A boulder retaining wall creates a natural, long-lasting look for your home or property. These large boulders support the soil and keep it in place on a slope. This creates different spaces on your property, allowing for basement walkouts, raised garden beds, and entertainment areas like patios. Here is how we will build your retaining wall:
Consultation and Preparation
To build your boulder retaining wall, we will speak with you on-site and ask you about your landscaping goals. Each city will have their own ordinance on the height requirements of your retaining wall, such as Millcreek, Utah. In Millcreek, retaining walls can be no more than four feet in height and width.
During this consultation, we will access your property and create a plan. This plan involves knowing the size of your retaining wall, where it will be located, and how we will get our equipment on-site. These large boulders are heavy and require heavy-duty equipment to move them. Sometimes, this may mean that fencing needs to be dismantled to get our equipment to your desired area.
2. Installing Drainage
Proper drainage prevents erosion by allowing the water to filter downward into the ground. Without this, your boulder wall may shift, or fall apart over time, as the water pressure pushes these rocks out of alignment. To install the right drainage system, we will first dig a trench where your landscaping wall will be.
In this trench, we will lay down a layer of mixed rock, such as gravel. This rock allows the water to naturally flow downward, away from the rock wall barrier and into the ground. Certain areas in Utah may have clay-rich soil, which can trap moisture. This drainage method corrects this issue by replacing the clay with rock.
3. Boulder Placement
Once we have the boulders on-site, our expert operator will then begin to place the boulders on top of the trench. The trench keeps these boulders in place as they are set together, much like puzzle pieces. This creates a strong bond between the boulders, preventing shifting. For high walls, these boulders can be stacked on top of one another, creating a uniform wall.
In Utah, some cities now require a fabric barrier that will sit behind the boulders. This additional barrier keeps the soil contained as it is backfilled. Backfilling is the process of filling an excavated area around a structure, such as a foundation or landscaping wall. This soil is also compacted, providing the necessary support and stability for your retaining wall to last for years to come.
4. Clean Up
After we have backfilled your new retaining wall, we will then clean up the site. This includes removing any green waste, such as trees, weeds, and grass that were removed to make space. We will then dispose of any excess materials and create an orderly environment for new sod installation or planting native flowers. If we had to dismantle any fencing, we would reinstall it for you.
There are many ideas you could use for framing your new retaining wall. We have placed additional gravel on and around landscape walls for a drought-resistant look. You may also soften your landscaping with natural bark that comes in a variety of colors like brown and black. Native shrubs and flowers such as sage provide nectar for hummingbirds and honeybees and have a pleasant, herbal fragrance.
Boulder Retaining Wall Builder in Salt Lake City, Utah
At Blue Ridge Rockscaping, we have over thirty years of construction and landscaping experience. We provide large boulder landscaping walls for both residential and commercial properties. Contact us today for your free consultation.
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