Retaining Wall Ideas for a Sloped Backyard or Terrace
A gorgeous stone retaining wall with elevated beds provides low-maintenance front yard landscaping on a slope with a ton of curb appeal.
If you are dealing with slopes or steep hills in your yard, you may be interested in finding out how retaining walls can make your property better. Not only do they look impressive but they are also extremely functional.
Building a retaining wall can do a lot of great things for you like:
Increase property value.
Boost curb appeal.
Prevent soil erosion.
Lower flooding risks.
Help with yard drainage.
Divide and hold sharp differences between elevations.
Walls are an important part of landscaping. But is a retaining wall really what you need?
In this post, we’ll discuss topics like:
What is a retaining wall?
What is the difference between a retaining wall and a garden wall?
What is the purpose of a retaining wall?
Retaining wall ideas: what types of retaining walls are there?
How much does a retaining wall cost?
Do you need to worry about retaining wall drainage?
Ready to look into retaining wall contractors near you in Columbia, SC?
Wondering about hardscaping contractors near you in the Midlands of South Carolina?
At Boots On Enterprises, we can handle all of your hardscaping needs from building retaining walls to patios, pool decks, and installing/repairing asphalt or concrete.
Contact us today for a FREE quote for your project…
Phone: 803-521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
A natural stone retaining wall graces a terraced garden and landscape on each side of concrete steps.
What is a retaining wall?
A retaining wall is a solid structure that is built against a hill or mound of earth that is generally made of a material like stone, concrete, wood, or brick.
What is the purpose of a retaining wall?
How does a retaining wall work? A retaining wall’s purpose is to hold soil in place on a slope — or between differing elevations of land — preventing the dirt from being washed downhill.
Retaining walls have to be strong enough to handle the lateral pressure of soil and keep it in place. They also need proper drainage so that they don’t collapse under too much additional lateral pressure from water after heavy rains.
If you want a terraced garden, an elevated flower bed, a sunken patio, or just want to prevent a landslide/mudslide between your property and a much higher property next door, a retaining wall is usually going to be the solution.
Retaining wall installation can also be used to add texture and beauty as a hardscape component in a landscaping project. But sometimes, you may not need a retaining wall, just a garden wall.
A short brick garden wall (using reclaimed brick) beside a landscaped area with mulch on a sunny day by Boots On Enterprises.
What is the difference between a retaining wall and a garden wall?
A garden wall is usually a low wall (1.5 to 2 feet tall) that acts as a visual division between different landscape features in a garden. It is decorative, primarily.
A retaining wall may look similar to a garden wall, but a retaining wall is designed to hold soil back behind it to prevent erosion of the land. It may look decorative but its primary purpose is functional.
A garden wall is more for aesthetic purposes. It defines a flowerbed or adds interest to the landscaping. It may also be designed to use as a sturdy seating wall for people to sit on near the garden. But garden walls are not designed to withstand pressure from a hill on one side.
Of course, you can use a garden retaining wall to get the look of a garden wall with the structural durability of a retaining wall for elevated flower beds or terraced gardens.
A wooden retaining wall on a dirt lot that gradually steps down with the slope toward the road.
Retaining wall ideas: What types of retaining walls are there?
Retaining walls all have the same purpose — holding back soil on a slope or an elevation difference. But they can be made of different materials and with different architectural designs or details.
Here are some of the most popular types of retaining walls to give you a bit of inspiration.
Wood retaining wall
Wood is a beautiful material for retaining walls. It adds a lot of warmth to your landscaping. Let’s dive into the advantages and disadvantages of using wood for this purpose.
Pros and cons of wood retaining walls
Pros of wood
A relatively inexpensive option.
Can be stained, painted, or left natural (but sealed).
Beautiful appearance.
Easy to install.
Easier to remove than other materials.
Cons of wood
Can rot over time.
Doesn’t work for curved retaining walls.
Not recommended for walls over 4 feet tall.
Not as strong as other materials.
Shorter lifespan than other materials.
Large retaining wall stones add a lot of atmosphere to this beautiful backyard patio with a fire pit.
Stone retaining wall
Stone retaining walls have been around for over 5000 years and have a timeless elegance about them. This rustic look pairs well with plants, grass, and other landscaping elements.
A natural stone retaining wall can be built as a “dry stone wall” without mortar. Or it can be built as a “wet laid” wall with mortar or another binding agent like concrete or cement. There are advantages and disadvantages to each style.
Types of natural stone retaining walls
If you want to use natural stone for your backyard retaining wall, consider materials like field stone, flagstone, brownstone, limestone, granite, and more.
Most people choose based on the appearance and color of the stone, appreciating the earthy creams, reds, and browns.
Pros and cons of a stone retaining wall
Pros of natural stone
Can last for a century or longer.
Gorgeous and full of character.
Natural colors.
Wonderful texture.
Strong and durable.
Weatherproof.
Allows water to flow behind and through the wall (if no mortar).
May not need mortar.
Great for low walls.
Cons of natural stone
More expensive than most other options.
Heavy for installation.
Not a good choice for large retaining walls.
