East Bay – because basically we all live on a big hill. Although it can make landscaping more complicated, they keep our yards and gardens from crumbling into the street, driveways, and sidewalks…and, in some cases, the hillside itself from easing on down the road!
If done well, retaining walls really can enhance your yard and gardens, and can have the ability to give a truly stunning and dramatic look to your home. They provide the opportunity for creative garden possibilities – and can save valuable water for your plants (important with the ongoing drought and drying up planet thing)! For more on that, you can read my other blog post on drought resistant plants, including the best ones to use with retaining walls.
Below is an overview of the best materials used for constructing retaining walls made of stone, wood, concrete, steel, and brick.
Stone Retaining Walls
This option gives your house a timeless look considering tone walls have been used for thousands of years all over the world. This is definitely not a trend that will go out of style!
We have a bunch of terrific places that offer stone in the area, but if that’s not an option, or in your price range, there are a plethora of options like stone veneer. There are a few advantages to these “stone-tile-like” pieces; they are typically less expensive, can be applied over wood or concrete, and weigh a lot less!
Wood Retaining Walls
Short timber walls are both cost effective and a project most homeowners can do on their own.
Railroad ties are also a tasteful and fun way of using wood for retaining walls – you’ll find them used frequently in these hills as well, as trains used to run throughout the area.
If you really like the look of these walls, keep in mind there are strict codes on how these can be used – they cannot be tall (usually above 3’ or 4’), or on a property line.
Also, they are not as strong as the other choices and termites like them a lot!
Concrete Retaining Walls
Depending on the style, concrete retaining walls can either be hideous or gorgeous. Luckily today there are more options than drab grey rectangle blocks – or more commonly known as “cinder blocks” – yuck!
Since concrete is incredibly strong, this is becoming an increasingly popular option now that there are ways to make it look aesthetically pleasing! When used well, cement can help transform a house (especially contemporary style homes), to Dwell Magazine style status.
Steel Retaining Walls
Typically steel is used “behind the scenes” in retaining walls, but there are some creative ways of using it alone. Steel walls typically give a modern feel to the home, but sometimes they can be combined with a more traditional house for an eclectic, charming look like in this bungalow below.
Usually behind stone or veneer, this is an atypical but creative use of steal for a retaining wall:
Brick Retaining Walls
This material probably conjures up images of historic East Coast homes, or sweet English country style gardens. If you have an affinity for brick (like some of my East Coast transplants), there are options to make brick retaining walls look good here as well! For instance, lighter tone Roman brick goes well with Mediterranean style homes and irregular clinker style brick works well with Craftsman bungalows.
Note of caution about DIY retaining wall projects:
- While many of us like to fancy ourselves do-it-yourselfers, constructing a wall incorrectly can turn into a costly disaster. Not only do the walls need to withstand the weight of the soil behind them, but must be designed with the water pressure in mind as well. Incorrectly installed drainage systems are the number one cause of retaining wall “failure.”
- Remember, a failure obviously means the loss of money and time you spent to build the walls, but also the potential for flooding or other more serious and costly damages to you (or your neighbor’s) house. On top of that, walls over 3 feet tall need to comply with city codes – like earthquake design criteria.
- For these reasons alone (that and in an effort to save your poor aching back!), I strongly suggest consulting with a landscaping professional and/or structural engineer. Let me know what you have in mind and I’m happy to put you in contact with someone who will ultimately make your life a lot easier!
Why Listen To Professionals?
Every contractor or landscape architect will have their own preferences for the kind of wall they specify for your project. They know what brands of block are locally available, which will guide them in presenting your most cost-effective options. There are many techniques for achieving a particular look and feel of a wall. Local climate and soils also have a big impact, as will unique issues such as earthquake and local building codes. These professionals know the challenges of creating retaining walls, particularly if structural engineering is required. Trust their choices because most have learned over time exactly what materials and construction detailing provides you with the most attractive and functional retaining wall.
– LandscapingNetwork.com
If you want to learn every more about retaining walls, this website is the best, most comprehensive resource I’ve found.