The 5 Potential Benefits of a New Retaining Wall in Powell and Westerville, OH

The best landscapes have something in common: instead of fighting against nature, they embrace the setting and add something to it. One of the most beneficial features for any landscape is the retaining wall. These structures not only hold the landscape together, by preventing erosion, but they can also make it a much more useful and inviting place. While your landscape renovation continues, consider the five potential benefits of a new retaining wall in Powell and Westerville, OH.

Related: INCORPORATING A RETAINING WALL INTO YOUR PAVER PATIO DESIGN IN THE LEWIS CENTER, OH, AREA

Reinforcing the Earth

Every landscape on a hillside can be challenging. Renovations, maintenance, and even using the space is not as easy as on a flat property. Sloped landscapes are vulnerable to erosion, which can lead to the damage or destruction of landscape features or even the home itself. To prevent erosion in a specific area, the retaining wall is a time-tested solution. Gentle slopes can be held back with a low gravity wall, typically less than 4’ high. Steeper slopes require more robust engineered walls, which could be as high as 25’.

Rain runoff and snowmelt can have catastrophic consequences for a landscape. Any water that doesn’t absorb into the soil will run off; and water-logged soil becomes extremely heavy and viscous. A retaining wall with proper drainage allows water that’s already in the soil to seep away, and the wall can divert surface water to a safe area away from outdoor living spaces and other vulnerable features downstream.

Expanding Usable Space

A retaining wall can significantly expand the amount of usable space. This can be used for a larger patio space, a crucial walkway, a safer driveway, the addition of a garage or other structure, or even the expansion of the home itself. 

Increasing Visual Interest

Expanded outdoor living spaces will not be the only benefits you’ll get with a retaining wall. Choosing the right masonry for your retaining wall can make a huge difference in the appearance of your landscape. Depending on the height of the wall, there are some great options. For lower walls, you could use natural stone blocks that echo the rocks already present in the area; decorative concrete blocks made to resemble weathered quarry stone. For taller walls, concrete blocks clad in a natural stone or engineered stone veneer will help integrate the wall into your design theme.

Separating Spaces of Use and Adding Seating

Even if your property isn’t located on a hillside, there are plenty of uses for a retaining wall on flat land. It can be a great physical barrier between the patio and the surrounding landscape. This approach - using a seat-height wall around the perimeter of a patio - won’t block the views, yet it will offer a wonderful sense of enclosure. 

For low retaining walls on flat ground, there’s a wonderful opportunity for casual seating along the top of the wall. This would be additional seating that doesn’t usurp a dining area, but it will still be a very welcome addition for all types of gatherings. 

A seat wall along your entry walkway, placed between the walkway and the front yard, defines the space and offers a welcome to your visitors.

Integrating Outdoor Lighting

With plenty of new vertical space, you have an opportunity to add lighting design. Integrating light fixtures into the space can illuminate a large portion of your landscape, making everything feel much more welcome and secure. Make sure to use light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures that fit into small spaces and reduce the frequency of bulb replacement dramatically while also using far less electricity.

Related: RETAINING WALL OR FENCING: WHICH STRUCTURE WORKS BEST FOR PRIVACY IN A POWELL, OH, BACKYARD?