Many homeowners are now turning to retain walls using woods as a natural charm enhancer. Retaining walls is an excellent way to utilize your sloped landscapes to create something naturally impressive. Also, it’s pretty affordable to retain a wall; hence, you won’t be spending too much money.
You can retain your wall from any material, but wood is used the most. This is mainly because of wood’s strength, durability, and rustic appearance. So, if you want to utilize your slopes better by adding some decorative flair to them, using wood to retain your wall will be a good choice.
Below are a few steps to guide you regarding retaining your wall and a few wood types considered best for wall retaining.
Steps to Retain a Wall
Retaining a wall is wise to use your sloped landscapes for something much better. However, it will take plenty of time and effort, so you must be prepared for it. You can always hire someone to do it, but truth be told, it isn’t a job that you cannot do yourself.
So, we suggest you try doing it yourself; if you face difficulty, you can call for help. In the meantime, here are a few steps for retaining a wall.
Do Your Planning
It’s always better to plan ahead. If you’re about to indulge in a time-taking activity, you’ll have to plan out every little thing.
First, decide where you want to retain a wall. You will also have to make some rough calculations to know precisely how much material will you need. The more extensive your planning, the better you’ll execute.
Cut the Slope
The next step on the list is cutting the slope. You will have to arrange a shovel for that. Once you have it, you will have to dig a hole in your slope – the slope doesn’t have to be too deep. Also, please make a note not to dig down but sideways.
It would help if you dug deep enough to give yourself the room to work on your retaining wall and build it successfully. Hence, this is a necessary step in the process.
Pick Out Your Wood
Ideally, it’s advised you should do this while planning your retaining wall. However, if you’re done making measurements and digging holes with your shovel, you should choose a wood type for your wall retaining.
The quality of your wood will directly impact the quality of your wall. So, please be mindful of the wood you choose. If you don’t, your wall might collapse and break.
Best Wood for Retaining Wall
Picking off right where we left off: choosing wood for your wall retaining. You’ll find numerous wood types when you go to the market; however, you’ll have to choose the sturdiest one.
The better the wood is, the more quality your retained wall will have. You can take a professional to help you choose the best quality wood. Here are a few wood types to consider for retaining a wall.
Cedar
The first wood on the list is undoubtedly cedar. Cedarwood is considered an excellent wood to work with due to its durability and strength. This piece of wood won’t disappoint as it’s commonly used to build many things, including furniture, walls, floors, etc.
Cedarwood will last pretty long, so you won’t have to worry about spending piles of money on replacing it if it wears out (it won’t happen!).
Also, cedar is highly rot-resistant, making it prone to feasted on by insects. You’ll be happy to know that cedarwood doesn’t decay quickly, making it almost damage-free.
Cypress
Cypress is another wood we suggest using to retain a wall. It’s moderately hard, giving it the features of hardwood but making it easy to work with, like softwood. Some say cypress is the perfect in-between piece of wood for building walls.
It works with tools reasonably better than other woods, making it an ideal piece of wood. Also, cypress is highly water-resistant, meaning no amount of water spillage will wear or fade it out.
Cypress is known to have excellent finishing properties, making it the perfect choice for retaining a wall.
Redwood
If you want your retained wall to look stunning, using redwood is the way to go. It comes in dark and rich colors, allowing you to have a great wall. Redwood has soft and smooth grains, making it ideal for tools and hands. Its durability makes it a winning piece of wood, as it lasts pretty long.
Once you’ve built your wall using redwood, you’re all set for years. This isn’t the case with many kinds of wood, as some are not decay-resistant. However, that doesn’t include redwood. This wood type is highly decay-resistant and immune from insects or termites. Overall, redwood has all the qualities of excellent wood.
Teak
Look no more, as teak will serve you pretty well if you’re looking for a wood type perfect for outdoor use. Teakwood will be an excellent choice due to its beneficial traits. One of teakwood’s features includes being highly heat-resistant; this should make this wood your go-to for any outdoor use, such as wall retaining.
The more heat-resistant a piece of wood will be, the more its longevity. Besides, teakwood is also rot-resistant, so please know you don’t have to worry about this wood wearing out so quickly. Teakwood is considered a versatile wood as it has many applications. This wood type also has a strong aroma, making it a rich wood.
Douglas Fir
Last on the list is Douglas Fir, an equally excellent piece of wood as all the others mentioned above. It has unique features that make it different from other woods. Douglas Fir comes from the hardwood family, so you might find it challenging to work with.
However, once you’ve used it successfully to retain your wall, you’ll realize choosing this wood was excellent. The good thing about Douglas Fir is its durability. It won’t fade away as quickly as other woods and proves tremendous sturdiness. So, rest assured, you won’t be disappointed by this wood’s quality.
