When you look at your wood retaining wall, what do you see? Is it leaning over in a way that suggests a lawsuit waiting to happen? Or is it simply becoming an eyesore in your neighborhood full of warped and rotting boards? If your wood retaining wall is looking worse for wear, it may be time to consider replacing it. Wood retaining walls can be repaired, but if you want to upgrade the look of your home with a retaining wall that will be hassle free for years to come, interlocking concrete block retaining wall is what you need.
What is a Retaining Wall? Retaining walls are protective structures that have become eye-catching parts of yards in Coquitlam and in surrounding communities. When used in a yard, they serve as a border identifying the boundary of a home, as a decorative landscaping element, or to prevent erosion. One of the primary uses of retaining walls in residential settings is as a method of correcting the natural slope of the yard. This provides a flat areas for landscaping or building a patio. Retaining walls need to be strong, weather resistant, and built to last. Retaining walls can be built out of several materials, but the most common are wood, brick, stones, and concrete blocks. Installing a retaining wall can improve the look of your home and increase the property's value. The materials used will determine the amount of maintenance required to maintain the look and function of your retaining wall. Wood retaining walls require more maintenance than a retaining wall made of concrete block or stone. Repair or Replace? That is the Question. Wooden retaining walls naturally weather. That is part of their charm. As a homeowner, it is important that you are aware of the point when charm turns to unsafe. Wood retaining walls will provide visual cues when it is time to focus some attention on its maintenance. Some of those visual cues are:
If the wall is structurally sound and you are looking to save a little money, you can try replacing the boards that are damaged with new ones. If you do attempt to replace damaged boards, you will need to ensure you are replacing them with boards that are treated so they can withstand the moisture from the soil. Keep in mind that you are using wood, and no matter what it is treated with, water will seep into the wood, eventually. Treated wood just slows the processes that can cause damage to wooden boards. One other note about treated wood is that it can be bad for your health and the environment. The chemicals used to treat the wood are known to cause cancer, so long-term exposure to the wood can be bad for your health. The chemicals in the wood can also leach into the soil, which can be bad for the environment. If you inspect your wall and determine the structure to be damaged, you may want to replace the wall instead of trying to repair it. Interlocking Concrete Block There are several advantages to replacing an old wood retaining wall with one made of concrete blocks.
For all of its advantages, there are a few potential disadvantages to be aware of. First, you will want to give some thought to the design. Stacking concrete block may seem like an easy weekend project, but you will want to give some thought to the design ahead of time so you purchase the right amount of block. If you decide to go with poured concrete, hire a professional, as building the forms and ensuring your concrete is poured and cured properly with enough strength and drainage is a bit beyond an average DIY project. Second, concrete block retaining walls do not have footings. The lack of support footings limits the height of the retaining wall to four feet. If you need to go higher than four feet, you will need to discuss other styles of concrete retaining walls with a contractor. Retaining walls are great ways to improve the look and function of your yard. If your home has an old wood retaining wall that needs to be replaced, seek the retaining wall pros from Coquitlam Retaining Walls for a second opinion.
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