Contractor Tips Blog

Jan
10

Turn Your Hill into a Terraced Garden

Posted in Retaining Walls

Do you have hill or steep slope on your property? This may seem like wasted space, making it difficult to landscape or maintain. Why not make the most of this area by creating a terraced garden? Using retaining walls, you can create tiered flat areas that can be used for several different purposes. Consider these ideas for using your hill space:

  • Multiple gardens. If you can create two, three or more tiered flat areas on your hill, use each for a different type of garden. One can be flowers, another herbs and of course, one for vegetables. Your hill side will become a beautiful, useful planting spot.
  • Add a stairway. Make it easier to reach each tier by incorporating a stairway. Match your stairs to your retaining walls; natural stone or pavers make excellent materials for both retaining walls and stairs.
  • Create a patio with a view. Why not add a separate patio on one of your tiers to give you a grand view of your property? Create a paved area with a patio set or relaxing swing. It will be a nice resting spot when you attend to your gardens. You could even add a fire pit for evening bonfires.

Not only do retaining walls allow you to use your hill space, they protect the hill from erosion. The walls give the slope structure, keeping the earth in place during heavy rains and storms.

Building a tiered hillside can be tricky; if done incorrectly, it could do more damage than good. Hire a contractor to build your stone retaining walls and stairways to ensure they are done correctly so they will last for many years to come.

Posted on behalf of:
Tri County Pavers & Design
3300 S Congress Ave
Boynton Beach, FL 33426

Dec
3

Stabilize Your Property with a Retaining Wall

Posted in Retaining Walls

Winter can bring high moisture levels that can cause erosion on your property. This is especially true for lots that contain hills and slopes. When the soil erodes, it can ruin your landscaping efforts and even damage your home. One of the most affordable and aesthetically pleasing options to stabilize your property is with the addition of a paver retaining wall.

Benefit of Using Pavers for Retaining Walls

When it comes to stabilizing soil, you need a solid material for your retaining wall. While wood and natural stone boulders can both be used for erosion controlling walls, there are some benefits of using pavers, including:

  • Durable. Pavers will last for many years, unlike wood that can rot when in contact with soil.
  • Strength. Like natural stone boulders, pavers are strong enough to handle the heavy load of slope erosion, offering a solid foundation to stabilize your property. Many pavers are interlocking, offering even more stability.
  • Affordable. Pavers can be much less expensive than some other forms of stone. You can chose from marble or travertine pavers or man-made options like concrete or brick.
  • Beautiful. Pavers create a uniform, beautiful retaining wall that is also functional. There are many different sizes, shapes and colors to choose from.

If you want to protect your property from erosion damage this winter, consider adding a new retaining wall. There are many different styles and options that can add curb appeal to your home while adding erosion protection. Talk to your local contractor that offers paver retaining wall construction to discuss the best options for your home and budget before those winter storms start rolling in.

Posted on behalf of:
Tri County Pavers & Design
3300 S Congress Ave
Boynton Beach, FL 33426

Mar
28

Retaining Wall Repair

Posted in Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are used throughout the United States in order to create level areas for commercial, multi-family and residential structures, as well as parking lots and landscape areas.  In many cases they are also used hold sloping ground in place and to prevent erosion.  The design of retaining walls is complex and incorporates a variety of factors including the type of soils found at the site and the anticipated lateral forces that will be placed on the wall.  The materials used in retaining walls can include block, stone and concrete, as well as a number of different types of materials, which are used to anchor the wall into the slope.  In many cases, a water drainage system is used to reduce hydrostatic pressure on the wall as a result of ground water. 

Over time many retaining walls will be in need of repair to stabilize the wall, as well as the ground around the wall.  Often these retaining wall repairs are necessary due to the movement of soil and erosion around the wall.  The forces of nature can easily cause soils to sift and sudden erosion to take place, which can cause the wall and surrounding soils to become unstable.  

In most cases, the repair of an engineered retaining wall is complex and will require guidance from a qualified engineer and may require building permits and inspections.  Any retaining wall repair should only be done using a contractor familiar with retaining wall construction and repair.  In addition, the contractor used should be licensed and insured and should only use experienced workers, due to the risks involved. 

 Posted on behalf of Tri-County Pavers & Design Corp.

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