Thinking of building a retaining wall yourself? Think again. Some things that you probably have not yet considered are just how time consuming the work is, or how you may need to enlist in a good chiropractor to fix your back after the job is done. You may also find yourself spending tons of money on tools that you will NEVER need to use again; the amount of materials required for this job can certainly give you a headache and also hurt your wallet (especially if you’re not sure about what you are doing). If the above do not bother you, then be sure that you have some help on the side, because this job definitely requires more than one person to do it.
If the above does not interest or perk your interest, you are not alone. Because of this, there are professional contractors who will build retaining walls FOR you. Retaining walls tend to be AT LEAST three feet high, and are well over three feet long. Of course, the taller the wall is, the safer it must be. The longer the wall is, the more work will need to be put into it. If you are new to “retaining walls” and finding contractors for the job, be sure that you find several names on the Internet, the phone book or from family and friends and then “interview” them with questions such as these:
- Are you licensed and certified to be providing this service in this area?
- Are you insured?
- Do you have all of the tools required to complete this job?
- Are you fully aware of the zoning bylaws and codes in this area? Will you be submitting the paperwork to have this job done?
- Do you have a well-trained crew who will help you execute this job in a timely fashion?
- Do you have references and examples of your work?
It is extremely important to check the references that are given, so you can be sure that the person who has given the reference is not his mom or his sister (this does happen!). Also try to double-check that the examples of the previous work are definitely the work or he or she.
A retaining wall is special, since it is not only functional, but it is also meant to look good. If you are trying to retain soil, compost, or any other large quantities of ANY THING, this wall must be able to both match the style of your home as well as have the strength to hold these materials within its walls. If a retaining wall is not built properly, it will certainly fail, causing any sort of debris like dirt or soil smashing through the walls to exactly where you do NOT want it to be. Do not be fooled; simply having some cemented bricks in your backyard that you did yourself will not be able to withstand the pressure that many different debris force upon it. You will end up with a mess if you do not hire a professional do the job, and if you do not know what you are doing if you attempt to make this a “do it yourself” project.
