Retaining walls can be used as massive walls holding back several tons of dirt for commercial and industrial buildings and landscapes. Smaller walls can be used to stay land masses and slopes on your own property. It isn't difficult to find retaining walls in San Antonio. Take a stroll through the Riverwalk and your focus may be drawn to the stunning buildings, landscaping, and, of course, the trickling water of the river. None of this would be possible, however, without retaining walls that keep the buildings' foundations from pushing tons of soil into the river.
Your home probably doesn't need this type of heavy-duty retaining wall, but it doesn't mean it couldn't benefit from the basic function of these useful walls. Although San Antonio may not be nestled in a hilly terrain of marshland, many areas are a far cry from the desert plain that outsiders imagine. Plus, retaining walls can be a beautiful landscaping feature on their own right. San Antonio natives, swinging by RiverCenter Mall, are sure to remember a few things about the beauty and heritage of stone structures.
Retaining Walls in San Antonio, TX
If not the most beautiful, certainly the most useful yards are flat ones. Even a gently sloping yard can make such features as pools, ponds, decks, patios, and trampolines complicated if not altogether implausible. Of course, leveling your yard can reintroduce these options, but you'll probably need a retaining wall to keep your lawn level and prevent soil erosion.
In fact, even flat properties can build a purely aesthetic retaining stone wall. Particularly for larger properties, a stone wall can make for a great landscaping feature that will create dynamic contours for your property. Combine a stone wall with a beautiful wrought iron fence, and even a modestly-sized property can appropriate a timeless and classic elegance.
San Antonio Retaining Wall Installation
The size and nature of your retaining wall will determine its difficulty. All but the simplest retaining walls are purely for professional contractors. If you plan on building a dry stone retaining wall, which is essentially hauling stones and stacking them on top of one another, and your wall is short enough to circumvent the need for a building permit, you might be able to get away doing the work yourself. Otherwise, you'll need to hire someone trained and experienced in the construction of retaining walls.
More than risking simple craftsmanship, trying to take on your own retaining wall construction can be downright irresponsible. While a stone and mortar, brick and mortar, or poured concrete wall all take quite a bit of specialized expertise, the design of your wall can be just as critical to responsible building. Retaining walls are essentially miniature land dams that can have wide-ranging effects. If nothing else, you may be changing your lawn drainage, causing water problems for your yard or, worse, your neighbor's lawn.
Cost of Building Retaining Walls in San Antonio
As wide ranging as the effects and advantages of retaining walls can be, so are the costs of their construction. ServiceMagic tracks data on all the home improvement projects we process, including retaining walls in San Antonio. This data tells us that the average cost of a retaining wall is $5,000. This number may have little meaning for your specific project, though. It's not uncommon to see construction costs as little as $1,000 or more than $10,000. If you have an idea in mind for the wall you want, looking at the size, design, and construction method can help you guess where contractors' estimates are likely to fall.

Marcus Pickett is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.