Retaining walls are a great way to add style, structure, and function to a home’s outdoor space. They can also be used to help create usable space or provide support for plants and landscaping. Building a retaining wall can seem intimidating, but with the right materials and some basic knowledge, it’s a project that is well within the scope of most homeowners.
Materials Needed:
The first step in building a retaining wall is gathering all of the necessary materials.
Retaining walls typically require pressure-treated lumber or concrete blocks, gravel and geotextile fabric. Pressure-treated lumber is more cost effective than concrete blocks but may not last as long. Gravel helps to fill any gaps between the blocks or lumber while providing drainage, while geotextile fabric acts as a moisture barrier between the soil and gravel.
Preparation:
Once the materials have been gathered, preparation is key before beginning construction on the wall. First, soil should be excavated from behind where the wall will be built in order to create a flat surface for construction. After this is done, geotextile fabric should be laid on top of the soil before it is backfilled with gravel.
Building The Wall:
Once all of the preparation is complete, it’s time to start building the wall itself. For walls made out of pressure treated lumber, each piece should be cut to length and then secured together using screws or nails. For walls made out of concrete blocks, these should be laid in place one at a time and then secured together with mortar or concrete mix.
Finishing Touches:
Once the wall has been built, there are some finishing touches that can be added in order to give it more character and stability. One way to do this is by adding capping stones on top of each row of blocks or lumber in order to give it a finished look. Additionally, drainage pipes can also be installed on either side of the wall in order to help control water runoff.
Conclusion:
Building a retaining wall for home design can seem like an intimidating task but with some basic knowledge and preparation beforehand it can become an easy project for any homeowner. With some careful planning and selection of materials such as pressure-treated lumber or concrete blocks, gravel for drainage purposes and geotextile fabric for moisture barriers – you will have no problem creating an attractive yet functional retaining wall.