Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Sure, retaining walls look like simple stacked stone, block, or timber. But in fact, theyre carefully engineered systems that wage an ongoing battle with gravity. They restrain tons of saturated soil that would otherwise slump and slide away from a foundation or damage the surrounding landscape.

These handsome barriers also make inviting spots to sit, and can increase usable yard space by terracing sloped properties, something that is increasingly important as flat home sites become ever more scarce in many regions.

Along with sloped landscapes where water runoff causes hillside erosion, ideal locations for a retaining wall system include spots downhill from soil fault lines and where the downhill side of a foundation is losing supporting soil or its uphill side is under pressure from sliding soil.

If your property needs a retaining wall, or if the one you have is failing, follow our guide on how to build a retaining wall or hire a pro. We also review the four most common types below: timber, interlocking blocks, stacked stone, brick or block, and concrete.

Although retaining walls are simple structures, a casual check around your neighborhood will reveal lots of existing walls that are bulging, cracked, or leaning. Thats because most residential retaining walls have poor drainage, and many arent built to handle the hillside theyre supposed to hold back.

Even small retaining walls have to contain enormous loads. A 4-foot-high, 15-foot-long wall could be holding back as much as 20 tons of saturated soil. Double the wall height to 8 feet, and you would need a wall thats eight times stronger to do the same job.

With forces like these in play, you should limit your retaining wall efforts to walls under 4 feet tall (3 feet for mortarless stone). If you need a taller wall, consider step-terracing the lot with two walls half as big, or call in a landscape architect or structural engineer for the design work (have the architect or engineer inspect the site thoroughly) and experienced builders for the installation.

If you have your retaining wall built, figure about $15 per square face foot for a timber wall, $20 for an interlocking-block system or poured concrete, and $25 for a natural-stone wall. Preparing a troublesome siteone that includes clay soil or a natural spring, for examplecan raise costs substantially. Add 10 percent or so if you hire a landscape architect or engineer. But shop around; some landscape firms do the design work for free if they do the installation.

Poor drainage resulting in saturated soil and frost heaving is the main cause of failure. Thats why all strong retaining walls begin with landscape fabric, backfill, and 4-inch perforated drainpipe.

The depth you need to excavate depends on frost depth as well as the wall and soil type. Mortared or concrete walls in heavy-frost areas require footings dug below the frost line. Nonmortared walls should be built on a gravel-filled trench dug below frost line. If you live where it doesnt freeze and your soil drains well, you may be able to just scrape away topsoil to form a base for nonmortared walls.

Before adding gravel, lay down enough landscape fabric to contain the new gravel. Form the fabric into a large C shape, with the open mouth of the C facing downhill. The fabric should wrap around and create a border between the gravel and topsoil to keep sediment from clogging the gravel and drainpipe.

Replace native soil with 3/4-minus gravel (no stones under 3/4 inch in diameter) or bank-run gravel (washed stones 1/4 inch to 6 inches in diameter). Shovel at least a 4-inch layer of gravel onto the landscape fabric. Grade this layer so it slopes 1 inch for every 4 feet, allowing water to drain away. Then lay in 4-inch perforated PVC drainpipe at the base of the wall and cover it with gravel.

Shovel in backfill as you build the wall, one tier at a time. Dont add all the backfill at the endit wont compact thoroughly. Tamp down the gravel as you go with a heavy hand tamper. Behind the top tier of the wall, add 6 inches of topsoil and lightly compact it.

All retaining walls should lean into the hill 1 inch for every 12 inches of height. Timber walls 4 feet or higher should be tied to the hillside with deadmen anchors (6-foot-long, T-shaped tiebacks buried in the hillside) attached to the wall every 8 feet, extending 6 feet back to a 2-foot-wide T-bar.

Deadmen are not included in some interlocking-block systems if the design allows backfill to secure the blocks individually in place. Still others require geo-grid, weblike tiebacks that get buried in the backfill. Check the manufacturers literature.

A final heads-up on masonry wallsconcrete blocks chip and crack easily. Carefully inspect the blocks upon delivery, and dont be shy about returning damaged blocks for credit.

Upside: Strong. Well-designed and properly drained and backfilled, concrete walls rarely fail.

Downside: Bare concrete isnt particularly attractive. It can be veneered with masonry, or special forms can be used that embed decorative designs in the finished wall. Also, if a wall fails, patching may not be possible and removal is costly. Walls over a few feet high should be formed and poured by a pro unless youve had experience with vertical pours.

