Do you look at your yard and wonder why so little of it is actually usable for fun, everyday, family activities? You might be wondering, “When do I need a retaining wall in Bethesda, MD?” For centuries, retaining walls have helped create usable space from hillsides and areas prone to erosion and runoff problems. A wall might help your yard too.

The team here at East Coast Landscape Design can help you decide if a wall will improve your particular situation. We have a Senior Geotechnical Engineer on staff, with years of practical experience with the local soil and weather conditions. As our go-to expert, he can figure out if a wall will fix the condition and what type would work best.

Retaining walls aren’t one-size-fits-all. They need to be engineered to fit the specific conditions on your property. But there are general types of problems where they are commonly used. Here are 5 that we often see.

• House at the bottom of a steep hill. You don’t want a cascade of soil dumping on your house after a severe winter storm. A retaining wall can stabilize the soil and give you peace of mind.
• Too many hills. Hills can be hard to use for gardening, relaxing and playing. If you construct a series of retaining walls, you can create a terrace that frees up space. The land is flat, easy to get to, and usable for everyday activities. You also increase the value of your property because you have increased the amount of usable land.
• Unsightly patches of land due to erosion and runoff. When you construct a retaining wall, it helps to manage runoff and reduce erosion. The result is a more attractive landscape, as well as more usable outdoor space.
• Soil fault line. If your home is in the path of a soil fault line, it could be in danger due to cascading soil after a serious storm. By adding a retaining wall, you can protect your home and reduce your worries.
• Unstable soil. If the soil around your home’s foundation is unstable, a bad storm could result in damage to the house, undermining its structural integrity. A retaining wall will stabilize the soil and minimize or prevent damage.

What if you just want a retaining wall to add beauty to your landscape design? When do I need a retaining wall in Bethesda, MD, for aesthetic purposes? If you like the look of wall on your property, you can certainly have one built. We often construct them just for this reason. Here at East Coast, we take pride in using the highest quality natural and man-made materials so your wall fits in seamlessly with nature.

Call East Coast Landscape Design today to find out when do I need a retaining wall in Bethesda, MD.