If mortar is used, the mortar could crack over time.
Need a good woil drainage system if wall has mortar.
A backyard retaining wall made of concrete interlocking retaining wall blocks with an elevated grassy area behind and concrete sidewalk with brick detail below.
Block retaining wall
Block retaining walls are some of the most popular types. They have a lot of the advantages of natural stone but also can be fit together perfectly. Concrete retaining wall blocks are also generally more affordable than stone.
What are retaining wall blocks?
Retainer wall blocks are relatively small building blocks made of concrete but they are larger than bricks. The concrete is poured into a mold which allows retaining wall block to be consistently the exact same shape and size for your entire wall.
Pros and cons of a concrete block retaining wall
Pros of concrete blocks
Very sturdy and weather-resistant.
Work well for low or high walls.
Easy to include retaining wall lights.
Cost less than natural stone.
Can build curved walls.
Different shapes, sizes, and textures are available.
Standardized size and shape for the whole wall.
Low maintenance.
Precision interlocking.
Cons of concrete blocks
Cost more than wood.
Not as unique looking as stone.
Difficult to remove.
Another option that is very similar (but a lot bigger) is precast concrete panels. They are large sections of a wall that are already poured ahead of time. You’ve likely seen them used along the interstate to help dampen the traffic noise and provide more privacy for homes nearby. They are often a popular commercial option.
Poured concrete retaining wall with collar (to use for a seating wall) with a sloped hill and purple wildflowers in the background.
Concrete retaining walls
Another fantastic option for a retaining wall for landscaping in your yard is a poured concrete retaining wall (poured-in-place concrete). These walls are very strong, even stronger than concrete block.
Pros and cons of poured concrete retaining walls
Pros of poured concrete
More affordable than stone.
Low-maintenance.
Can be patched with mortar, when needed.
Many colors and concrete stains are available for customization.
Can add a stone veneer or tile for a higher-end look.
Quick installation.
Can make almost any shape or design.
Very long-lasting.
Cons of poured concrete
Need an experienced retaining wall contractor for installation.
Difficult to remove.
Can crack over time, especially if poorly designed.
Need good drainage behind the wall.
A brick retaining wall with landscaping (done by a retaining wall contractor) for an elevated grassy area.
Brick retaining wall
Another great choice for a retaining wall is brick. Many people opt for retaining wall bricks that match the brick for their home for a cohesive look. Brick brings warmth to the atmosphere and looks gorgeous with your landscaping.
Pros and cons of brick retaining walls
Pros of brick
Design flexibility.
Many colors, shapes, and sizes are available.
Extremely strong.
Long-lasting.
Can be strengthened with steel.
Great texture.
Won’t rot.
Cons of brick
If not built/designed well, could crack under pressure.
Mortar could crack over time.
Needs a good drainage system to be durable.
Retaining wall brick can be made a lot stronger by creating a “cavity wall.” This involves a concrete foundation at the bottom and steel in the center with brick layers on the front and back of the way.
Retaining wall contractors near you can help you decide if a brick retaining wall makes sense for your particular yard’s needs and how best to construct it.
A newly installed concrete block retaining wall in Columbia, SC near a swimming pool enclosure — built by Boots On Enterprises.
How much does a retaining wall cost?
According to Angi, the national average cost to build a retaining wall is about $5900. And the usual range runs from about $3200 to $9000.
Inexpensive retaining wall ideas
For a cheap retaining wall, consider using vinyl, railroad ties, or wood. Also, certain types of brick, poured concrete, and concrete blocks are more affordable than others.
Hardscaping companies near you can also provide suggestions to help you reduce the cost but get a retaining wall that will meet your needs and goals for your property.
Factors affecting the cost of a retaining wall
Retaining wall costs depend on a variety of factors including:
The size, width, and height of the wall needed.
How much prep work must be done before.
How accessible the area is.
How complicated the design is.
The material costs.
The area of the country where you live.
Current labor costs.
The drainage system needed.
How much reinforcement is required.
Any upgrades or additional services.
Retaining wall contractors can calculate all of these factors for your project and provide you with an accurate estimate.
An elevated patio with tumbled stone block retaining walls and a wood gazebo surrounded by beautiful potted plants and flowers.
Do you need to worry about retaining wall drainage?
When you are building a retaining wall (especially one over 4 feet tall) a good drainage system is very important. You don’t want water to build up a lot of additional pressure along with the soil behind the wall. That is a recipe for big-time problems as the forces behind the wall can more than double with poor drainage.
So retaining walls often have gravel/drainage stone inside (or behind the wall) and perforated drainage pipes along the inside or behind the wall toward the bottom. It works a lot like a French drain does in the yard, funneling water through the gravel into the drainage pipe and down a slope away from the wall.
Looking for a retaining wall contractor near you in Columbia, SC? We can help.
At Boots On Enterprises, we are very familiar with installing retaining walls of different sizes and types of materials. We are also hardscaping experts and can take care of your other landscaping, tree service, and paving needs, as well.
Just contact us today for a FREE estimate for your project.
Phone: 803-521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