Cost: Around $16 to $20 per square face foot installed.

Remember:

Follow all rules for landscape fabric, drainage, and backfill. The footing should be below frost depth or on well-drained gravel that reaches this level. Use 3/4-inch ply and 2-by-4 bracing to form the wall. And install #4 rebar wired in 12-inch grids for added strength. Use mechanical vibration or strike the forms with a rubber mallet every 6 inches when concrete is wet for a smooth finished face.

Upside: Only moderately challenging to build by yourself up to 4 feet high. If an engineer has designed the wall, located the deadmen, and specified the backfill and drainage, you can install an even taller wall yourself.

Downside: Not as long-lived as masonry. Making square cuts is challenging. Also, components are heavy and hard to manage alone. Plan on about three days to build a wall 4 feet tall by 15 feet long.

Cost: $10 to $15 per square face foot installed, depending on your regionhigher if extensive excavation, soil prep, and backfilling are needed.

Remember:

Use 8-foot-long, 66-inch pressure-treated wood designated For Ground Contact, and have all materials delivered. Follow all rules for landscape fabric, drainage and backfill. All timber walls require deadmen every 4 feet at midwall height or higher. Pin the first tier of timbers to the ground with #4 rebar.

Upside: Also called segmented retaining walls, interlocking-block systems from Keystone, Risi, Rockwood, Tensar, Versa-Lok, and others are mortar-free and easy to assemble. Units are small and modular, so walls can taper, turn, wrap, and curve. Available in many textures, shapes, and colors, these engineered systems, which can be used for walls up to 20 feet high, rely on several techniques including:

Downside: You cant mix and match manufacturers systems. Block systems that use metal pins to tie blocks together can be a challenge to line up exactly.

Cost: About $12 to $20 per square face foot installed, depending on block configuration and site. More expensive systems tend to be stronger and stack higher.

Remember:

Arrange before delivery from the masonry yard where materials will be stockpiled in your yard and if the forklift used to off-load the truck will fit through backyard gate, etc. Follow all rules for landscape fabric, drainage, and backfill. Use manufacturers calculators to determine how many blocks, pins and tiebacks youll need. When stacking a row of blocks, sweep off each layer; small pebbles can disrupt the pattern. Cap walls with flat units or stone held down with silicone caulk.

Upside: For a stone retaining wall, a handsome rustic appeal. Collecting stones on site and doing the work yourself can also save money. Brick provides a more formal look. Cinder block is inexpensive and can be reinforced with steel and concrete.

Downside: Stone-wall masonry is harder than it appears. Fitting the stone is exacting work and making mortar joints look natural requires experience (nonmortared stone walls dont offer much holding power). Brick masonry also requires skill to hit the visual standard all of us are used to. Cinder block has to be faced with stucco, brick, or stone or overgrown with plantings to make it attractive.

Cost: About $10 to $12 for cinder block; for brick and stone, around $20 to $25 per square face foot (double that figure for a two-sided wall).

Remember:

Follow all rules for landscape fabric, drainage, and backfill. A mortared wall needs a footing and a drainage system that will defeat frost heaving. A dry, nonmortared wall allows water to seep through, relieving pressure behind the wall naturally.

Retaining walls usually fail slowly. Common problems can often be fixed if you act quickly. You can also protect a new wall in the building process by safeguarding it against the three most common failures:

What happens: A load is added within 3 feet of the top of the wall. The wall leans out at the top and eventually tips over

What to do: Tell your landscape architect or engineer if a car or shed will be placed near the wall. The pro should then beef up the footer and increase the number of tiebacks or deadmen to add strength. Adding retrofit tiebacks is expensive and requires excavation, partial dismantling, and reengineering the wall.

What happens: Soil behind the wall gets saturated, causing hydrostatic water pressure and weight to topple the wall.

What to do: Replace native soil behind the wall with 3/4-minus or bank-run gravel for 2 feet. Line the inside base of the wall with 4-inch perforated tile drain on a gravel bed that slopes 1 inch for every 4 feet of run to carry water to daylight or a dry well. Topsoil should take up only the top 6 inches behind the wall.

What happens: Retaining wall lacks proper drainage or a footer. Soil becomes saturated and freezes, heaving upward and breaking the wall apart.

What to do: Walls should rest on 3/4-minus or bank-run gravel, with the footer or wall base buried beneath the frost line (6 to 48 inches, depending on region). For deep frost, use concrete block rather than retaining wall to ground level, then build the retaining wall on that. Well-drained gravel behind and beneath the wall can substantially diminish frost heaving.

