Concrete vs. WoodRetaining Walls

Small Yards Made Big

Want to take your backyard and create something you can relax and/or entertain in for years to come? It can be done, just ask these homeowners. Like many older residences, retaining walls using treated timbers were common place, but now those timbers are deteriorating and need replacing.

The homeowners contacted Slaton Brothers of Colorado to explore the different options available and to start the process. With some ideas in mind, such as a stairway, built-in planters and a patio for entertaining, the homeowners were hoping Slaton Bros. could expand and give some life to their project. They met with Sam Blick who created a beautiful design that incorporated their ideas using the AB Europa Collection in a AB Abbey Blend patterned retaining walls with pavers in a matching color. The homeowners really liked their proposed design and were excited with the prospect of using their backyard for entertaining.

The Moran’s of Colorado knew that they would need to hire a contractor to tackle this project. Their property backed up to a church parking lot that was 10 ft (31 m) above them and was being retained with treated timbers. There was very limited access from the front yard to get the timbers out and new products in. Working around existing trees and numerous of utility lines added to the complexity of the project.

Once the project started, it went by quickly. With a 3 man crew, they started a full tear-out and rebuild working around the limited access from the back of the property. The treated timbers were the first thing to go. Slaton has the means to remove and dispose of them properly, so there were no added costs in having to hire a waste management company. Next was the excavation and preparing for placement of the retaining walls.

All the necessary equipment, blocks and materials were hand lowered into the backyard and lower retaining wall. There were four established evergreens and a cluster of utilities that made bringing in the materials a challenge, but Sam and his crew were up for the challenge. Within just a few weeks the project was done and the homeowners were ecstatic. It had turned out better than they could have imagined.

Soon after the project was completed the homeowners again called Slaton Bros. to come back and add a raised patio to their front entryway that included a winding pathway to their backyard. A complete and beautiful transformation.

Time to Replace Your Timber Retaining Wall?

Is your timber retaining wall starting to look old and gray or rotting in places? Worse yet, is it failing or threatening to fall down? These are definite indicators that something needs to be done.

Failing timber retaining walls can be a major source of hazard in your yard and surrounding properties and pose dangers to your friends and family. Over time, all wood retaining walls fail or simply deteriorate. Replacing with another wood retaining wall means knowing you will have to replace it again in the future once it again deteriorates and fails. Each replacement is a costly proposition. As the appearance of your timber retaining wall begins to fade so does its structural integrity. In many cases timber walls are incorrectly replaced by constructing a timber retaining wall in front of the old, and that can only lead to another short-term fix.

If you are looking for a durable material to replace your timber retaining wall, Allan Block is just the product you are looking for. Unlike treated timber, concrete block will neither fade nor decompose. Concrete retaining walls are safer, longer lasting, and more attractive in the long run. With the diverse collection of products in Allan Block you are sure to find a design that will suite your retaining wall needs.

Don’t put your safety and backyard at risk with another timber wall! Our friendly certified contractors and producers will help you plan, design, and build an Allan Block retaining wall system.

Contact your nearest Allan Block representative who can refer you to an AB Certified Contractor who can safely remove your old timbers and replace them with a beautiful long lasting Allan Block retaining wall that is safe for your environment.