A brick retaining wall is a solid wall made of brick that acts as a barrier between a lawn and its elements. It also prevents soil from being pulled by water. According to retaining wall contractors, the walls have many parts. The first part that they have is the foundation. It’s made from concrete or mortar and lies directly on the ground.
The units also have weep holes. These are small sections of pipe that are inserted along the wall. They are inserted a few feet from each other depending on the length of the wall. The main role of the holes is to prevent excess moisture from putting a lot of moisture on the wall.
The weep holes also serve as drainage systems during large storms.
Factors to consider when constructing a brick retaining wall
To design a beautiful wall you need to consider a number of factors. These factors include:
Size: Average brick retaining walls range between 2-4 feet high and 4-30 feet long. You can construct any size of brick wall depending on your needs.
Masonry contractor: Construction of a brick retaining wall involves joining the bricks with mortar. Not every person can effectively join the bricks. The construction also involves excavation and deep planning. For the work to be done professionally you need to ensure that the contractor you hire is experienced enough.
Drainage: Drainage is crucial. Poor or no drainage can result to collapse of the retaining wall. Before you even start the project, survey the area and agree with the retaining wall company on the best place to install the drainage system.
Decorations: To eliminate the ugly look of the retaining wall you need to decorate it. There are many ways in which you can decorate the walls. One of the ways is by painting. Agree with your contractor on the paint that will look great on your wall. Another way of decorating the wall is using art. You can place metal sculptures or concrete statues against the wall to improve its look.
Flowers have also been found be very effective in decorating the walls. You can plant a flower to grow against the wall or place a row of flower pots along the top ledge of the wall.
Conclusion
In addition to effectively preventing soil erosion, a brick retaining wall also gives you an opportunity to decorate your backyard. There are many retaining wall designs that you can go with. You only need to agree with your landscaping company on the design that looks great on your yard.