Empire Walls - Choose the best materials for your retaining wall

There are a few different options to choose from when you’re looking at building a retaining wall.

Bricks and blocks
Stack stones
Timber and steel uprights

Bricks and blocks are a pretty common material used in the construction of walls of any kind. The uniformly shaped individual units are laid in courses, with mortar to bed and bind together. Whilst a number of different materials used can the most common are brick, stone (e.g. marble, granite, travertine, limestone), manufactured stone, concrete, glass, stucco and tile.

Whilst the overall aesthetic of a bricks and blocks retaining wall may suit your project, this option can end up being quite expensive. Not only do you have to factor in the cost of materials, but due to the nature of the job and the amount of work involved, labour costs can often soar and break your budget.

Dry stack stone retaining walls have been used for centuries and are very common in the UK, US, and Europe. These retaining walls enable natural drainage whilst also preventing soil erosion.

There are some of the key advantages of dry stacked retaining walls. They give a natural and rustic look that blends in well with any garden features and outdoor spaces. And they also provide a natural barrier against soil erosion and can be designed to feature in the garden, or they can be designed to completely blend into the rest of the landscape.

But it’s not a one size fits all solution when you are considering the stack stone wall. Professional builders recommend that stack stones only be used for walls with a height of under 800mm. Which, in all likelihood, cancels out about 85% of all retaining walls that are built.

In our honest opinion, the best option for your retaining wall is timber and steel uprights.

A timber retaining wall can be simple or complex. It can have upright pieces and capping or be a simple design with no ornamentation other than the natural appearance of the timber. If steel uprights and timber is professionally installed, it can last many years and enhance the appearance of your yard. It’s also a much more cost effective option and the end product looks a million dollars, especially when you hire someone who specialises in the design and creation of this particular style of retaining wall.

At Empire Retaining Walls, retaining walls are our passion. In fact, it’s all we do. And it’s why we have become the absolute best in the area.