Does my Rochester, IL home need a retaining wall?

Everybody loves fancy landscaping, but having your home done in the style of a million-dollar mansion costs a lot of money. That’s why it’s important to narrow down your landscaping choices to the things you really need.

Have you been thinking about getting a retaining wall? A lot of people who don’t think they need one actually do. Here’s how you can know whether or not you need a retaining wall for your Rochester, IL home.

What Do They Do?

You’ve probably seen retaining walls in fancy landscaping of houses on hills, but did you know they actually serve an important purpose? As you put more weight on a sloped surface, such a house, a driveway, and parked cars, you need to add something to keep the slope from collapsing. Retaining walls essentially prevent the effect of gravity to keep this from happening. It can also help redirect water runoff and make a chunk of land more usable.

In addition to this, retaining walls can be used as a stylish addition to your home. They come in a variety of styles and have a nice, clean look that’s great for accentuating gardens and fences.

Do I Need One?

Whether your Rochester, IL property needs a retaining wall or not depends on many factors. As the biggest purpose of a retaining wall is to add reinforcement to a piece of land, an unstable piece of land is the number one qualifying factor for a retaining wall.

If you have a sloped piece of land that has problems with erosion, adding a retaining wall can keep the soil from eroding too much. For homes that are on a soil fault line, a retaining wall can serve as protection in the event of an earthquake or some other natural disaster.

Retaining Wall Options

You have a lot of options when it comes to retaining walls, each with their own benefits. Wooden retaining walls are the cheapest of the bunch, but they don’t last as long as other options. Poured concrete or natural stone retaining walls will last quite a bit longer, but you’ll have to make a larger investment upfront.

If you’re still wondering whether or not you need a retaining wall or you’re ready to have one installed, call the landscaping experts at Land Design Landscaping.