If you are looking at your yard and making plans for upgrades that can add value to your property, you might want to consider adding a retaining wall. Building a retaining wall will improve the look of your yard, but they also serve functional purposes. Retaining walls perform an important function by stabilizing the land, but they also can add beautiful and unique aspects to your landscape. There are many benefits to building a retaining wall including creating a landscape centerpiece or adding a subtle backdrop to your plantings.
What is a retaining wall?
A retaining wall is a landscaping feature that can either serve a functional purpose, an aesthetic purpose, or both. The retaining wall’s purpose will depend on what you’re looking to accomplish within your landscape. Keep reading to learn five benefits of adding a retaining wall to your property.
A retaining wall is a sturdy structure meant to hold back soil. You can build them in a variety of materials such as stone, concrete or wood. It’s a practical landscaping solution to prevent soil from moving down a slope. But it can also be a great landscaping feature and can enhance the value of your home. Read below for the benefits of installing a retaining wall on your property.
1. Improve aesthetic appearance
A retaining wall can turn your property into a gardener’s dream. They can offer a distinctive look to your landscape while performing an important function. The wall allows opportunities for raised flower beds among the hills. Think of them like concrete planter boxes spread out across your yard. Then, you can sprinkle a few small trees or shrubs among the flowers. The result will be a beautiful and eye-catching landscape.
2. Improve drainage and reduce soil erosion
Retaining walls are designed to direct and control water flow, which helps with drainage and reduces rivers of water that erode soil. Additionally, retaining walls anchor the soil in place, which also avoids erosion and allows you to maintain your property more easily. These functions are especially useful if your property is on a slope or hillside.
3. Provide natural seating
A retaining wall can function as natural seating if designed at the right height. This creates functional entertainment space in your backyard. Use a retaining wall to enclose your patio or surround your fire pit. It can turn your fire pit into the social gathering place in the neighborhood due to the ample amount of space for neighbors to sit. And during our current pandemic, being outdoors and having room to social distance is more important now than ever!
4. Increase curb appeal
If constructed properly, a retaining wall can increase curb appeal. We’ve already learned how it can improve the aesthetic appearance of your yard by serving as raised planters for gardens. But the wall also breaks up the space around your property, which adds interest and unique characteristics. Because there are many ways to build a retaining wall, this landscape technique will set your home apart from the other homes in the neighborhood.
5. Help level the landscape and provide structural support
Many homeowners struggle with hilly landscapes. If your yard has uneven terrain that is difficult to maintain, a multi-tiered retaining wall is the perfect solution for leveling uneven parts of your yard due to elevation. Not only does the retaining wall prevent soil erosion, it also complements your home by adding depth to your property. With a retaining wall in place, you will not have to be concerned about flooding or erosion in your garden or lawn.
6. Boost home value
Retaining walls can add a unique and visual appeal to your landscape. If installed with aesthetics in mind, they can serve as a focal point. By adding vertical elements, the wall can be designed with a one-of-a-kind look that can capture the attention of guests and even potential homebuyers.
Study data has shown potential homeowners will pay more for homes that have appealing landscapes. Unlike trendy interior design elements within homes that quickly become outdated, landscape design is timeless. And we’ve already learned that adding retaining walls can increase your curb appeal! So if you decide to sell your home in the future, your landscaping can add up to 15 percent to the value of your home with an average return on investment of 100 percent!
7. Create more usable space
When your property slopes extensively, it may be hard to find a place to add a vegetable garden. A landscape construction contractor can grade your property and add a retaining wall to create a flat area. If you want to install a nice patio for entertaining or other outdoor activities, a retaining wall can help stabilize the ground to ensure a nice, level surface. This can expand your outdoor space by making more if it usable.
Time to plan your retaining wall project
Retaining walls offer a wide range of benefits, from improved drainage and increased safety to enhanced property value and increased usable space. Whether you are looking to enhance the appearance of your property or address a specific landscaping issue, a retaining wall may be a great solution. And even if you’re thinking about installing a retaining wall just to add some character to your landscape that reason may be worth doing, too!
Now is a great time to begin planning your retaining wall project. Contact an expert today to walk you through some design ideas and get you on our project schedule.