Until they saw snakes, Jim and Mary Jo Crooks had not been concerned about the condition of the retaining walls at their Suwanee house.
But the snakes – and what looked like rotting timbers — prompted the couple to seek help. Several referrals later, the Crooks hired Phillip Smith and North Georgia Retaining Walls in Woodstock.
In January, Smith’s company cleared the scrubby underbrush and removed several levels of rotten timber walls. In place of the stacked timbers, a block-like retaining wall system was built. The old wooden steps down the steep slope were replaced with Rockwood blocks. And to ensure safe footing, soft accent lights were built in to the risers.
Though not in the original plan, the Crooks wanted to add some useable space in their back yard. Smith built a four-foot wall and designed the circular-shaped patio at the bottom of the stairs. He installed a fire pit and created a seating wall with built-in lights.
The Crooks are delighted by the beauty of their new, functional space.
“We hadn’t expected it to be so pretty,” said Mary Jo. “We also can’t wait to use the fire pit.”
Retaining walls are a functional and attractive solution to uneven and sloped terrains, according to Al Pfannenstein, the national retaining wall manager for Belgard Hardscapes by Oldcastle. But retaining walls can do more.
“As the trend for more outdoor living space continues, retaining walls continue to grow in popularity for their function and the aesthetics they provide in a landscape design,” said Pfannenstein.
Homeowners are incorporating retaining walls into the backyard landscape designs as a way to add built-in seating, a children’s play area, an outdoor fireplace/fire pit and raised-bed gardens, said Smith and Pfannenstein. Retaining walls also create more functional areas for outdoor kitchens, patios, pools, spas, driveways or any construction that requires a flat surface.
If you are looking for ways to add structure and usable space to your yard, a retaining wall (or walls) may be the way to go. For help, consider these tips from Smith, Al Pfannenstein and Lynn Saussy, an Atlanta-area landscape architect.
Getting started
- Gather ideas on what you want – or think you want. Do want a play area? A space for entertaining.
- Check websites and magazines for ideas.
- Come up with a budget. Overall, landscapes can add as much as 15 percent of the value of your home compared to other houses on your street, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. If you are unsure, start with five to 10 percent of your home’s worth.
- Find an expert. Get referrals (and references) for a landscape architect, designer or a contractor. A contractor can often come up with a plan (which will include drainage), get the materials and oversee a properly designed retaining wall.
What to consider
- Have a design plan for the entire area — even if you are tackling one space for now.
- Install hardscape, such as a retaining wall or patio, before you plant or lay sod.
- Keep the outdoor environment consistent with the style of the house.
- Materials. Stone, brick, manufactured blocks, interlocking blocks, concrete with stucco finish, steel and pressure treated wood timbers (in fir, cedar and redwood) are among the many choices.
- Don’t ignore drainage issues. Plan how the drainage will be affected when you add a wall, patio or yard area.
- Create a focal point. Add one or two visual elements that attract your eye. It could be a fireplace, pool or fountain.
- More than one. If one big wall won’t do, consider several low walls with level terraces.
- Add shape. Include curves and shapes in way that allows the hardscape to transition into the rest of the landscape.
- Maintenance. For durability and lower maintenance, choose stone and concrete wall products.
- Value. Retaining walls increase your home’s value by adding more versatile space around your home.
- DIY. Most walls up to four feet tall can be built without any special engineering. If your wall will be taller or adjacent to heavy loads, such as along side of a driveway, consult an expert.
- Costs. Natural stone is more expensive, more labor intensive and requires a higher skill level to install. Pressure-treated wood timbers are a lower cost choice. Manufactured materials, such as brick and concrete pavers, are less expensive than quarried stone or fieldstone. They are also available in many shapes, colors and sizes. Gone are the plain gray versions of the past.
Trends
- Natural-looking materials
- Freestanding walls
- Living walls. Use planter blocks to add greenery
- Multipurpose applications, from curves and corners to terraces, steps and raised patios
About the Author
