Many homeowners decide to install retaining walls on their properties, and this could be a project that you're thinking about, too. After all, you might have your concerns about flooding, erosion, or other issues. Along with determining the material that your retaining wall will be made from and the exact location where you want it to be built, you'll need to determine how tall it should be. This is a more important factor than you might think for these reasons.
It Impacts the Cost of the Project
First of all, the cost of your project is going to be impacted by how tall it is. If you're having a retaining wall built from brick or stone, then more of the brick or stone and mortar will be needed for a taller wall. If your retaining wall is over a certain height, then bracing might be needed, and the materials for the brace or anchor will add to your project cost. Plus, it will take longer for someone to build a taller retaining wall. Therefore, even though you will want to be sure that your retaining wall is tall enough, you shouldn't make it taller than necessary. Otherwise, you might spend more on your retaining wall project than you had originally intended.
It Affects How Effective the Wall Is
Even though you might think that a retaining wall will work nicely for improving the look of your property, the main reason why you might be having it installed could be for more practical reasons. Therefore, you'll want to be sure that your retaining wall is tall enough to do its job of protecting your property, and you'll want to be sure that it will hold up well.
There Might Be Zoning Regulations
In many places, homeowners are allowed to build retaining walls on their properties. You might not even have to apply for a permit if your wall isn't going to be over a certain height. However, there might be regulations about how tall your retaining wall can be, with or without a permit, and you should find out about this.
If you are worried about erosion, flooding, or both on your property, then you might be interested in installing one or more retaining walls. Of course, when doing something like this, you should be sure that you think through each step of the process properly. Luckily, someone who builds retaining walls should be able to help you choose an appropriate height for the one or more retaining walls that you're installing on your property.
For more information, contact a landscape company like Sculptured Earth.
