The Uses for Retaining Walls up to 1M High

Functional Space

• Modifying slopes to reach a point of stability and prevent erosion without building structures requires space, but land availability is limited. A retaining wall conserves land and creates level, functional space on the low side. Retaining walls can help add more parking space, room for an outbuilding, patio or walkway, and create accessibility for the physically challenged. Incorporating the retaining wall as part of the design of a landscape feature adds interest and function to it. For example, retaining walls can be used as seating.

Design Element

• Retaining walls can serve as design elements in the landscape. As a vertical element, it provides a "wall" for the outdoor room and offers a strong visual line in the landscape. It can be used to define a boundary and help guide the visitor to a desirable point, such as a view or landscape feature. Retaining walls are also a transitional design element; the visual link between the constructed landscape and the natural environment.

Terraces

• Steep slopes can be terraced into a series of moderate slopes using several low retaining walls instead of one very high one. Terraces are especially effective for creating more space for planting, increasing productivity of the land. The deep beds can extend the growing season, warming up more quickly in the spring. Terraced retaining walls generally require a building permit; the higher wall imposes pressure on the lower one, and engineering advice is usually needed.

Retaining Wall Design

• Retaining walls 1 m high or less are relatively simple to build compared to higher walls, but they're still load-bearing elements and need to be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the soil being retained. Even low retaining walls can create lasting solutions for difficult sites. Less visually dominant than high walls, they are versatile with an aesthetically pleasing effect on the landscape.