Knowing Which Contractors To Work With

If you want to rejuvenate your existing landscaping or add definition to your yard, you can do so by hiring a masonry contractor to build a stone retaining wall. A retaining wall is a structure built specifically for holding back soil. Check out a few important details that you need to know about adding a retaining wall to your property.

1. You Can Choose from Multiple Materials

Once you start the process of adding a retaining wall to your yard, one decision that you'll need to make is what kind of wall you want your contractor to build. There are a few different materials that are commonly used for erecting retaining walls. Natural stone, brick, limestone, and concrete blocks are some of the most popular selections that have the strength required to hold back pounds of heavy soil.

One material that you should avoid using for your retaining wall is wood. Even though a wood retaining wall will be cheaper than a wall that uses some type of stone, the wall will have a significantly shorter lifespan and wide up costing more money in the long run (due to the cost of constantly repairing or replacing the wall).

Consider your decor and preferred textures or hues when selecting stone materials for your wall. Other details that you should evaluate are your preferred height for the wall and the work associated with removing the wall. Certain types of materials work best for different heights, while other solutions are tricky to remove. 

2. There are Two Main Types of Retaining Walls

Another detail you'll need to decide on is what type of retaining wall is best for your yard. There are two prevalent types of walls: the gravity retaining wall and the geogrid reinforced retaining wall.

A gravity retaining wall uses the weight of the blocks to hold the wall in place. This is a preferred design for walls with shorter heights. A geogrid reinforced retaining wall requires some type of addition to reinforce the wall and give it additional strength. These walls are suitable for holding back large amounts of heavy earth. 

3. Hiring a Professional Helps Ensure the Longevity of Your Retaining Wall

Though it's possible to erect your own retaining wall, this is a job best left to an experienced masonry contractor. You want to check that the wall is built in a way that permits proper draining of your landscaping. The process required to build a wall requires a large amount of labor to move heavy stone materials. Your back will thank you if you outsource the job to a contractor. 

For more information about masonry services, contact a company like Mercer County Chimney Services.