Why Must You Have a Retaining Wall for Your Home?
Learn more about retaining walls and the benefits they can offer your home.
Retaining walls are structures that can help homeowners keep back soil, water, and other material behind them. These kinds of walls are mainly used for aesthetic reasons and can even promote homeowners with practical usages. Retaining walls offer clients significant functional benefits for landscaping design purposes. Residential retaining walls can serve purposes such as flower bed creation, outdoor seating areas, easy navigation of uneven or hilly areas, and so many more.
Some of the most crucial advantages are that retaining walls can help you prevent soil erosion, offer additional structural support, keep flooding under control, and even increase the value of your property. These walls can help you make your outdoor space much more welcoming and usable. It can upgrade your outdoor surroundings and add a touch of creativity to enhance your space.
The Installation Process of Retaining Walls
The installation process of a retaining wall is simple and has only a few basic construction steps. If you are going to be following a DIY video tutorial, ensure it has all of the crucial steps shown below:
- Setting Up a Plan and Layout
The first step in building a retaining wall is to plan your structure. Figure out the height and lot size of your project. This is usually executed by using stakes and strings. It is also important to contact your local authorities for a map showing underground utilities before you begin digging.
- Excavating the Trenches
To provide your retaining wall with extra strength and stability, you need to install the bottom row of blocks one inch below the ground for every eight inches of wall height. This is a tip you must keep in mind when excavating the trenches to prepare your base.
- Installing the Base Material
The base material for your retaining wall should never be rounded. The round shape of your base material can quickly sink under the ground under pressure and over time. It is advised to select crushed and angular stones or concrete for the base material of your retaining wall. An additional step in the process is to ensure that the material is compact enough for you to walk on. It is recommended to spread a layer of coarse sand to help the retaining wall settle easily.
- Installing the Retaining Wall Blocks
The next step in the process is to place the building blocks of your wall. The edges of the blocks must touch each other. The retaining wall blocks must be leveled correctly and at the perfect height to make for a sturdier wall.
- Backfilling the Wall
After installing the blocks for your wall, you should move on to backfilling the area. Crushed stone and crushed concrete are advised to be used in the process. The backfill will help you ensure the proper drainage of water.
- Capping the Wall
Capping the wall is an additional yet highly recommended step. You can use concrete to attach the cap to the top layer to stabilize your wall and ensure it lasts longer.
Call Metamorphosis Construction Today!
Do you need fantastic construction services for a retaining wall for your residential or commercial site? Call Metamorphosis Construction now to learn which retaining wall would suit your needs best.
