Options for Building a Retaining Wall

If you have a problem with drainage, or you would like to keep a hill where it belongs, a retaining wall is the perfect solution. There are many different options and materials that you can use when you need to build a retaining wall. Let’s look at some of the most popular solutions that are currently available.

Rock Wall –

This is probably the most common solution when you need to build a retaining wall quickly. This method is inexpensive and installation can usually be done on your own, even if you don’t have much experience. You can use regular rocks, bricks or any combination there of to build this type of wall. If you are looking for an organic solution for a retaining wall, this is a very good choice and one that will hold up for many years to come.

The main downside with a rock retaining wall is that it will tend to crumble if it is not maintained or if the force of the earth behind it is too strong. However, with care and by selecting the right kind of rocks, you can ensure that your rock wall will be able to withstand the test of time.

Metal Wall –

This is a solution that is commonly used if there is a great deal of earth that you need to keep from eroding. Commercial buildings and sites will typically use this type of wall simply because it is among the cheapest to install and maintenance is minimal. It can be used for homes as well, particularly when the situation calls for a very strong measure.

Metal walls should be made of weather resistant metal that will not corrode or discolor over time. Otherwise, the effect may be less than welcoming and may devalue your property, or at the very least, reduce the overall curb appeal.

Wood Wall –

This option works well for small areas that need to be retained. However, there is an issue with warping, especially in areas that get a lot of snow or rainfall. For those looking for a quick and easy solution, this is one that fits the bill. Most people that need to create a retaining wall on their own will use wood and with good results.

PVC Wall –

This is a newer material that is being used with great success by many contractors. It doesn’t have the same issues as wood, stone or metal and can be very durable. However, this type of material is not well suited for areas that are very cold, since PVC can crack on impact.

Before you build your retaining wall, it’s a great idea to get at least a consultation from a professional contractor to see what options will work best for you. This will save you time and money, especially if you find out that a specific type of retaining wall is not suited for your area. Most contractors will offer a free consultation or at least a low cost one that you can take advantage of.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-11-17 05:22:19. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • curbHow to Get a Higher Appraisal For Your Home If you’re trying to sell your home in today’s market, you may be faced with a lowball appraisal that could threaten a loan. Even the nicest houses are being downgraded, and if your area has had a lot of foreclosures, getting a good appraisal may be next to impossible. However,......
  • mouse-trapPre-Winter Pest Prevention As the winter months get closer, this usually means having a whole host of little non-paying tenants moving into your homes. Whether it’s mice, box elder bugs, crickets or any other type of critter, these unwanted guests can pose much more than a nuisance. In the case of mice, they......
  • houseIs Wreckovating Worth It? If you are considering changing your home, it is important to decide if “wreck-o-vating” or the process of completely tearing apart a room and redoing it entirely is worth the effort. There are many opponents to wreckovating, but in some cases, this style of renovating may be necessary. Here is......
  • concrete5 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring A Contractor There are times when even the best of us may not have the qualifications needed to fix something around the house. Every year, there are thousands of disaster stories where homeowners thought they could do the job on their own, only to end up causing costly damage to their property.......
  • doorHow to Fix an Interior Door Interior doors are usually not made of the best materials, and even the nicest homes may have simple hollow core doors. Since these doors are in high use areas, they can frequently have issues, such as hinge wear, and even in many cases, holes where something fell against it. If......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • golfHow to Tackle a Course You’ve Never Played Walking on to a course you have never played can be a little intimidating, especially if you are alone. You may not feel like chatting up the other players to get some tips and some course’s score cards leave a lot to be desired. However, there are some great ways......
  • Ganz Cottage Collectibles Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Houses, Cottages Out of all of the available decorative arts collectibles, Ganz Cottage collectibles rank near the top. They offer a huge variety of different types of collectibles and no matter what your interests are, chances are they will have something that will be perfect......
  • rosewoodBuying Acoustic Guitars If you are in the market to buy a brand new acoustic guitar, the one of the biggest factors that you should take into consideration during the decision making process is the tonewood. The individuals that make guitars believe that the wood that is chosen for the top of the......
  • APOCALYPSE38 random thoughts on building prosperity If you were going to sit down and write a list about building prosperity, what would be on your list? Here are 38 random lessons I’ve learned about building prosperity. Not one is set in stone, and some of them are my own goals. Almost all of them, though,......
  • guitarGuitar Buying Advice Walk into any music store and you are bound to find an entire wall covered in guitars; including electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars and plenty of other specialty guitars as well. Purchasing your first guitar is not nearly as easy as choosing the most attractively designed instrument that you......
Online Stores If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

Create, Handy Man, Maintain, Project, Walls



Tags:

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


1 comment so far ↓
#1 Ken on 11.18.08 at 6:40 am

Another option is segmental walls. These are concrete units made to look like natural stone. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and they work! I found good information about these walls on this site: http://www.versa-lok.com/homeowner.htm

Leave a Comment