If your sloped yard is causing drainage problems, flooding or it’s just not functional, you may want to consider building a retaining wall to solve the problem.

Retaining walls are structures used to support or hold back a slope. They can be built from masonry, concrete, stone, steel and even wood. The most popular ones are made from masonry stone or concrete due to their durability and cost-effectiveness.

Retaining walls can be as simple as a straight wall or curved like an amphitheater. They can also be designed to blend in with your home decor or landscape.

Many homeowners want their retaining walls to match the style of their house and property, whether it’s traditional or modern. Retaining walls can give your yard a natural look while adding functionality to it at the same time

Which products do we recommend for retaining walls.

Depending on your taste and purpose that you want to give the wall, there are many recommendations we can give.

If you are building a garden wall or retaining wall under 3 feet there are multiple decorative and double sided wall blocks, these blocks come in various sizes and shapes, for example; for a small garden wall we recommend using the block called “Quarry Stone” by Barkman concrete, this block has a double face which allows it to be used as both sides of your wall. These blocks can be used on their own or with other decorative blocks such as: “Roman Stack” by Barkman concrete, “Bridgewood” by Barkman concrete or “Semma” by Techo-Bloc.

For larger projects we recommend using heavy duty decorative blocks such as “Arquitextures” by Barkman concrete, “Keystone Compact III” By Barkman concrete, “Rossetta Outcropping” by Barkman concrete. We have used all these products over the years and we find them to be the most durable and reliable out of all the options you can find at your local landscape supply store.

Can I build a wall without any knowledge?

If you decide to build your own retaining wall, here are a few things to consider.

Get your line locate done: The first thing you need before you get started is to get an idea of where you want the walls to go and what kind of grade you want. This will help with the design and help avoid surprises later on when digging and installing. You’ll also want to make sure that there aren’t any utilities buried just below the surface that may be damaged by excavation or grading work. To do this, it’s best to hire a professional land surveyor who can accurately and reliably locate lines for power, gas, water, sewer, cable TV, etc.

Do you have access to appropriate machinery?: You’ll need some heavy machinery to move soil around and compact it into the wall. If you don’t have access to a compactor on-site or a mini excavator (shovels and wheel barrels won’t cut it), then consider renting one or hiring someone who has one available. Alternatively, if you have a large backyard and plan on building a large retaining wall system, you might consider hiring an experienced landscaping contractor.

Are you able to lift at least 50 lb?: Most wall blocks and materials for building are between 35+ Lb. This is something you definitely want to have in mind if you want to build a large retaining wall.

In conclusion

With all of that said, a do-it-yourself retaining wall is not impossible, just a bit more difficult. If you take the time to plan it out correctly and do the necessary soil prep work, then this might just be a possibility for your next retaining wall project. At the very least, you’ll gain some valuable real world experience before you hire someone else to construct one for you!