Retaining walls, if properly utilised, can be a great way to create zones in your yard that you can then assign different uses to. Some homeowners may opt to use retaining walls to create vegetable patches whereas others may use them to create flower beds.
As a homeowner, chances are that you’ve considered adding a retaining wall to your property before. If that’s the case, you might want to find out more about retaining walls before you make a decision on whether or not to install them on your property. In this blog, we take a more in-depth look at what exactly are retaining walls and how they are built.
What Exactly are Retaining Walls?
Retaining walls are solid structures that help to support the soil behind it and create an artificial slope or raised patch of ground behind it. These structures help to keep soil in a shape that it would not be able to maintain naturally. In doing so, retaining walls can help you achieve an elegantly demarcated look on your property and outdoor landscape.
Retaining walls can come in many different styles and materials, although the most commonly found ones in Melbourne are timber retaining walls and concrete sleeper retaining walls. Each of these options has its own benefits, and a choice between the two usually comes down to personal preferences regarding a homeowner’s preferred style and design philosophy. To find out more about the differences between timber and concrete sleeper retaining walls, check out this blog post.
How are Retaining Walls Built?
The process of building a retaining wall is time consuming but relatively straightforward. First, a contractor starts by demarcating the area that will be blocked off by the retaining wall. They then drill holes between each post of the retaining walls before installing steel uprights in the holes and filling the holes with concrete.
After ensuring that the posts are aligned with a spirit level and checking that the distances between each post is correct, the contractor then lets the concrete cure before placing sleepers between each post and securing them with wedges or packers. Then, the contractor installs a drainage system which typically comprises a plastic membrane behind the wall and a pipe or drain at the bottom of the wall.
Should You Hire Retaining Wall Specialists for Your Landscaping Project?
Building a retaining wall in your yard may seem deceptively simple on the surface and you may be tempted to try your hand at doing-it-yourself. However, working on a DIY landscaping project can come with many risks and safety hazards, especially if you’ve not received any formal training as a handyman or construction work.
Thus, it is highly recommended to engage retaining wall specialists if you’re considering building a retaining wall as part of your landscaping project. TFR Construction is Melbourne’s premier earthworks, landscaping and construction service provider. Contact us today for a no-obligation quote and let us use our expertise to save you the hassle of building your own retaining wall.
