If you are a property owner who is interested in making your property safer while also increasing its value, you may not be a stranger to retaining walls. Many professionals in the real estate industry highly recommend getting one installed. According to appraisers, contractors, and real estate agents, retaining walls are certainly worth the investment.
Unfortunately, like all things, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to having a retaining wall installed in your home. Depending on your current situation, this may be the reason why you will be sold on the idea or will instead look for other solutions possible.
The advantages and disadvantages of installing retaining walls
Retaining walls – do you really need them? Or are they just an unworthy expense?
As mentioned earlier, owning one may be appealing, but there are some cases when you may not need it. If this is your current situation, identifying the benefits and disadvantages will go a long way. For a residential or commercial property owner, there is nothing worse than spending your money on building a structure that will not work for your needs.
Like many of us know, there are several types and materials used in retaining walls. There are gravity walls, gabion walls, cantilever, and more. Instead of giving you a general list of the pros and cons, we will categorize the pros and cons of each retaining wall according to their appearance, strength, resistance to weather, and price, instead.
Hopefully, the list below will help you decide on whether you have to contact a contractor. We will delve more into the materials and categorize them according to the areas they work best. Here are some of the pros and cons of the retaining wall types:
Pros and cons of walls according to their appearance
When it comes to appearance, it will be difficult to sort each retaining wall type and material just by our preference. After all, the term, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” still applies to retaining walls. Because of this, we will identify the reasons why the following types are preferred or disliked by the public instead.
Concrete retaining walls
Pros: Walls that use concrete material are highly preferred as they can be customized according to your taste. They can also replicate the appearance of other masonry at a much lower price.
Cons: The designing process of concrete walls requires a professional. Hence, it may be difficult to DIY if you are not willing to pay for a service.
Brick retaining walls
Pros: Many owners will usually prefer brick compared to other masonry because of its classic appeal. Also, there are other shades that it comes with aside from the standard, red, shade.
Cons: For some people, brick walls do not offer many options for customization as much. They can also look boring and repetitive for several owners who have a bold style.
Stone retaining walls
Pros: Stone walls are absolutely one of the most popular materials in the country. Due to its stylish and rich appeal, many owners love using them on their property.
Cons: Although it is possible to paint your stone in different shades, some owners will still want patterns and shades that may be attainable with other materials.
Timber retaining walls
Pros: For owners who love the homey appeal of wood, they may prefer the appeal of timber walls.
Cons: The boring and “old” look of timber walls may not sit well with several property owners.
Gabion retaining walls
Pros: As long as they were installed by an expert, many owners like the rough appeal of gabion.
Cons: Many people think gabion walls are unattractive due to their disorganized look.
Pros and cons of walls according to their durability
For this part, we will sort each pro and con of the following retaining wall types depending on strength and other factors such as weather resistance and more.
Concrete retaining walls
Pros: Concrete is one of the strongest and most durable materials that can be used for retaining walls.
Cons: Designing and installing a concrete wall needs to be done by a professional, or they will fail in a short time.
Brick retaining walls
Pros: Using bricks are beneficial as they come with fire and weather-resistant properties.
Cons: Brick walls have to be installed by a professional, or they will be faulty.
Stone retaining walls
Pros: Stone walls are popular as they are highly durable, long-lasting, and impervious to pest infestations.
Cons: They are slightly difficult to handle and requires an experienced contractor.
Timber retaining walls
Pros: Timber walls are useful for projects that do not require high levels of support capabilities.
Cons: Prone to rot, may not work well with moisture, and are highly flammable. Also, they can be the home of pests and other wood-boring insects.
Gabion retaining walls
Pros: Gabion walls are flexible, durable, and easy to install. They are useful in flood-prone and erosion-prone areas.
Cons: Wire mesh will eventually rust and will need replacement in a few years.
Pros and cons of walls according to their price
For this part, we will list the types of retaining walls from least to most expensive. This is due to the reason that we cannot decide if the prices are an advantage or a disadvantage, as each of us has our own budget.
The costs of installing a retaining wall based on the material used:
Gabion retaining walls
Using gabion for your wall will cost around $5 to $20 per square meter. Gabion is popular in rural areas due to its price-friendly rate and has been increasingly trendy in several cities as well.
Timber retaining walls
Using timber for your wall will cost around $15 to $30 per square meter. Depending on your location, it may be less or more expensive as the transportation costs will be factored in.
Brick retaining walls
Using brick for your wall will cost around $15 to $45 per square meter. Most often, bricks are used as veneers for a more stable structure.
Concrete retaining walls
Using concrete for your wall will cost around $15 to $80 per square meter. Although they are more expensive, concrete material is certainly worth its price. As mentioned above, the highly durable structure they make is high in durability.
Stone retaining walls
Using stone for your wall will cost around $25 to $40 per square meter. The high prices of stone walls are worth it when you factor in their longevity and durability.
Are retaining walls really worth your time and money?
If you ask us, we will say that having a retaining wall installed in your property is definitely worth the investment. However, the advantage it comes with has to be in accordance with your needs. Only then can you determine whether they will be a wonderful addition to your property.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Do you
- Have erosion or flooding problems?
- Want to increase your property’s value?
- Want to improve your property’s exterior appeal?
- Have to deal with trespassers on your property?
- Plan on selling your residential or commercial property in a couple of years?
If your answers to at least two questions above are “yes”, you will certainly benefit from having a retaining wall installed on your property. Just make sure to contact a professional and licensed installer for a smoother process.
