How Can I Design My Retaining Wall in Los Angeles

Are you one of the thousands of Angelinos who live on a hillside? Then you are familiar with that necessary and ubiquitous housing feature -- the retaining wall. While some homes definitely need them, they do not need to be boring slabs of concrete or block.

What is a retaining wall?

Retaining walls are built to hold the soil behind it, especially on hillsides. They provide support to vertical slopes of soil. They retain soil that would otherwise collapse into a more natural shape. 

Sometimes homes are built on top of hillsides, and retaining walls are built in front to hold the soil back from the sidewalk. Some homes are built in front of a hillside, so retaining walls are built to hold the soil back from your house. 

While retaining walls can be made a variety of materials, such as steel, timber, or reinforced steel, poured concrete is durable and provides a wide range of design options that other materials cannot provide.

In California, retaining walls require a permanent when the retaining wall retains earth and is over 4 feet high. In Los Angeles, retaining walls are required to be designed to take into account the possibility of earthquakes. Building officials may require that an engineer create plans for the retaining wall.

In general, retaining walls should always be viewed as structurally necessary first, and aesthetically-pleasing second. That said, there are many ways to give your retaining wall a high-end look.

Retaining Wall Basics

When thinking about installing a concrete retaining wall, there are some basic factors you need to include. They are:

• Cost

• How high the wall needs to be

• Ground water conditions

• Soil characteristics

• Ease and speed of construction

• Earthquake considerations

How Can I Make My Retaining Wall Look More High-End?

While you can settle for a simple poured concrete retaining wall, why stop there? With all the design elements possible with poured concrete, you can create a look that is as unique as you. When installed properly, concrete offers almost limitless room for customization than any other type or retaining wall material. Here are some ideas:

• Stamp the surface of the walls to mimic the look and feel of natural stone or masonry.

• Apply an acid stain or color hardener to give your retaining wall a pop of color.

• Do a sponge finish while the concrete is wet to create a stucco-like look.

• Trowel in a Victorian swirl pattern to copy the look of old-fashioned plaster.

• Terrace a hillside with concrete. Use curves to create a unique look with pockets that can serve as planters. Creating layers can integrate your hillside with your garden.

• Transform your hillside into beautiful, usable space. You can create different levels with integrated lighting for a luxurious lounging space.

• Try a different kind of design -- a layered concrete retaining wall. Try pouring different colors of concrete in layers, sprinkled with rocks and other natural debris for a truly unique look.

• Embed your concrete! Use rocks, stones or even seashells in your concrete to enhance your design. You can even polish portions of your wall for a high-end sheen.

The construction process for all these decorative walls involved setting forms, installing linters inside the forms to provide texture, pouring colored or plain concrete, then stripping the forms and staining the concrete to achieve the look you’re looking for.

How much will something like this cost me?

While a basic retaining wall will cost about $30 to $60 per square foot, the price does increase as the design becomes more intricate. A concrete retaining wall in Los Angeles could cost between $60 to $85 per square foot, depending on the degree of difficulty, especially on hillsides. The price for walls lower than 4 feet are often comparable with a block retaining wall.

Prized for their strength and versatility, concrete retaining walls require precise construction methods. Call the experts at Concrete Decor Contractors at 1-818-722-8124. Our experienced contractors can help you design a retaining wall to not only enhance but accentuate your home.