Retaining Wall Replacement in Webster Groves

Retaining Wall System

This retaining wall used to be a railroad tie wall. It was the old creosote railroad ties, lasted about 20 years before they started to rot. We needed to replace them. This wall, the linear footprint and the height and everything. Very little change from the original. One thing we did do is we added steps, that I’ll get to, and a swale on top of the wall. So there was a lot of water coming down this hill that got behind the old wall, this helped speed up its failure rate.

Managing the Water Flow

So we cut a swale in, which is basically a trench with negative grade so that any water coming down this hill will fall into the swale. Follow the negative, grade down and around. And it doesn’t put that hydrostatic pressure behind my new beautiful retaining wall. We also added steps in. Now, adding steps into a project is always a difficult proposition.

Adding Steps

What I mean by that is putting these steps in the middle of the wall is obviously going to be the most attractive option, but it’s not always very practical. So we decided to push these over into the corner so that we could replace the patio, put in a much larger concrete patio and we put in a trampoline over here. So now this whole backyard is protected, it’s usable and it’s efficient.

Landscaping projects can be a big decision for any homeowner. At Big Bend Landscaping, we strive to make the project as smooth as possible. We provide all of the detailed drawings and permits to get your project done. As always, your first initial consultation and estimate are free of charge. See other Big Bend Landscaping projects here.