Retaining walls can make a great addition to any backyard, providing both function and aesthetic appeal. There is often a bit of confusion about what exactly retaining walls are, what they are used for, and why you need a professional to design and install them. This is why we’ve put together a list of answers to our client’s most common retaining wall questions.

What is a retaining wall?

Retaining walls are walls built with the purpose of holding, or retaining, the soil and earth behind it. Retaining walls can also be used to line garden beds and create a barrier around a patio on flat elevation.

Why do you need retaining walls?

Retaining walls are specifically designed to stop soil from eroding in areas where the elevation of your property changes. Properties that have steep slopes often require retaining walls to allow for the creation of usable space, such as walkways or patios. It is the job of the retaining wall to keep the slope of the hill from eroding and encroaching on these purpose made areas. Retaining walls can also be used for aesthetic purposes to create garden beds and patios on areas with flat elevation.

Where can retaining walls be in installed?

Retaining walls can be installed on properties where a sleep slope undergoes a drastic change in elevation, such as around a patio or walkway. This keeps the soil from eroding around the area where the elevation changes.

While retaining walls are traditionally designed for use on sloped landscapes, they can also be incorporated into the design of properties with flat elevation. Retaining walls can make great additions to your garden beds and patios, creating distinctive spaces within the design of your property.

Who can build retaining walls?

A trained professional should always build retaining walls. Retaining walls over four feet in high are legally required to be designed by a structural engineer to ensure that they are able to safely hold back the earth. Retaining walls that are built by untrained individuals can be dangerous as they could potentially crumble as the land behind it erodes.

While the retaining walls used for aesthetic appeal on flat terrain do not have the same engineering requirements as true retaining walls, they should still be designed and built by a professional.

If there was a question about retaining walls that weren’t answered on this list, please give us our landscaping company in Cambridge a call. Our team is here to answer any of the questions you may have.