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Retaining Walls to the the Rescue4/16/2019 ![]() Segmental retaining wall (SRW) units are one of the most versatile landscaping tools in the homeowner's and professional landscaper's toolbox. Retaining wall units have evolved from just being used to retain soil, transition slopes and prevent erosion. Today's SRWs can do all that plus serve as multipurpose building blocks for a variety of outdoor-living features, including stairs, columns, freestanding walls, tiered walls, curved walls, seating and more. Creative designs While SRWs still beautifully accomplish their original intent, professionals and homeowners alike can easily create hardscape features that make outdoor-living spaces more useful and enjoyable. "Our landscape designers are very inventive in their use of segmental retaining wall units, and our customers really appreciate all the features that can be created with SRWs," says Scott Arnold, manager of Villa Landscapes in St. Paul, Minnesota. Products such as the VERSA-LOK retaining wall system can be creatively adapted by homeowners and professionals to accommodate curves, corners, columns and tiers - without any special pieces. For example, one popular application is a retaining wall that employs a convex curve set into a small slope. Additional courses can be stacked against the lower courses of the wall to create a "couch" or seating area to surround a circular paver patio and fire pit installed at ground level. Freestanding walls Freestanding walls are common applications for retaining wall units. Sometimes called garden or seat walls, freestanding walls are designed to surround the perimeter of a patio and can serve as space for seating or potted plants. They also add a measure of privacy around an outdoor-living space, and when designed with inset columns, can be a support for fencing. Tiered walls Tiered walls are a common solution for grade changes and erosion control. The benefit of tiered walls is that they look great, and the space in between the walls can be used for a patio or for perennials, shrubs, vegetables or herbs. Tiered walls add visual depth and texture to a hardscape design and can be more aesthetically pleasing than a single wall. Stairs incorporated into a tiered wall design give safe access to a home on a slope or hill. A tiered design also creates a low-maintenance landscape, eliminating the need to mow a difficult slope. Stepping up Retaining wall units can serve as risers for steps. Stair treads can be finished with special precast stair tread units or bullnose (round-edged) paving stones. When installed in a contrasting shade or color, stair treads add interest to a hardscape design. Stairs created from retaining wall units can be placed within a tiered wall design, in a single wall or with wing walls on each side. Raised patios, built with a foundation created by SRWs, are another popular feature that is often used to replace high-maintenance decks. Can-do columns Columns created with SRWs are a versatile, beautiful and functional feature within a hardscape design. They can support a pergola, lighting or other landscape features such as statuary, and are used to finish off the ends of a freestanding or seat wall. They can also be installed at intervals within a wall design, and columns create an attractive way to frame and support fencing. Landscaper Joes is here for all your landscaping needs including french drains, retaining walls and professional landscape design. Contact Landscaper Joes today at 918-899-9189.
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1/17/2022 09:13:37 am
It's amazing how a retaining wall can help mark the boundaries of your place while improving its looks. My uncle wants to try remodeling his outdoor space, but he's unsure where to begin. I hope this can convince him to find a contractor that can make one out of concrete.
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1/25/2022 10:21:50 am
A retaining wall is a structure that holds or retains soil behind it. There are many types of materials that can be used to create retaining walls like concrete blocks, poured concrete, treated timbers, rocks or boulders.
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1/28/2022 11:23:14 am
For example, one popular application is a retaining wall that employs a convex curve set into a small slope. Thank you for taking the time to write a great post!
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10/5/2022 11:20:23 pm
I have learn a few just right stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting.
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10/20/2022 12:56:26 pm
Thank you for explaining that tiered walls are used for erosion control. My sister has been worried about the landscaping around her house. There's a large hill in her backyard. I'll have to share this with her to see if she'd be interested in building this kind of retaining wall.
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11/22/2022 08:40:48 am
The fact that special precast stair tread units, bullnose, or round-edged paving stones can be used to finish stair treads is greatly appreciated. My sister said that the region around her home is prone to erosion. I'll advise her to get retaining walls made of concrete blocks for her home.
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11/22/2022 08:42:42 am
I liked it the most when you shared that retaining wall units can function as risers for steps. My friend wants to secure their property with concrete block retaining walls. I should advise him to go for it to prevent landslides.
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11/29/2022 06:36:57 pm
Thanks so much for talking about the different types of retaining walls. My sister wants to add a garden to her backyard and she wants a retaining wall built so it can be lifted in some places. We've been looking into finding a company that can help her build a quality wall.
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2/10/2023 06:55:12 am
This article discusses retaining walls in detail, including its many applications. The author does a fantastic job of outlining the necessity of retaining walls and the roles they play, as well as providing clear and concise information on the various building materials that may be utilised to construct them. The principles are well shown by relevant diagrams and graphics included in the text. When it comes to retaining walls, I think this post is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more.
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I like that you talked about how a retaining wall installation can be used as a riser for the steps of the stairs which can be placed within the tiered wall foundation. I wonder if we need it as well when we move into the house my husband and I bought this year. We should just consult with a professional before we consider it, since their expertise can tell if it is really needed for the design of the property we own.
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5/23/2023 02:37:31 pm
It was interesting to me when you mentioned that retaining walls can be used to create a measure of privacy around your home when made with inset columns. If you are going to be creating a retaining wall with columns made out of concrete, you would probably want the frame of the column finalized first. You would want the frame finalized so that there aren't any problems when the concrete is being poured.
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6/13/2023 04:05:43 pm
It's good to know that tiered walls are good for erosion control. My cousin was at my house yesterday afternoon for a visit, and she talked about how she and he fiancé want to start working on a garden on their property this month, but they're worried about soil erosion. I'll pass this information along to her so she can know the advantages of retaining walls!
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