Retaining Walls

St. Louis Retaining Walls

Protecting and beautifying your STL-area property.

Part of the joy of calling the STL area home is the landscape. Rolling hills, limestone bluffs—our home truly is beautiful. But since it is far from flat, many homes need retaining walls for safety and functionality. 

At Visionscape, we design and install retaining walls of all types and sizes. With us on your side, your property will become more usable and you’ll boost your curb appeal.

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Your Retaining Wall Options

There is no one specific way a retaining wall must look or be built. However, they all share a common function—retaining the soil behind the wall. Many materials and designs can get the job done, and which is right for you depends on everything from your overall design to the type of soil in your yard. 

Gravity Retaining Wall

This is one of the most common types of retaining walls. It uses its own weight to resist pressure from the soil it holds back. Because it needs significant weight to work, it is typically only used when a long wall is needed. Curb retaining walls are a variation on the gravity wall, using interlocking boxes as well as the force of gravity to function.

Gabion Retaining Walls

These walls are made from multi-celled rectangular wire-mesh boxes that are then filled in with various materials. Gabion walls are used to prevent erosion and stabilize steep slopes, making them suitable in situations where gravity walls would fall.

Cantilever Retaining Wall

This is the most common type of retaining wall in the St. Louis area. These walls are made from concrete, typically reinforced or precast concrete. They have a stem and base slab and can be made in a tiered design for a more interesting look. The counterfort/buttressed retaining wall is a version of the cantilever retaining wall.

Anchored Retaining Wall

With this style of retaining wall, you can get the support you need even when space is limited. It can also be built on loose soil or over rocks, making it more versatile than other options. These walls can be made quite tall as well, so if you think your property isn't suitable for a retaining wall, this design just might prove you wrong.

How to Know if Your Property Needs a Retaining Wall

Our top suggestion for determining if you need a retaining wall? Consult with our experts! With that said, there are some signs that indicate you should have one installed.

Are you noticing a lot of erosion in your yard, especially after it rains? This can cause a lot of problems, from clogging your drains to washing away your plants and grass. A retaining wall will hold your soil in place and minimize or eliminate erosion.

Sometimes, it isn’t the erosion in your yard that is the concern. If your home sits downhill from soil fault lines, or just downhill from another property with a lot of erosion, land could come sliding your way under the right conditions. With a retaining wall, this can be managed.

Retaining walls aren’t just about keeping your yard looking pretty; they protect the very integrity of your home. If the soil is washing away from your home and leaving more and more of your foundation exposed, a retaining wall will keep your home safer.

Are you interested in having a retaining wall installed in your yard? Visionscape is ready to help. Call us at 314-408-5764

to schedule your consultation.