If you deal with rushing water during a rainstorm, water that sits around your Belmont and Brookline, MA, foundation, and puddles in the grass that you are trying to grow, a retaining wall can be the answer you need. The all-purpose retaining wall is the ultimate in form meets function.
Related: 3 RETAINING WALL IDEAS FOR A MORE ECO-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN CAMBRIDGE MA
What is a Retaining Wall?
A retaining wall might be something you think of in a shopping center landscape that looks okay but nothing that is eye-catching—just a necessary way to hold back the earth but when your landscaper forms a wall of stone and finishes with a flat top to cap off the wall, you will change your mind. The retaining wall certainly solves a water or dirt problem but it can also be swoon-worthy when meticulously designed.
With hand-selected stone in the perfect tone to bring out the best in your home’s exterior colors and architecture along with glass block, colorful tiles, or contrasting stone banding, a retaining wall can become the very thing that gives you more landscape space for features you can actually use as well as solve the problems that plague your property.
Types of Retaining Walls
Single Wall: A single retaining wall can be designed to hold back the earth to create more functional space at the back of your home. This can be precisely what you need to make room for a patio with a pergola or an outdoor kitchen. Because the wall is engineered to retain the weight of the earth and is designed for diverting water and proper drainage, you will not have to worry about rushing water wreaking havoc in your landscape anymore.
Tiered Wall: Your landscaper can also build a tiered wall of several layers separated by a shorter wall for each level. Typically accessed by wide stone steps that make getting to the top easy, a tiered retaining wall can not only give you more space for landscaping without stressing over water problems but also bring a lovely symmetry to your landscape. Each level can be planted with the same shrubs, plants, or ornamental grass to make give a finished look to your outdoor space.
Front Yard Wall: if your front yard is the problem with a slope that is hard to mow and looks less than appealing, having your landscaper build a retaining wall to pull the base of the slope back can be an excellent solution. Not only can this make cutting the grass easier but you can gain space at the top of the wall for a lovely landscape design to add interest and beauty to the front of your home.
Retaining Wall Benefits
A well-planned retaining wall can stop the erosion that mars your landscape and the foundation of your home to provide the landscape and functional space that you desire. It can serve a vital purpose to help to define specific parts of the landscape such as when one surrounds the patio or outdoor kitchen to bring more privacy.
With the materials options and design ideas that your landscaper brings to the project, a retaining wall can be note-worthy and increase the visual interest in your landscape. You only have more available outdoor space to look forward to when having a retaining wall installed in your yard.
Related: DETERMINING THE PLACEMENT OF A RETAINING WALL IN A NEWTON, MA, LANDSCAPE
