When considering whether to upgrade your yard with a retaining wall, you might wonder if it can add value to your home. The answer to this may seem obvious once you know what a retaining wall can do for your property!

Retain Soil and Water

As its name suggests, a retaining wall’s primary purpose is to retain. It retains soil and water, holding it back from going where it shouldn’t. Retaining walls often come with built-in water drainage systems that redirect water to storm drains and other waterways. This can prevent rainwater-related erosion that could negatively affect your foundation and also keep waterlogged, mosquito-friendly patches from appearing in your yard.

To get the most value out of your upgrade, you will want to choose the type of retaining wall that best suits your home and your goals. The four most common types of retaining walls include:

Gravity

This type of retaining wall uses sheer weight and mass to hold back the soil. That means heavier materials like bricks and stone are needed. This wall usually requires at least a small trench for the wall to fit into a concrete footer.  

Cantilevered

Also known as a reinforced retaining wall, this type of wall is made of concrete or masonry and uses steel bars. It is affixed to a slab foundation underneath the soil.

Sheet Piling

If you’re short on space and have soft soil, you might want this retaining wall. It’s a thin wall of wood, steel, or vinyl that’s driven right into the soil. Often this wall has a vertically corrugated structure for extra reinforcement.

Anchored

This type of retaining wall is sometimes used for additional support for other types of retaining walls. It features anchors that are driven into the earth behind a wall and attached by strips or cables.

Organize Your Yard

Retaining walls can create defined, usable spaces in your backyard. Some examples include:

• Designating a garden area
• Protecting a patio where you host cookouts
• Establishing a section of your yard for your dog’s use
• Defining a kids’ play area  

Add Curb Appeal

Allmaster Home Services can build retaining walls that aren’t just durable and functional but stylish, too. This is a great way to increase your home’s curb appeal so it will stand out on the market. You can complement your landscaping with a retaining wall that matches your aesthetic whether you prefer:

• Decorative block – Choose from a large variety of colors, patterns, and styles with a retaining wall focused on aesthetic appeal.
• Timber – For a natural look, we suggest this pressure-treated wood wall.
• Concrete – This type of wall is known for its strength but is also built for those who just like the look of concrete.
• Cinder block – This classic wall consists of cinder blocks that are stacked in an interlocking configuration.

Trust the Experts With Your Retaining Wall

Landscaping is a timeless addition to your property and provides practical and stylish enhancements for your yard. For these reasons, including a retaining wall will add value to your home, provided you choose the right contractor. Because of all that a retaining wall must do to stand up against weather, soil, and water, it must be built with expertise and care.

If you’re you should contact Allmaster Home Services for your retaining wall needs. We’re a family-owned and -operated business that homeowners trust with our many years of experience and achievements including:

• A+ rating from Better Business Bureau
• Best of Houzz 2015 and 2016
• Best of HomeAdvisor 2016
• HomeAdvisor Screened and Approved
• HomeAdvisor Top Rated Contractor in Baltimore
• Angie’s List

To get a retaining wall for your backyard, contact us and we’ll set up a free in-home consultation.

A paver patio is an attractive and popular outdoor living space among homeowners across the region. Patio pavers come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, and configurations, allowing for countless customization options in creating an ideal outdoor living space. However, as with any other part of your property, proper care and maintenance are essential for keeping up the appearance of your patio pavers. Whether you’re thinking about investing in patio pavers or have recently had a paver patio installed, here’s what you need to know about how to prep, clean, and seal your patio pavers so that they’ll look and function at their best for years to come.

Prepping Your Patio Pavers Before Cleaning

The first step in cleaning your patio pavers is preparing the space. First, you’ll want to remove your patio furniture, plants, grill, or any other items you may have on the surface. This will clear the space so that you can complete any prep work. If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your patio pavers, you may have moss or other weeds growing in the cracks. Pulling the weeds and scrubbing the moss away will prep your patio pavers so that they’re ready to be thoroughly cleaned.

How to Clean Your Patio Pavers

The first step in cleaning your patio pavers is to wet the surface with a garden hose. This will prevent the pavers from absorbing too much of the cleaning chemical when you go to wash the surface. The best thing to clean your pavers with is a non-acidic cleaning solution. You can use dish soap, degreaser, or another mild detergent mixed with water as your cleaning solution. Then, rinse the surface with your hose to clear the cleaning solution away. Alternatively, you can power wash your pavers. However, you’ll want to ensure this is done carefully, as too much pressure can easily damage the surface of your pavers.

Sealing Your Patio Pavers to Protect Them

A final step in cleaning your paver patio is sealing the surface. After you’ve cleaned the paver patio, a seal will help protect the pavers and improve their durability and appearance. Sealing your pavers also helps protect the pavers from staining, as they’re made from porous materials that can easily absorb any liquid. This process of sealing the paver stones can also help maintain their appearance and prevent weeds from growing. There are a variety of different sealers available to choose from, depending on the desired aesthetic.

Your Source for Complete Patio Paver Services

If you’re interested in having patio pavers installed on your property or have any questions about how to care for your paver patio, turn to the professionals at Allmaster Home Services. We would be happy to help design and build a gorgeous new outdoor living space for your home and provide you with the services you need to keep it looking its best. For more information on patio pavers, contact Allmaster Home Services today.

Retaining walls are a common sight on properties that have slopes, hills, or other inclines. These unique walls serve many purposes—both aesthetic and functional— and can be a great option for your property as well. But what exactly is a retaining wall and what are the benefits of having one installed? Here’s everything you need to know about retaining walls.

Purpose of a Retaining Wall

Simply put, a retaining wall is a structure that helps hold soil. There are many benefits of retaining walls. These structures can provide the support your property needs to keep the landscaping intact and to prevent the soil from gradually eroding each time it rains. A retaining wall can also be used for aesthetic purposes, providing a decorative element that complements your landscaping. Whether chosen for functional purposes, aesthetics, or both, retaining walls can enhance and improve your property.

Types of Retaining Walls

There are many different types of retaining walls that you can choose from, based on your specific preferences and needs. Some of the most popular options include:

• Concrete walls – Concrete walls are a highly functional retaining wall option that offers great strength and durability. Concrete is poured into forms to create a wall in the height and shape you need.
• Cinder block walls – This basic retaining wall material is another highly functional option, with cinder blocks stacked in an interlocking configuration to build up the wall.
• Decorative block walls – Decorative block walls come in a wide range of colors, styles, patterns, and more, allowing for virtually limitless design options.
• Timber walls – Timber retaining walls feature pressure-treated wood designed for outdoor use. For those looking for a natural aesthetic, wood timber is a great option to consider.

Building a Retaining Wall

If you’ve decided that you’d like a retaining wall installed on your property, it’s best to turn to the professionals. Your local home services company can assess many different factors involved in ensuring your retaining wall turns out the way you desire. Some of the many factors that go into building a retaining wall include:

• The slope of your property
• How the water drains through the yard
• Any structural support needed for the retaining wall
• Backfill for the space behind the retaining wall
• Foundational needs for the groundwork of the new wall

All of these considerations will be factored in to help determine the best approach to designing and building your retaining wall. Your retaining wall company will also be familiar with any permitting or other local requirements that may be required and can take care of those details before getting started on your retaining wall project.

Allmaster Home Services is pleased to be your source for all types of retaining walls. If you’d like more information on the types and benefits of retaining walls or are interested in having a retaining wall added to your property, contact us today.