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Health & Fitness

Atlanta Retaining Wall Info

A retaining wall is the best way to turn an unusable yard into a level and safe place that you can use. Properly built they can level uneven terrain and create a beautiful and functional space throughout your yard.

When building a retaining wall that is meant to hold back several tons of soil, a solid base and a channel for water to drain away from the wall are two of the main issues that should be considered. Depending on your budget, retaining walls can be made from several types of material including natural stone, concrete, old railroad ties, landscape timbers, and others. One of the best ways to decide what type of material to use is to decide what look you want for your yard, the height of the wall, the type of soil that is being retained, and if there is an object of significant weight located in the area where the wall is to be constructed.

Many people underestimate the engineering that is required to build a retaining wall; there must be a solid base that is created by digging out a trench below the soil and adding gravel and/or sand to that trench to help create a solid and level foundation in which to begin building the wall. Each layer of the wall requires careful stacking and is usually staggered in order to create a strong support system that isn’t susceptible to bowing or collapsing.

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It is important to check local building codes before building a retaining wall as there are height requirements that must be adhered to for do-it-yourselfers. If the retaining wall you are planning is taller than what is legally allowed by a do-it-yourselfer, then the homeowner must hire a company that has a licensed engineer. An engineer is needed because they have been trained as to how to perform the proper calculations to ensure the wall is structurally solid.

If you need help with your retaining wall, feel free to reach out to us via our website below.

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