Retaining Your Soil’s Sanity
If anyone needs proof that the earth isn’t flat, it only takes a drive around San Antonio to confirm the obvious. The Hill Country is beautiful, but its rolling terrain slips landscaping challenges into your best-laid plans for a stable yard. An attractive retaining wall can shore up your shifting scenery and restore some sanity to the area’s expansive soil.
Walls That Work Hard
Retaining walls might look like ornamental additions to a landscape, but the Riverwalk wouldn’t exist without these humble feats of engineering. While they appear to define the water’s flow, they actually support the massive soil foundations of the buildings that line the river’s banks. Even a small wall performs the same vital function: It acts as a barrier that shores up soil along changes in the landscape’s elevation. The wall’s strength rests on a base built below ground level and a compacted backfill that supports its height. Add proper drainage, and you have a structure that efficiently redefines natural ground level.
Barriers That Solve Problems
Natural slopes in the terrain add beauty to the countryside, but they turn into off-kilter obstacles when you want to build something. Patios, pools and decks don’t sit well on a tilt, and gardening shouldn’t be a downhill sport. Retaining walls level the field, and when properly installed, they ensure that your part of the earth stays flat. Their design prevents erosion by controlling and directing water flow, and they act as wind breaks for delicate plants. Whether they’re constructed of plain concrete blocks or the finest fieldstone, these simple walls create long-lasting solutions to natural problems.
Looks That Landscapes Love
It’s easy to appreciate retaining walls for their sturdy function and the benefits they quietly maintain on your property. With the right materials and a touch of design, these installations rise above their everyday jobs and create a unique profile that complements any landscaping plan. Granite and limestone are natural choices for central Texas yards, but you can replicate their look with simulated materials. Terracing brings a special beauty to large areas while it solves serious sloping problems. From establishing borders to shoring up driveways, the sight line of a well-built wall defines your property and lends ornamental grace to its landscape.
Never overlook the power of retaining walls to help you climb on top of elevation problems. For more ideas about these functional, attractive additions to your yard, give our friendly pros a call here at ABC Home & Commercial Services in San Antonio, or visit our website to schedule service.