Retaining walls are designed to hold back soil and add functional space, but they can also become important landscape design elements. Landscaping companies may suggest these ideas for a retaining wall in Rochester Hills, MI. Some of these ideas can be used on level land for aesthetic reasons and practical applications.
Related: 7 Ways Masonry Contractors Use Retaining Walls in Macomb and Canton, MI
1. Rustic Stacked Stone Walls
Natural stone walls blend beautifully into the landscape, especially if you use fieldstone or flagstone native to the area. No two types of natural stone are alike: Your wall will be 100% unique. Natural stone walls can be straight or curved, dry-stack or mortared, but stone structural retaining walls do have a maximum height limit, and you may need to opt for an engineered wall.
2. An Amphitheater-Style Fire Pit Area
Retaining walls can carve out additional living space on a sloped property. Use a wall to create a cozy fire pit area with a view. The wall can hold in heat, and built-in seating along the wall can maintain the views. And for larger gatherings, built-in seating reduces clutter around the fire pit area.
Consider multi-level built-in seating for an amphitheater-style fire area. You could fuel the fire with gas so that there is no smoke annoying anyone on the higher levels.
3. All-In-One Retaining Wall/Outdoor Kitchen
Integrating an outdoor kitchen with a retaining wall can make sense practically and aesthetically. For one, a terraced garden could let you grow fragrant herbs to give your outdoor kitchen an incredible ambience.
4. Ring a Tree
The area immediately under a tree is often barren. If you do have grass there, you could risk damaging the roots as mowing occurs. Protect the tree with a retaining wall that also creates an attractive shade-friendly plant bed. This wall could be just a few inches high and made with dry-stacked fieldstone, up to chair height for a shady place to sit on a hot summer day. Fill the space around the tree with hardy shade-loving plants for an elegant look.
5. Water Features
Retaining walls can do double duty as a wall and a water feature that can turn your backyard into a calming oasis. There are many styles of water features to consider, from the look of a Roman faucet to scuppers to a sheer-descent waterfall, and much more.
6. Concrete Blocks: Potentially More for Your Investment
Concrete landscaping blocks can feature self-locking flanges at the back to create the perfect setback for a structural retaining wall. Some concrete block walls can be installed mortarless for fast installation and potential time savings on a landscaping project. Today’s concrete blocks can look like tumbled quarry stone to complement a relaxed outdoor space.
7. Personalized Stone Veneer
Today, many retaining walls are constructed using a concrete block interior that is then clad in natural stone or manufactured stone veneer (thin slices of stone attached to the blocks using mortar). This option gives you incredible design options that include a huge variety of veneers as well as decorative bands and accents.
8. Ultra-Modern Corten Steel Walls
Corten (or COR-TEN) steel is a durable metal sheet made with alloys that cause the surface to develop a protective rust coating. The stunning, simple look is ideal for ultra-modern spaces.
9. Classic Brick Walls
A classic brick wall gives a formal appearance to your outdoor spaces. At the same time, brick is filled with character. Imagine a brick seat wall topped with bluestone that spans the length of an entry walkway, to make your guests feel welcome even before they reach your front door.
Related: Is Your Retaining Wall Structurally Sound? Things to Consider in Canton and Troy, MI, Areas
