Designing & Building Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are the supporting structures of your landscaping; these specially engineered features help support slopes on your property, and they prevent soil erosion too. These walls have to be built with care and attention to detail. In most instances, they are part of a larger landscaping project; however there are times when they could be built as a standalone project too.

Torres Maintenance has handled a large number of retaining wall installation projects for customers across Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Carson City.  Different materials and designs are used in the construction of retaining walls, such as:

Retaining Wall Blocks

These are essentially CMUs that are like large bricks/blocks. They are an extremely cost-effective retaining wall construction solution and the installation is quick. Since these are concrete masonry blocks, they are very strong and durable and with the right type of maintenance, can last for decades. If you feel that the concrete surface looks too drab, you can choose to get it clad with stone veneer too.  You will find that many companies also make innovative retaining wall systems that can be structured in different ways to create uniqueness in the landscape design.

Concrete Blocks

Many landscapers prefer to use these in their retaining wall projects. Since they are modular in form, the wall installation is quick and this also reduces the overall cost of the structure. Some property owners feel that concrete has a very industrial appearance and it’s possible to use any type of brick or natural stone veneer to spruce up the look of the wall. These concrete blocks are a very durable option for building retaining walls.

Building a Retaining Wall

Not every company has the ability to build retaining walls as they are meant to be built. These structures are engineered and custom-built for the space they are to be installed in. This also means they can be structured uniquely. Materials such as mortar, brick, concrete and CMUs may be used in the work and the focus is on building resilient and durable structures that add to the functionality of your landscaping.

Retaining Wall Design

While retaining walls are largely functional structures, there is no reason to rein in creativity while building them. In fact, the design of these walls can be as innovative as you want it to be. Many landscape designers incorporate planters into the retaining wall design, while others may create in-built seating within this structure. Sometimes, these walls may be built with stacked stone, while at others mortar may be used to keep the stone in place.

Block Wall

Block walls are becoming a very widely used material in today’s landscaping projects. These block walls are very strong and durable structures that are also easy to install. The concrete blocks could have an interlocking design which makes installation easy. Walls that have been built using these blocks can last for decades, with the right kind of maintenance.

While it’s important to choose the best materials for the work, it’s even more important that you hire experienced landscapers like Torres Maintenance, for the project.

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