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Does Your Yard Need a Retaining Wall?

B & W Concrete Helps You Make That Decision

 

A retaining wall can take your landscaping from ho-hum to an eye-catching next level. However, the reason for building a retaining wall is for more than enhancing the beauty of your yard. You may actually need one for structural purposes. 

Here are some reasons your yard may need one.

Flat Land Is Not Needed To Grow Plants

If your house sits on any type of slope or multi-level land, having a garden isn’t impossible. By putting a retaining wall in, you will create flat land that will allow plants to grow instead of being uprooted due to gravity.

Water Drainage Issues

Standing water is a big issue in some yards. If standing water is pooling in your garden, roots can drown, leaving them rotted and waterlogged. Worse yet, who wants a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other disease-spreading insects?

Retaining walls have built-in water drainage systems that will redirect water towards storm drains or other outlets. Water drainage systems are a critical part of retaining walls because they are made of nonporous material that makes it impossible for water to pass through.

Erosion is a Concern

Erosion is expected on land that’s not firmly packed because the soil doesn't have a lot of roots holding it together. But it’s annoying having to keep replanting a garden because of mud and water eroding down onto them. More importantly, you want to maintain the structural integrity of the soil your home is built on.

A retaining wall helps channel water down to places to prevent erosion. 

Retaining Walls Can Separate Your Backyard

A retaining wall is a great solution to divide the space. For example, it can separate the kids' play area from where your adult guests sit. The same with your plants. Keep them separated so they can grow.

Foundation of Your House is a Concern

Erosion can wreak havoc on your home’s foundation. Erosion affects both the land on top and the surface deep below. When the soil deep below erodes, it leaves large gaps that can’t support anything. If the foundation of your house sits next to or on top of one of these gaps, its stability can become compromised.

Water can pool in the gaps which can then seep into your foundation and crack it. That’s a costly repair but very necessary as it can affect the safety of your home. By redirecting water and keeping soil contained, a retaining wall can stop this erosion and give your home the extra support it needs.

If you need help to create a retaining wall in your yard, you’re looking in the right place. Visit B&W Concrete today.