When it comes to our property, especially our houses, many of us prioritize the building itself, such as the foundation, the walls, the roof, and other areas that are integral for our home to be safe and secure to live in. Because of this, the interior of our property takes up most of our focus and budget, and many of us leave the exterior, such as the landscaping, for the last part of our renovation process.
Installing a retaining wall, especially in a residential property, can be considered a luxury, and is not really included in many homeowners’ budgets. Because retaining walls are mostly seen as a design, most of us do not know about the advantages that come with having one constructed on our property. However, a retaining wall is more than a structure used for making a statement in your landscape. It can help combat soil erosion, be used as a boundary, and can even increase the value of your house.
What are the reasons why you will need a retaining wall?
To determine whether you need a retaining wall in your property, take a look at the following situations and see whether they would apply to you.
Situation Number One: There are erosion issues with the soil on your property
One of the main functions of a retaining wall is to “retain” the soil in a certain area of your property. If you are having some issues with your soil and have noticed that the ground is being washed out as months and years pass, this can cause problems with your home’s foundation.
How a retaining wall will help: By building a retaining wall, you can keep the soil on your property and prevent it from getting displaced to other areas. As long as the retaining wall that will be built is done properly, the material that is used will be compatible, and there is proper drainage around the wall, this can solve your problem.
Situation Number Two: The soil in your property is sloped and uneven
Another reason why it would be best to have a retaining wall is if the ground on your property is uneven and sloped. Some areas vary according to many factors such as their size and the surface of the land itself. When the soil around your home is uneven, it can stop you from building things that cannot be done when the area is not flat.
How a retaining wall will help: By building a retaining wall, it will be easier for your contractor to build your asphalt road, garden, or any other project that is currently not possible to do due to the uneven soil. There are various ways to build a retaining wall, and if your contractor knows how to utilize the different kinds of wall, an uneven ground will not be an issue anymore.
Situation Number Three: Your house is located under a sloped ground
When your house is situated under a sloped and uneven ground, this can be extremely dangerous for you and your family, especially when the slope is very steep. This is because there is a high chance that the soil will go down and drop in your property during heavy rains, storms, and earthquakes that can cause a landslide.
How a retaining wall will help: By building a retaining wall, your property will be more safe and secure, as the risk of a landslide to happen will be lowered. The constructed retaining wall will help in keeping the soil planted firmly in its place, and when there is a natural disaster, you can rest assured that there will be no unfortunate event to happen caused by the sloped ground.
It is recommended to build a retaining wall at least 2 meters away from your house so that when it fails, it will not immediately fall on your property. Although the chance for this to happen is minimal, you can never be too safe. Positioning the interior wall this way can also make it easier for you and your contractor to check the wall regularly and to have it maintained every now and then for it to remain durable and strong.
Situation Number Four: You want to maximize the space in your area
The uneven ground around your property can make it difficult for you to do your projects, and can also be the main reason why some parts of your property are empty. We know how frustrating it is to not be able to use the land around your home, especially when the soil itself is working against you and your plans.
How a retaining wall will help: By building a retaining wall, you can maximize the space by segmenting or dividing the parts of your area in ways that will work for you. For example, your contractor may recommend building a retaining wall in the corner of your property, which frees the other areas to be used for other projects such as a garden and even a pool. This can be done by evening out some parts and placing the excess soil in the part where you will have the retaining wall built.
Situation Number Five: You want to make your landscape more appealing
As mentioned earlier, retaining walls can be effectively used as a statement piece for your landscape. This method is usually recommended by designers and architects as retaining walls can always catch the attention of visitors and passersby.
How a retaining wall will help: There are many different materials that can be used in building and constructing a retaining wall. When the main reason for building one is for aesthetic purposes, you can choose from a wall that is made of stone, brick, concrete, and many more, that will surely fit the theme that you are going for.
