Choosing a Retaining Wall Design That Will Withstand the Seasons in Dublin, OH

A retaining wall can be an important component of your Dublin, OH, landscape design. It will not only serve as a protective structure to hold back soil in your backyard but can also play a role in improving the aesthetics of your outdoor property. Different retaining wall designs serve different purposes, so here is a quick guide to help you choose the best one for your landscape. 

Concrete Retaining Walls

Poured concrete retaining walls are considered strong and cost-effective structures that are typically installed in scenarios where large volumes of soil have to supported by the retaining wall. They are often reinforced with a rebar lattice integrated into the construction to keep them rigid. Concrete retaining walls are aesthetically challenging, however, due to their drab exteriors but can be improved with glass inlays and stamped designs.

Related: Why You Should Consider a Retaining Wall as Part of Your Upper Arlington, OH, Landscaping Project

Wall Stone Blocks

Wall stones are one of the most popular choices when it comes to constructing retaining walls. Much like concrete pavers for patios, they are available from a variety of reputed manufacturers such as Unilock and offer the same advantages that make concrete pavers so desirable.For starters, wall stones are available in a wide range of designs, colors, and textures, making them suitable for both traditional and modern landscape design. Wall stones with complementary concrete pavers are also commonly found in most manufacturers’ inventory, making it easy to match your retaining wall’s exterior with the surrounding masonry. For smaller retaining walls, the stones can simply be stacked together to provide support. For more high-load applications, mortar is typically applied to hold the stones together to further strengthen the wall. This combination of great design versatility and strength is the primary reason concrete wall stones are the go-to retaining wall material. 

Multi-tiered Retaining Walls

Instead of deploying a large retaining wall for particularly sharp gradient changes, you can use a combination of multiple tiered retaining walls. This effectively creates terraces within your yard, opening up land for construction and softscaping while still capitalizing on the strong vertical presence offered by the gradient changes. Steps can be integrated into the design to allow easy access to the different levels and make them more accessible. Multi-tiered retaining walls are also very well suited for creating waterfalls. 

Stone Veneer

Stone veneer is a versatile material that can be applied to a variety of masonry projects, including retaining walls. Both faux and natural stone veneer is available in a variety of colors and textures, adding to the design versatility offered. Moreover, they offer this design versatility while also being highly cost-effective. The stone veneer can be applied to a concrete retaining wall, giving you the perfect combination of aesthetics and strength. Moreover, the wide range of colors and textures makes it much easier to match the wall’s surface to the exterior of your home or surrounding masonry.

Related: How a Retaining Wall Can Help Control Land Erosion in the Westerville, OH, Area

Natural Retaining Walls

For more natural landscape designs, you have the option of purposefully incorporating natural looking elements into your retaining wall. This approach can consist of an underlying concrete retaining wall converted with natural materials such as wood or bark to make it seem like a natural part of the landscape. Climbing flowering vines can also be applied to cover up the wall and give your yard a touch of color in spring.