Hickson Inc.

1955 Lake Park Dr., Suite 250

Smyrna, GA 30080

http://www.hickson.com

770-801-6600

Keystone Retaining Wall Systems

4444 West 78th Street

Bloomington, MN 55435

http://www.keystonewalls.com

800-747-8971

Osmose Wood Preserving

1016 Everee Inn Rd., Box O

Griffin GA 30224-0249

http://www.osmose.com

770-228-8434

Risi Stone Systems

8500 Leslie St., Suite 390

Thornhill, ON L3T 7P1 Canada

http://www.risistone.com

800-626-9255

Rockwood Retaining Walls, Inc.

7200 N. Highway 63

Rochester, MN 55906

http://rockwoodwalls.com

800-535-2375

Tensar Earth Technologies

5775-B Glenridge Dr., Lakeside Center, Suite 450

Atlanta, GA 30328

http://www.tensarcorp.com

800-836-7271

Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems

6348 Highway 36, Suite 1

Oakdale, MN 55128

http://www.versa-lok.com

800-770-4525

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Retaining Walls: How to Build Them, Costs & Types - This Old House

Stranded By Storms, Neighbor Keeps Mountain Community Connected With Outside World Thanks to Zipline  NBC Bay Area

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Stranded By Storms, Neighbor Keeps Mountain Community Connected With Outside World Thanks to Zipline - NBC Bay Area

Organization offering hotline, helping with clean up efforts in Wynne  KATV

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Organization offering hotline, helping with clean up efforts in Wynne - KATV

Our Carpet Cleaning PackagesBasic Package

Clean

In ourBasic Package, your carpets will get a healthy deep cleaning, using our innovative Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE) process.

This process penetrates to the base of carpets to lift and whisk away dirt, grime, and non-living allergens. By removing these contaminants, we not only improve the appearance of carpets we also improve the health of your home!

Clean + Protect

OurStain Fighter Packagegives you the same deep clean as our Basic Package, plus the added benefits of a protectant.

With this package, we apply a protective stain-fighting solution during the cleaning process. This allows the protectant to coat carpet fibers, boosting your carpets stain-fighting power.

If youre worried about existing stains, we also offer aspecialty stain removal service for carpeting and upholstery. Our stain removers can handle tough stains from sources like wine, lipstick, permanent marker, grass, and more!

Clean + Protect + Anti-Allergen + Deodorize

TheFresh & Healthy Home Premium Packageoffers our deepest possible clean for your home.

In this package, you get the deep clean offered by our Basic Package, the protectant from our Stain Fighter Package, plus an anti-allergen and odor removal treatment for your carpets.

Rather than simply masking lingering smells, we eliminate odors at the source. At the same time, we reduce common household non-allergens and improve indoor air quality, creating a fresher and healthier home!

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The Seal of Approval is an independent program that grades carpet cleaning products and systems. It measures factors like how well cleaning tools and products remove soil from carpets, how long it takes for carpets to resoil after cleaning, and whether the system causes damage or discoloring to carpet fibers.

Our Hot Carbonating Extraction system was awarded the Platinum Seal of Approval. The Platinum Seal of Approval is thehighest level awarded to carpet and rug cleaning systems!

Thanks to the Seal of Approval program, homeowners know that Chem-Dry cleaning systems deliver a cleaner, healthier, and longer-lasting carpet!

Ready to bring a deeper, healthier clean to your carpets? Enter your ZIP code below to find your nearest Chem-Dry location!

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Carpet Cleaning - Find Local Carpet Cleaners | Chem-Dry

Carpet adds texture, color and warmth to a home, but daily use can cause stains, as well as trap dust and allergens. While regular vacuuming is the first step in cleaning carpets, an annual deep clean is recommended to help extend the life of your carpet and keep your home looking clean.

Understanding how to clean carpets starts with discovering that there are different types of machines available. Whether you need an upright carpet cleaner or a steam cleaning machine, you can buy or rent carpet cleaners based on your specific need.

When it comes to cleaning carpets, there are also a variety of floor cleaning solutions for each method. From all-purpose cleaners to those with added features like stain repellents, low-foam agents or deodorizers, there are a variety of ways to tackle whole house carpet cleaning and specific stains. Follow this easy plan to make cleaning carpet at home easier.

