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Retaining walls are a common landscaping feature. Their primary function is to prevent soil from shifting on residential and commercial properties, but they can also add an interesting visual element to your outdoor space. The following guide answers some questions you might have about these structures. 

What Are the Benefits of Retaining Walls?

Wind, rain, and other precipitation can cause the soil around your house or commercial building to erode. This can damage your landscaping. If enough shifting occurs, it could cause foundation damage.

A retaining wall serves as a barrier. Usually located uphill from what you are trying to protect, it stops rain and soil from rolling downward. 

The addition of one or more retaining walls also usually involves leveling out the ground—turning it into a series of steps rather than a slope. This can provide property owners with more usable space to plant flowers or to entertain on.

How Are They Built? 

retaining wallProfessional contractors will first confirm your property boundaries and obtain the correct permits to build. After testing the soil, they will dig a trench and line it with a sturdy base material, like landscaping rocks, before beginning to lay the wall. Since these structures need to be able to resist the elements for many years, most are made out of brick or stone. However, there is a lot of versatility in size, shape, and style available for property owners to choose from. 

How Should Property Owners Maintain Theirs?

As resilient as these structures are, they still will get battered by the weather. Therefore, inspect your retaining wall regularly, especially during the spring, for cracks in the stones or gaps in the mortar. Additionally, if yours was constructed with a drainage pipe to redirect rainwater, make sure this remains unclogged. Schedule repairs if you notice an issue.

 

If you’d like to add a retaining wall for structural or aesthetic reasons, get in touch with Dreamscapes in Lincoln, NE. This talented hardscaping company has helped local home and business owners with outdoor building projects for more than 30 years. They can assist you in designing and building an attractive retaining wall that will stand the test of time. See examples of their work online. Speak to a representative about your project at (402) 421-7496. 

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