Functions
Retaining walls are the base tool for manipulating elevations and directing or dictating the grading on a given site. These walls need not be merely functional in our spaces, but can also have aesthetic qualities of their own. Walls combine with other features like bench seats or trellises to enhance a design. That said, the core component of a retaining wall is still its function. Walls retain grades on slopes, separate space, or add a vertical focal point in the landscape, as with an address placard wall. Drainage is also an important component of retaining walls. Depending on the height and application, drain pipe or weep holes behind walls can provide a needed free-draining profile.
Inside an environmentally critical area (ECA), such as a steep slope hazard area, a Seattle homeowner may need a permitted variance to build a retaining wall of any kind. At True Scape Design, we have experience navigating that process. Please read more about ECAs here.
Materials
A variety of materials and compositions are available for constructing retaining walls. These include powder coated or CorTen steel, timber, concrete block, ledgestone, and natural rock. A combination of several different materials can form walls with deeper aesthetic appearances. Coping or cap units can add depth and interest to block walls, concrete walls, or timber walls. These features also work to draw the eye away from a blank wall face.
Features
The looks of a plain poured concrete wall can be improved with fascia materials fashioned from composite wood, specialty metal sheeting, or architectural vine panels. Individual vines can grow up or cascade down the wall. Upright and broadleaf evergreen shrubs can form the foundation plantings at the wall’s base. Individual trough planters can even decorate wall facades. Designs for walls can include architectural vine panels, cable trellis setups, decorative rock, and lighting. Each of these make walls pop and take on their own individual character. With a variety of options and compositions available, retaining walls are not just functional placeholders and can really become design features with characteristics of their own.
I like that you mention some of the different materials that can be used in retaining walls. It makes sense that natural rock is a common choice for residential applications because it’d look really nice whereas something like concrete blocks are more common in commercial applications. Thanks for the post; I need a retaining wall built in my yard and think that natural stone could be a great option to keep the yard looking nice but also be safe and easy to maintain.
Thanks for this idea. My mom also wants to have retaining walls in her patio. She’s now looking up some landscape experts to assist her.
Thanks for your comment. We have professional installation crews and would be happy to help your mom if she is in our area. Just have her complete the contact form on our webpage.
I have a pretty big hill on my property and I would love to have a patio space so I have been looking into getting a retaining wall. That is great that there is a variety of materials available to make a retaining wall. I would love to look at different options and see which one fits my needs the best. Thank you for the information!
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I’ve been wanting to get a retaining wall for our yard to help with soil stabilization. I like that you talked about how the materials are something that you want to consider for retaining walls, because I would want to know what to do. I’m going to have to look for some good soil stabilization options and see what we can find!
Jordan, Feel free to fill out out contact us form even if you’re out of the area. We love helping people not just the people we work with.
I’m grateful for your advice that retaining walls are not just functional placeholders, but can become design features with characteristics of their own. This really caught my attention that is why I am now planning to have a retaining wall in my garden. Nonetheless, I need to discuss it first with my husband.
Feel free to call us at 206.701.7714 to talk more it.
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Love how you come up with the wall design. Sure is the design of every house depends on taste and character of the person living on that place and there are indeed a lot of variety of options to choose from. One should just be creative enough just like this one.
[…] projects that involve any major grade changes employ retaining walls of some kind. We have used everything from short six-inch concrete block walls to poured concrete […]
We have been remodeling our backyard recently. I want to use retaining walls to further the look of the patio at my house. It is good to keep in mind that there are many different materials that can be used for a retaining wall.
Thanks for sharing how important drainage is for retaining walls to ensure that it will have no issues in the long run. With that in mind, I will make sure to contact professionals to install this for us. We just need this since we live in a hilly area, and there are times that the soil is crumbling down.
[…] would show the rust. If weathering steel is placed in a position that allows runoff to move down a vertical wall, the color it leaves can be undesirable and more noticeable. Most of these can be cleaned with a […]