Sign up for our newsletter!

Landscape design and construction

Landscape Design and Construction

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls can be made out of many materials, ranging from wood, natural stone, manufactured concrete products and even poured in place concrete with natural stone coverings.There are many factors to be considered when determining what materials are best for the job. How high the wall will be, space required to build the wall, what type of surcharge will there be, drainage issues and of course customer preferences.

Boulder retaining walls are quite popular, but don’t have to be just stone, adding plant material softens the space and can also bring much needed color to a location making the wall not only functional but esthetically pleasing. This look is achieved by building the boulder wall from behind and filling in the gaps with soils and planting in between the stones. If space is an issue or more vertical retention is required a manufactured compliment is available. One such product is called Live Wall, it allows for plants to be planted in pockets throughout the face of the wall. Plant selection is only limited by how large the root ball of the plant being installed is. This wall system is built just like a manufactured retaining wall; with compacted road base and drainage system behind the wall.

Natural stone such as limestone makes for a great gravity wall. Requirements for such a wall are limited, a small to level the first course and then artistically set the stones in place. Taller walls require drainage to be installed behind the wall along with a more substantial base. The selection of stone used can range from large slabs such as the one shown or smaller pieces that are cut to be used in more confined locations where large equipment cannot be maneuvered. Space is always the factor when making the choice of what medium you choose when creating such a wall.

Manufactured concrete products are also available. These products are easy to assemble but do require a base and drainage system behind the wall to prevent the frequent freeze thaw in Michigan to cause the wall to fail. We have all seen block walls that have been improperly installed, uneven lines and tipping blocks. These are symptoms that continually get worse eventually causing the wall to collapse under its own weight. When properly installed walls can last for years without any issue.

Manufactured stones come in many shapes and sizes, giving you a choice of color and texture. These stone can also be used to help build steps to where grade is an issue.

Another application that manufactured stone walls can be used for is a free standing seat wall. These can be functional as well as aesthetic.