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How To Clean Carpet - The Home Depot

When installing new carpet, start by taking accurate measurements of the room. Measure the length and width of the room. Multiply these measurements together to find the square footage.

Carpet is measured in square yards. One square yard is 9 square feet. To convert square feet to square yards, divide the square footage by 9. Example: 90 square feet/9 = 10 square yards

If the room isnt a perfect rectangle, measure the room's square footage in sections. Then, add them together to find the total square footage. This guide covers how to put carpet down in a room thats square or rectangular.

Once you have measured your room, order the carpet. Order 10 to 20 percent more carpet than you need to be sure you have more than enough to cover the floor. You'll also need to get tools and flooring supplies, like tack strips, adhesives and edging, for your carpet installation project.

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How to Install Carpet - The Home Depot

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Top 10 Best Carpet Installation in Indianapolis, IN | Angi

Apartment building destroyed after fire in Southeast Fresno  KMPH Fox 26

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Apartment building destroyed after fire in Southeast Fresno - KMPH Fox 26

Regular maintenance will make your gutters last longer. At some point, they will need to be repaired or replaced to help protect your home from water damage. Here are a few signs that will help you determine if your gutters need to be repaired or replaced.

Cracks or splits

Even small cracks will grow, allowing water to seep into the fascia boards behind the gutters, the shingles above the gutter and the foundation below. Replace any split or crack sections of gutter.

Paint damage and rust

The paint on your gutters is weather resistant. Peeling paint or rust indicates that water is present on the surface on a continuous basis. Look for clogs and remove debris to get the water flowing. Replace or touch up the paint on the damaged section of the gutter.

Pools of water and mold

If you see standing water or mildew near the foundation, it can indicate that the gutters are clogged or there could be a defect in the gutter system. Remove the clog. If the problem persists, replace that section of gutter and downspout.

Water damage or water marks

Inspect directly beneath the gutters on a dry, sunny day for any evidence of water damage. Water damage underneath gutters can indicate that they are leaking or overflowing with water. Look for possible blockages in the area. If there are none, this indicates that the section has a crack or a leak which will need to be repaired or replaced.

Sagging gutters

Gutter sag is a definite sign that its time to replace gutters. Gutters should never sag or pull away from the house. Sagging gutters means that it is no longer draining properly and needs to be replaced. This may be a good time to look into upgrading your old ones with gutter guards or screens or with seamless gutters.

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How to Clean Gutters - The Home Depot

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Of all the necessary evils that make up a comprehensive fall yard maintenance routine, cleaning the gutters may be the most dreaded of all. Tedious though this task is, homeowners are wise not to neglect it. Properly functioning gutters, after all, ensure that storm water does not find its way indoors.

Learning how to clean gutters isnt difficult and with proper precautions in place, is safe. There is a variety of ways to get those leaves out of the gutters before they clog and lead to gutter damage, and theres no one best way for every homeowner. Some folks dont like using power washers, and others dont want their feet to leave the ground in the process. The best way to clean gutters is to use a safe, effective method youre comfortable with.

Gutters serve the vital purpose of collecting the rain that falls on the roof and diverting it through downspouts away from the homes foundation. Without gutters, water that falls near the foundation could leaks through windows, or seep into a basement or crawlspace.

Rain gutters typically require very little upkeep to function well, other than keeping them free of debris. Gutters that are filled with leaves can lead to clogged downspouts, which cause water to spill out over the top of the gutter channel and fall to the ground below. Worse, winters melt and freeze cycles can cause snow on the roof to melt into the gutter and freeze there. These ice-filled gutters are sometimes so heavy that they detach from the roof.

RELATED: How to Prevent and Remove Ice Dams

Teetering on a telescoping ladder while trying to scoop leaves out of a gutter isnt the safest way to get the job done. The good news is that there are several gutter-cleaning tools that allow homeowners to clean the debris while keeping both feet on the ground.

If you have to climb a ladder clean the gutters, dont use a stepladder, which is prone to tipping if you get off balance. Instead, use a sturdy extension ladder and have a helper stand at the base to stabilize the ladder.

For all homes over a single story in height, its best to hire a gutter-cleaning service to do the work for you. These companies have the proper equipment to access high gutters safely. Dont attempt climbing on your roof to clean guttersits not worth the risk.

