Choosing the Best Retaining Wall

Finding the right option for your landscape

While it’s nice to think that people don’t really notice or care about it, the reality is that our neighbors pay a lot of attention to the outside of our homes. They can love you to pieces but still wish you’d do something about your sagging steps or overgrown landscaping. The curb appeal of your home affects you, too – just think about every time you leave the house and come home again, do you see a “home” or a list of undone chores and maintenance?

So how do you make your house look more like a home? This is the exact question our homeowners asked themselves when they came to the realization that their rotting timber retaining wall was the eyesore of the neighborhood.

With a front entry like theirs, these homeowners knew that they could not simply replace the failing retaining wall and stairway years ago, they now knew that it was not the best choice. After doing some research and cost comparisons, they decided building a concrete retaining wall and stairway would not only be visually exciting, but would stand the test of time. They will not have to worry about the expense of replacing their entryway again.

Their landscape contractor designed a series of walls and stairs to provide a seamless transition from the driveway to the front door. They also included some planting areas to soften and accentuate the new walls.

The contractor had Amcon Block of St. Cloud, MN deliver the product to the jobsite and the project was completed in a couple of weeks. Using the entire AB Collection of retaining wall products, they blended the four different block shapes together to create an AB Ashlar Blend Pattern for a beautiful style that complimented the home. A pair of entry posts were added using the AB Courtyard Collection to give the entryway an inviting path to the front door. The homeowner’s house is more than just a “home”, they are now the neighbor’s to “keep up with".

Comparing Retaining Walls: Make the Best Choice for Your Landscape

There are many different options to choose from when you need a retaining wall. Here is a quick visual comparison of the different types of products to help you make the best choice for your landscaping:

The comparison chart below highlights the features of the different retaining wall systems. Once you have made your choice, contact a properly trained contractor to ensure you receive the best results for your project.

	Allan Block SRW	Treated Wood	Natural Stone	Boulders	Mortared Concrete Block	Cast-In-Place Concrete
Product Durability	✓	No	✓	✓	✓	✓
Unlimited Design Options	✓	No	✓	No	No	✓
Easy to Install	✓	✓	No	No	No	No
No Footing Required Below Frost Depth	✓	✓	✓	✓	Footing Required	Footing Required
Wall Flexibility	✓	No	✓	✓	No	No
Low Cost Materials	✓	✓	No	✓	No	No
Applications	Residential Commercial	Residential	Residential	Residential Commercial	Residential Commercial	Commercial
Contractor Profitability	↑	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
Product Growth Potential	↑	↓	Stable	↓	↓	Stable
Average Costs/Sq.Ft	$15-$25	$18-$25	$25-$40	$15-$30	$30-$40	$40-$70