Retaining walls can be essential elements of great hardscaping design, but in order to be successful, they must be well-built and carefully designed. Retaining walls serve an important dual function of not only managing the terrain to improve navigation and prevent erosion, but also to create a decorative element on the property. Proper retaining wall construction can elevate the look of a property while effortlessly improving its functionality.
Hiring the right retaining wall contractor is key to the success of your project. The professionals at Triad Associates have been building retaining walls in the Haverhill, MA, area for four decades, and they have a reputation for exceptional workmanship and long-lasting results. When you work with our retaining wall contractors, you can be sure that you’ll be making a lasting investment in your property.
What is a Retaining Wall?
A retaining wall is a wall that is built with the purpose of holding back, or retaining, a portion of land. Typically, residential retaining walls are of a low height, and they are used to provide greater control to sloped terrain. However, retaining walls can be built quite high, so long as they are built with the right retaining wall construction materials and techniques.
Though most homeowners would find they need a retaining wall to control a moderately sloped terrain—such as to install a garden or to maintain better control over the lawn or planted areas—some find that they need solutions for much steeper slopes or drop-offs. For example, a high retaining wall might be built at the edge of a property, where it drops off into a wooded area or next to another property. Or a retaining wall could be built along the front of a property, where the yard meets with a drainage area. The retaining wall prevents erosion and makes the area of land behind the wall easier to plant or otherwise maintain.
Retaining Wall Design in Haverhill, MA
A retaining wall can serve as a signature piece of your outdoor design. Retaining walls tend to take up a good chunk of real estate, so they draw in the viewer. By choosing a fantastic design for your retaining wall, you can set the tone for the rest of your hardscaping and landscaping. The retaining wall can stand alone with landscaping, or you can build other hardscaping elements around it to really make an impact.
The contractors at Triad Associates use 3D project design software to help clients visualize their options for retaining wall construction. You can easily see how different materials, sizes, and design options can change the visual impact in your space so that you can make the right choice.
Retaining Wall Construction in Haverhill, MA
Designing a long-lasting and effective retaining wall requires much more than an eye for style. It requires expert knowledge of land management, including the right structure and materials to hold back the weight of the soil, to manage drainage from rain and groundwater, and much more. Without this knowledge, a retaining wall will lean, crumble, or even fall over with time.
The expert designers at Triad Associates have the right training and experience to design and build any type of retaining wall that might be needed, no matter the severity of the slope or the other land characteristics involved. You can feel confident knowing that when one of our contractors builds your retaining wall, it will stand the test of time for many years to come.
Retaining Wall Design Ideas
Retaining walls need not be little more than functional monoliths. There is a great deal of room for creativity so that you can find a solution that suits your property’s needs and shows off your personal style. You can explore popular trends and design ideas to give you some inspiration for what you might like to see on your property. These retaining wall ideas are often in conjunction with other hardscaping elements, such as pathways, steps, water features, and more.
Once you have gotten some inspiration, you can work closely with the retaining wall construction designers at Triad Associates to create the perfect design for your property. Our designers will talk through your property’s needs and your style preferences and then present you with some tailored recommendations. We use sketches, material samples, and 3D design software to help you visualize the options, ensuring that we create a design that you’ll love.
Types of Retaining Walls
Not all retaining walls are the same. In learning about the different options, you can better choose which would be the right solution for your property. Talk through these options with your retaining wall contractor from Triad Associates to learn which would offer you the best, long-term solution:
Gravity Retaining Walls
Gravity retaining walls rely on their significant weight to hold up the earth behind them. These walls are made of large, heavy blocks that can support a great height and a great mass of land. The larger the land area, the larger and heavier the blocks would need to be. Your retaining wall contractor will choose the appropriate blocks dependent on the needs of your landscape.
Cantilever Retaining Walls
Cantilever retaining walls have an inverted T-shape. The visible wall is connected to a reinforced concrete base that lies below the soil. This type of retaining wall is often used along roadways, but it can also be used in various residential designs. The wall can only be used in certain conditions, and proper drainage must be incorporated into it.
Segmental Retaining Walls
Segmental retaining walls are used for much smaller areas of land with lower heights. These walls are made of interconnected courses, usually joined by pins or by overlapping stone pieces. These walls are laid without mortar. You commonly see these types of retaining walls around low areas and garden beds or planted areas.
Materials Used in Retaining Wall Construction
The type of retaining wall materials used are dependent upon many factors, including the type of wall to be built, how much land must be supported, and the overall design aesthetic that is desired. When planning for retaining wall construction, it’s crucial to consider these elements to ensure the wall’s functionality and visual appeal.
Concrete
Concrete is a popular option for retaining walls because it is strong, affordable, and flexible. Concrete can be poured, or it can be troweled onto cement block. It can be stamped, stained, and carved to take on a variety of designs.
Natural Stone
Natural stone is a more sophisticated option for retaining walls that can elevate their design. Different types of stone block can be used, or you can even create a wall by stacking actual stones.
Concrete Blocks
Concrete blocks can take on a number of designs, colors, shapes, and textures, giving you wide variety in your design choices.
Timber
Timber beams are an excellent option for natural looking retaining walls. These beams can be stacked and joined to create a lovely retaining wall that will blend with the surrounding landscaping elements.
Importance of a Retaining Walls
Retaining walls serve an important role in hardscaping. They help to better manage the land. They help to reduce erosion so that you can maintain the integrity of your property and preserve nutrients in the soil for the health of the landscape. They make it easier for you to navigate and maintain your property, such as for mowing it or even just walking from one section to another. They also help to define areas of your property better, rather than leaving certain areas unnavigable and untended. Proper retaining wall construction helps to maximize these benefits for the long term.
Retaining Wall Construction Costs
Exactly how much a retaining wall will cost to build depends on a lot of factors, including the expertise of the builder you choose, the materials you choose, the size of the wall, and the type of design you need. Therefore, costs can vary widely. However, a general average will be about $25 per square foot.
Why Hire a Local Retaining Wall Expert?
When you begin your search for a retaining wall contractor, be sure you stick to local experts. Local retaining wall contractors will have a better understanding of how climate will impact the functionality and performance of your wall in the long term and can, therefore, design an effective solution for you. Additionally, local retaining wall contractors will have connections to the community. Not only does that mean that they have a reputation you can investigate, but they also have a reason to do a good job and protect the relationships and the reputation they have established. Choosing local experts helps ensure the best outcomes for your retaining wall construction.
Hire Triad Associates’ Retaining Wall Experts Today
The designers at Triad Associates are experts in retaining walls. Call us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about the solutions we can design for you. Our contractors are ready to help you shape your property, making it healthier and easier to maintain, while also improving its natural beauty. We can design a retaining wall by itself or can include it in a larger hardscaping design package that can transform your property. Contact us today to begin exploring your options, and learn why we are the hardscaping experts that Haverhill, MA, residents trust with their properties!
