Retaining Walls

Wooden Retaining Walls

Wooden retaining walls have a place in a homeowner's landscape. A flat yard that is being accented by a garden might get a boost from the added visual impact that can be had from wooden retaining walls. Walls do not have to be built very high in order to qualify as a different kind of structure. The job a wooden retaining structure can do in the case of an otherwise flat or uninteresting landscape is to provide some height or depth. This can make that yard much more appealing.

Besides this, these low level retaining walls can have a positive effect on your garden. Much like sandstone retaining walls, these walls can keep the soil from eroding and they can allow a certain amount of drainage to occur that the garden would not get were it not for the carefully designed wooden retaining structure. Above all else, wooden structures are just one of several types to choose from when endeavoring to install retaining walls around the home.

Deciding to Use Wood

For no other reason than aesthetics, you may choose wooden material over other retaining materials like sandstone. Each material creates a drastically different look. When choosing wooden materials, you want to first think of the use the wooden retaining walls and structures will have. If the retaining walls will need to perform in a manner that will keep erosion at bay then it is possible you will need to have an engineer assist with the designs for the wooden walls.

For landscapes that are set along a slope, or for yards that are adjacent to hillier grounds, it may be vital that the wooden retaining walls are designed by a professional. This is because in many ways these structures, while offering added beauty to the landscape, will need to withstand the pressure of any rainfall or snow run off that could threaten their stability. If a malfunctioning structure were to collapse under the pressure it could affect the safety of your home.

Essentially, poorly constructed wooden retaining walls could buckle under pressure and possibly result in a flood or minor landslide right there in your yard. If it is close enough, it absolutely could have a serious impact to your home. This is often why some wooden retaining walls cannot be constructed without a permit from your municipality. All you are thinking of is a way to enhance your yard, or give your landscape a make over. Yet, many times these structures have serious work to do.

If, however, you want wooden retaining walls to be constructed at a low level to create a border at the side of your yard to accent the plants and shrubs there, you may be able to take up the job yourself. If the only object is to provide beautification then nothing necessitates the structure being particularly sound from an engineering standpoint. That is, that it would need to be structurally sound to the extent that you would like the wall to last after the time and expense put into building it.

In other words, if a home made structure were to somehow fail to hold up and that failure did not put any thing at risk such as your home and family, you can probably safely experiment with designing and building it yourself. For more intricate or complicated landscapes and climates, it is probably best to hire a professional. Allow them to assist with designing your wooden retaining walls and installing them.

Protection and Beauty

Regarding climate considerations, you may want to limit the use of wood in any designs in areas that are susceptible to wildfires. Some municipalities may have restrictions that you can find out about when determining if a permit is necessary. The same may also go for those climates that might experience extremes in humidity and moisture. These can affect the wood over time and create a problem with rot which in turn could affect your plants or shrubs. However, this problem is usually prevented by proper lining and treatment at the base of the structure.

With the help of a professional landscape architect or engineer, a suitable drainage system can be constructed with PVC piping during the installation of the structure. Often timbers are treated in a variety of ways to make them safe in just about any area. You may want to ensure the safety and longevity of your structure by investigating local landscape professionals to help you construct them.

Their services will involve a degree of cost, but if you want your wooden retaining walls, your home and property protected against any possible damage it is certainly worth any reasonable expense. Plus, a professional design can assure you that every detail pertaining to the form and function of the structure is correct. This can help to prevent any other problems with the structure in the future.

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