Segmental retaining wall (SRW) units are one of the most versatile landscaping tools in the homeowner’s and professional landscaper’s toolbox. ALLIN Home Inspection believes retaining wall units have evolved from just being used to retain soil, transition slopes, and prevent erosion.

Today’s SRWs can do all that plus serve as multipurpose building blocks for a variety of outdoor living features, including stairs, columns, freestanding walls, tiered walls, curved walls, seating, and more.

Creative designs

While SRWs still beautifully accomplish their original intent, professionals and homeowners alike can easily create hardscape features that make outdoor living spaces more useful and enjoyable. “Our landscape designers are very inventive in their use of segmental retaining wall units, and our customers really appreciate all the features that can be created with SRWs,” says Scott Arnold, manager of Villa Landscapes in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Products such as the VERSA-LOK retaining wall system can be creatively adapted by homeowners and professionals to accommodate curves, corners, columns, and tiers – without any special pieces. For example, one popular application is a retaining wall that employs a convex curve set into a small slope. Additional courses can be stacked against the lower courses of the wall to create a “couch” or a seating area to surround a circular paver patio and fire pit installed at ground level.

Freestanding walls

Freestanding walls are common applications for retaining wall units. Sometimes called garden or seat walls, freestanding walls are designed to surround the perimeter of a patio and can serve as space for seating or potted plants. They also add a measure of privacy around an outdoor living space, and when designed with inset columns, can be a support for fencing.

Tiered walls

Tiered walls are a common solution for grade changes and erosion control. The benefit of tiered walls is that they look great, and space in between the walls can be used for a patio or for perennials, shrubs, vegetables or herbs. Tiered walls add visual depth and texture to hardscape design and can be more aesthetically pleasing than a single wall. Stairs incorporated into a tiered wall design give safe access to a home on a slope or hill. A tiered design also creates a low-maintenance landscape, eliminating the need to mow a difficult slope.

Stepping up

Retaining wall units can serve as risers for steps. Stair treads can be finished with special precast stair tread units or bullnose (round-edged) paving stones. When installed in a contrasting shade or color, stair treads add interest to hardscape design. Stairs created from retaining wall units can be placed within a tiered wall design, in a single wall, or with wing walls on each side. Raised patios, built with a foundation created by SRWs, are another popular feature that is often used to replace high-maintenance decks.

“Michael was very professional and nice. He answered all my questions and explained things in a way I could understand. He arrived on time for the appointment and did a very thorough inspection. I would recommend him to anyone. I’d also use him again in the event of another home purchase.” – Review of ALLIN Home Inspections, Inc. By Witchywoman4you

Can-do columns

Columns created with SRWs are a versatile, beautiful, and functional feature within a hardscape design. They can support a pergola, lighting, or other landscape features such as statuary, and are used to finish off the ends of a freestanding or seat wall. They can also be installed at intervals within a wall design, and columns create an attractive way to frame and support fencing.

The use of SRWs is limited only by the imagination for outdoor-living features. With a variety of colors, textures, and configurations, the VERSA-LOK retaining wall system is one that can do it all – from landscape walls designed with curves, columns, corners and steps to professionally engineered, soil-reinforced retaining walls. VERSA-LOK, the original solid, pinned SRW system, enables homeowners and professionals to create multi-angle corners, curves, stairs, columns, and freestanding walls with just one type of unit, and no voids to fill or special pieces to purchase.

“VERSA-LOK is the one block I do 90 percent of my projects with; it can do it all,” says Stan Genadek, owner of Genadek Excavating and Landscaping in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, and the creator and host of a popular YouTube channel on landscaping, “Stanley ‘Dirt Monkey’ Genadek.” Says Genadek: “Because of its versatility and ease of installation, VERSA-LOK is the gold standard in retaining wall systems.” (BPT)

If you or someone you know is purchasing a home and needs a quality home inspector in Sterling, IL, be sure to give ALLIN Home Inspections, Inc. a call (877) 545-6639 Today or Click To Schedule Online 24/7 Right From Our Website.

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