A retaining wall can be a valuable addition to your Northern VA property. It serves essential functional purposes, holding back soil erosion, and can also be an aesthetic addition that enhances your home's appeal.
In this article, we’ll share everything you ought to know about landscape retaining walls so that you can make the best choices for your property.
We’ll give you the rundown on critical details and also answer some of the most commonly asked questions.
If you found this article because you’re in search of retaining wall ideas, then you probably already know what a retaining wall is (or at least have a basic concept). But we want to start by defining exactly what a retaining wall means.
A true retaining wall is added to a property for structural support and to prevent erosion. It’s often a necessary addition if a property has any sort of slope and hardscaping (like a patio) is being added.
While a retaining wall can also serve a dual purpose and add seating, it is not necessarily the same thing as what some might call a “seating wall.” A seating wall can be added around a patio to incorporate additional places to sit but it’s not necessarily holding back soil or serving structural purposes.
Yes, you should hire a professional landscape contractor for the design and construction of landscape retaining walls. Building a retaining wall is significantly more complicated than people realize, and its failure can have catastrophic consequences in many ways.
Not only is retaining wall failure expensive, but it can also be dangerous. A retaining wall is designed to hold back soil erosion, often in sloped areas. When a retaining wall fails, it can lead to erosion, landslides, and damage.
Nearby structures or property can get damaged, and you can risk runoff around your home’s foundation, depending on the location. People can also be inadvertently injured if they are near the wall when it fails.
Some of the signs that a retaining wall was poorly built include:
There can be a night-and-day difference between DIY vs. professional retaining walls. As we mentioned, people often underestimate the complexity of building landscape retaining walls.
Dealing with poor soil or a slope can make retaining wall construction even more complex. And the more of a slope you’re dealing with, the more carefully engineered your retaining wall must be to avoid failure.
Some of the common mistakes that people make when building a retaining wall include inadequate base prep, improper backfill, poor soil management, and failure to address drainage. This can lead to problems like cracks, leaning, water pressure, bulging, or, in extreme cases, collapse.
Another consideration that can make retaining wall construction complicated is the retaining wall’s height. One thing that many people overlook when considering a retaining wall project is that there may be guidelines to adhere to.
Homeowners want a 4- or 5-foot wall, but they often don’t realize that there are added expenses and red tape as it gets taller. That’s because different localities have different requirements regarding height.
While you’d like to assume that all “pros” can handle retaining wall construction, this is a project that can even get complicated for some landscapers. Unfortunately, some landscaping companies have built faulty retaining walls due to inexperience or cutting corners during construction. We have seen failed retaining walls from both DIY projects and supposed professional ones.
You want to make sure that you choose a landscape construction company that has extensive experience with building retaining walls.
At Kingstowne, we have built hundreds of retaining walls over the years. That means we not only have numerous ideas for making retaining walls more aesthetically appealing and unique for your property, but we also know how to build them correctly, so you can feel confident that your wall won’t begin to structurally fail over time.
There are various types of retaining walls, depending on what you’re looking for in terms of aesthetics as well as your property needs. There can be pretty significant variation in cost, depending on what type of material you choose.
Let’s talk about your options.
A timber (or wood) retaining wall is the least expensive option for a retaining wall material. While it may not be the most attractive option, it will serve the functional purpose you need.
Homeowners often opt for timber if the wall is in an area of their property that’s not in prime view. If it’s a wall that will hardly ever be seen, perhaps on the side of the property, then you may not care about how it looks so much as it’s stopping erosion.
The downside to timber is that it’s a material that will eventually deteriorate and need to be replaced. If you’re not staying in your home for more than 5 to 10 years or you’re on a tight budget, you may be able to overlook this downside.
This “mid-range option” is easily the most popular choice for retaining walls. Segmental Retaining Wall Blocks (SRW's) are a man-made material that falls in the middle range in terms of cost, more than timber but less than natural stone.
Segmental blocks come in a variety of colors and textures, giving you a lot of options for customization. You can create a beautiful wall using segmental blocks, which will also meet your functional needs. Unlike timber, segmental blocks will not deteriorate and will stand the test of time.
Natural stone is the most expensive of the retaining wall material choices, but it’s also arguably the most aesthetically appealing option.
Natural stone is gorgeous and one-of-a-kind. Natural stone will add value to your home. Even so, its cost makes it prohibitive for some budgets.
Aside from considering retaining wall materials, there are some other ideas you might want to think about for your retaining wall design. You don’t have to be limited to a plain and boring wall. There are various ways to make your retaining wall more appealing and more interesting.
Here are just a few retaining wall ideas:
Doubling as a seating area: As we mentioned, a landscape retaining wall can do double-duty and also offer an added spot for seating. If you have a small space, you might not have a lot of extra room for furniture. But the retaining wall itself, especially if it’s around or near a patio, can become a place to sit.
Incorporate lighting: Another retaining wall idea is to incorporate landscape lighting near, around, or even in your wall. Wall lighting can make your retaining wall more aesthetically appealing while also making your space more usable.
Add landscaping: Since a retaining wall can help level an area and prevent erosion, it can open up possibilities for landscaping that weren’t previously available. You might be able to add attractive plant material to enhance the area's beauty.
Think about steps or railings: Since a retaining wall helps address a slope, you might also be thinking about ways to make this portion of your property more navigable. Consider steps or railings alongside your retaining wall if you plan to use the area.
Every retaining wall project is unique, but understanding the factors that impact retaining wall cost is crucial.
Retaining wall costs vary drastically depending upon numerous factors such as:
A retaining wall's cost can range from a few thousand dollars for a small wooden wall to tens of thousands for a large stone wall or one that requires extensive engineering and drainage.
It’s important to talk to a landscape contractor about your budget constraints and expectations when planning a retaining wall design. The material used is a factor within your control.
As you can see, there are compelling reasons to hire a professional for your retaining wall construction. But you also want to make sure that you choose the right pro.
It's important to recognize that not all retaining wall companies are created equal. What separates a good hardscaping company from a hack is a company that doesn’t cut corners and builds the wall the right way.
Unfortunately, it’s quite difficult to identify if a company has cut corners. The best way to know that a company won’t build your wall correctly is if they offer a very low price for the work. Unscrupulous contractors might fail to excavate your foundation properly or fail to install drainage, and this can shave as much of a third off the cost of a project. But it will also set your retaining wall up for failure.
When water behind the wall can’t properly drain, it builds pressure behind the retaining wall. This will eventually cause it to lean. On top of that, if your foundation is weak or it lacks footing, it’s not going to be able to sustain that lean and will eventually fall.
At the very least, you’re out your investment in the wall and have to start over from scratch (using a reputable company this time). At the most, the falling wall could injure someone on your property, which is devastating in and of itself. But it also sets you up for a serious liability. Since it’s your property, you’ll be liable if someone gets hurt.
For these reasons, it’s important that you choose a company that you feel is going to build your wall properly from the get-go. Even if that means paying a little bit more, it will be worth the investment in a wall that will stand the test of time.
When built properly, your retaining wall should never lean or fall. This is important for aesthetics, too. A retaining wall isn’t going to add value or appeal to your property if it fails.
Look for companies that specifically have retaining wall experience. Make sure that they have retaining walls in their portfolio of projects. And don’t be afraid to ask questions! A landscaping company that has the experience and know-how should be able to put your concerns to rest.
With a project as important as this one—which is intended to make your yard more functional—you deserve that peace of mind that it’s going to be done right.
If you’re looking for some guidance on adding a retaining wall, request a consultation, get your customized plan, and relax knowing you’re in good hands.