RELATED: What NOT to Do When Cleaning Your Homes Rain Gutters

Cleaning gutters from the ground is effective and is by far the safest gutter cleaning method. You will need to proceed slowly and systematically because you cant really see what youre doing, and yes, it will probably take you a little longer than it would if you were standing on a ladder. The most common ways to clean gutters from the ground require either a garden hose or a shop-type wet/dry vacuum, plus a couple of handy attachments. Here are the two best gutter-cleaning techniques for those who prefer to work with their feet planted firmly on the ground.

As long as they are not thoroughly clogged, its relatively easy to clean your gutters from the ground using a garden hose equipped with an attachment such as the GutterMaster Telescopic Water Fed Pole, or another such water-fed tube with a curved end that can be aimed inside the gutter. Start at the end nearest the downspout, spray out the entire channel length, and then work your way back to the downspout. Water, leaves, and small twigs are likely to spray over the sides of the gutter, so dress appropriately.

RELATED: Are Gutters Actually Necessary?

Another way to remove debris from your gutters is to use a wet/dry vacuum equipped with the hoses and curved attachments you need to reach the obstructed gutters from ground level. Home improvement stores and online retailers carry these gutter-cleaning kits (one to consider is the Craftsman Gutter Cleaning Kit for Shop Vacuums). Once youve removed most of the debris from the gutters, flush the gutters and downspout with water from a garden hose.

Climbing on a ladder to clean the gutters isnt as safe as cleaning them from the ground since theres always a risk of falling. To reduce this risk, its essential to use the right ladder. Avoid using a step ladder, which can tip over.

A safer bet is to use a sturdy extension ladder that has been fitted with stabilizer arms. These arms, such as the Werner True Grip Stabilizer, brace the ladder against the siding and keep it from slipping to the side. Its also always a good idea to have an assistant on the ground who can hold the ladder, and hand up the tools as you need them. Before you climb up high and get ready to clean, decide which of the following methods best suits your situation.

RELATED: Never Make These 13 Mistakes With a Ladder

Many leaf blowers come with a nozzle attachment designed to release a powerful air stream, and its perfect for blasting leaves and twigs out of the gutter. Position your ladder so that you can work from one end of the channel to the other, blowing out obstructions as you go. Block the downspout first with a rag or old towel to keep from blowing leaves into it. When youre done with the blower, flush out any lingering leaves or twigs with a hose.

Has it been a while since you last cleaned your gutters? If it has, be ready for a layer of dirt and debris that has probably built up in the meanwhile. Blast it away with the fine-spray nozzle of your power washer. (This type of cleaning can get messy: You may have to rinse the roof and siding afterward.) For clogged gutters and downspouts, in particular, theres no better recourse than a pressure washer. Simply point the nozzle down the hole and rinse the shaft until water can run freely through it.

RELATED: How to Pressure Wash a House

To clean gutters manually, youll need a ladder, bucket, gutter scoop (or garden trowel), and heavy-duty work gloves. Remove leaves and debris by the handful, depositing what you remove into the bucket. When youre done, flush the gutters and downspout with water until you are certain both are clear and functioning correctly. Tip: If your downspouts are clogged and you dont have a power washer, try busting through the obstruction with a plumbers snake, then rinse with a hose.

An ounce of gutter-clogging prevention saves a lot of time and goes a long way toward keeping gutters clean and free from debris. To reduce the frequency of cleaning guttersor keep from having to do it altogetherconsider installing a screen like the Raptor Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard. It allows water to drain through the screen while blocking leaves and twigs.

Other types of gutter guards, such as the LeafGuard gutter system, direct running water into the gutter but keep leaves and debris out. This type of system requires professional installation and is extruded on-site to fit the length of the roof edge so there are no splices in the guttering. A seamless run of gutter means little to no leaking and dripping.

Though weve outlined various methods for cleaning gutters, you may still have some questions about the process. The following frequently asked questions may clarify certain points about this outdoor chore.

Once per year is usually sufficient, after leaves fall in autumn. This is when gutters are full of leaves that should be removed before winter.

The best gutter cleaner depends on the amount of leaves that accumulate and how easy it is to access the gutter. If youre cleaning from a ladder, a scoop is handy. If you prefer to clean the gutter while remaining firmly on the ground, a telescoping wand is a better choice.

It isnt safe. While some professional gutter cleaners may walk on the roof, the average homeowner shouldnt try it. Follow some of the methods listed above for safer gutter cleaning.

Hate cleaning your gutters?

Hire a pro to do the dirty work for you. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from gutter experts today.

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How to Clean Gutters: The 5 Best Ways to Get the Job Done - Bob Vila