3 Important Things to Consider if you are Thinking about Building a Retaining Wall
If you are looking to build a retaining wall, there are some important factors that you should consider first.
19/08/2021
There are many reasons why you could be
looking to put up a
retaining wall North
Vancouver. This is one of the most effective
ways to improve the aesthetics of your home and
your compound, especially if you are on an
ugly-looking hilly terrain.
Don’t get it
wrong, living in the hills sounds great, but
only if you know how to create the perfect
design or hire the best designers. Retaining
walls can help create beautiful spaces like
gardens and a place to relax on areas in your
compound that initially looked unusable.
However, if you are looking to build a retaining
wall, there are some important factors that you
should consider first. The last thing you want
is to make wrong assumptions and do wrong
calculations, which end up causing more harm
than being beneficial. Check them out below;
The Design
Design is one of the most important factors to consider before you start your project. Keeping in mind that there are multiple different materials and designs available, you want to make sure that you choose only the best suitable for our particular project.
Some of the things to keep in mind when it comes to design include;
• The material
Materials come in a wide range, available in different shapes and colors, and different qualities. Brick walls are the most popular material when it comes to building terrains. They are strong, durable, and fit different landscapes.
• Codes
You want to make sure that your retaining wall is built on a good foundation. The rule of thumb is the taller the retaining walls the deeper ground level the base needs to be. Areas with retaining walls that are taller than four feet have codes that require them to be designed and built by a professional.
• Drains
While you are designing your retaining walls, drainage is one of the important factors you want to keep in mind. You want to make sure that you build efficient drainage to prevent water from penetrating the structure.
Size Matters
Size is another factor that you want to keep
at the back of your mind. While designing your
retaining wall, you can decide on just about any
size you want your wall to be. However, you want
to make sure that it is the right size.
Sizes less than four feet are easily planned and
built with ease. However, if you choose any size
above four feet, then this requires more
expertise and may need engineers' or
professional input.
Other factors to
keep in mind include;
• Design
The design and size of your retaining wall should be determined by the design of your home, structures around, the environment, and of course your general home appearance. You want the size to compliment the look of your property.
• Purpose
There are many reasons why you may want to create a retaining wall. Some people like retaining walls around their gardens. You may also want to build a retaining wall around the place you would want to relax, or build one around your kids’ play area. Different needs require different sizes.
Check with the Authorities
This should probably have been the number one
factor on this list. If you want to build a
retaining wall, it is important to know that
informing the authorities is one of your
responsibilities.
There are many reasons
why this is an important step. First and
foremost, building a retaining wall will affect
the environment and your neighbors in one way or
another. For example, it is going to affect the
natural flow of water.
For this reason,
you may need to get a permit before you begin
the construction. You can submit your plan for
the wall and a property inspection to make sure
that your building retaining wall won’t affect
drainage.