As a homeowner, one of the landscape topics that you hear discussed often is the question of retaining walls. Are they important? Should you have one installed? Understanding the purpose of a retaining wall and whether or not one would be beneficial to your home and landscape is more nuanced than it may at first appear.

This article will help you understand the purpose of retaining walls, possible pros and cons to having one, and whether or not you should have a retaining wall installed at your home.

What’s the Purpose of a Retaining Wall

Retaining walls serve several purposes. Using it as a barrier can prevent soil erosion in homeowner’s yards. It can also assist with drainage issues in a landscape. Retaining walls might also be installed just for the purpose of being aesthetically pleasing in a landscape.

Retaining Wall Pros and Cons

What are the pros and cons of retaining walls? Here’s a brief overview of some of the pros and cons that homeowners might encounter after having a retaining wall installed at their residence.

Retaining Wall Pros:

• They prevent soil from eroding and from spilling into your yard
• Retaining walls prevent flooding in your landscape
• These walls keep surrounding structures safe from elements that would damage them
• They are a great decorative feature in a well-landscaped yard
• Retaining walls reduce the amount of maintenance that many homeowners have to deal with due to erosion

Retaining Wall Cons:

Here are some possible retaining wall cons. Please note that these cons do not always occur, the quality of your installation directly correlates with how many issues you will encounter with your retaining wall.

• Ongoing maintenance and repair on your retaining wall (well-constructed walls need very little maintenance)
• An ineffective retaining wall (if you are having your retaining wall installed to serve a specific purpose, like drainage, then poor construction can mean that the wall fails to serve its purpose)

Do You Need a Retaining Wall at Your Home

Here are several questions that you should ask yourself to determine whether or not you need to have a retaining wall installed.

1. Is dirt erosion a problem in your landscape? If there is dirt spilling over into your yard, this is an indication that you need to have a retaining wall installed to act as a barrier to the soil.
2. Is your home downhill from a soil fault line? Even if this doesn’t currently cause you any problem, having a retaining wall there just in case of sudden erosion (which could be caused by an earthquake) will give you peace of mind.
3. Do you have drainage problems in your landscape? Installing retaining walls will help with drainage issues.
4. Are you looking for a low maintenance, practical, and beautiful landscape addition? Retaining walls are a simple, low maintenance way to liven up your outdoor aesthetic.

Need a Quality Retaining Wall Installed at Your Home?

Are you looking for a reliable Seattle retaining wall contractors installation service? If you’ve decided it’s time to have a retaining wall installed at your home, call New Life Rockeries. We have a team of landscaping professionals who prioritize quality retaining wall installation and customer satisfaction. 

If you have any retaining wall questions or would like to get a quote on retaining wall installation, contact New Life Rockeries today.