One of the most important steps when installing a patio is preparing the site and ensuring the ground is stable for a sturdy foundation. However, if your yard in North Carolina has a slope, it can be hard to achieve that! That's where retaining walls come in. Generally, patios are built to be slightly sloped at 1/8 of an inch per foot for good drainage. If the slope in your yard exceeds that, a retaining wall should be built to help with leveling the ground. A retaining wall will turn the sloped ground into a flat, usable space that is perfect for your patio by pushing back the soil and ensuring it stays in place. The best thing about adding a retaining wall is that similar materials can be used so it complements the appearance of your patio for a more cohesive aesthetic for your property.

Patios have a slight slope for drainage, but you need a retaining wall if it exceeds a certain limit.

At first glance, a patio looks flat and level. However, they are designed to have a slight slope to ensure proper drainage. Typically, patios should be installed and angled at 1/8 of an inch per foot. However, if the location you want to add your patio is sloped more than that limit, you must add a retaining wall before building it.

Not amending the slope on your property with a retaining wall will introduce a host of problems. Foundation and structural issues are the most common problems you will face when you construct a patio on poorly leveled land. Adding a retaining wall will help ensure your patio is built with a good foundation and at the right slope.

A retaining wall will turn the sloped land into a flat space perfect for your patio.

Outdoor steps and retaining wall beside a patio with lighting in Greensboro, NC.

A retaining wall is the perfect solution if you want to install a patio in your sloped yard. This wall will turn the sloped land on your property into a flat, usable space where you can install your patio! It holds soil back to flatten the slope and prevent it from eroding, creating level land at the top that can serve different purposes. By essentially removing the slope from your property, you have extra space either at the top of the retaining wall or at the bottom where the slope once was. Either way, you'll have a perfectly functional area for your new patio!

You can bring color and life to your retaining wall by adding a raised planter bed to it.

The retaining wall can complement your patio by using similar materials!

Retaining walls are more than just functional. You can make sure it matches the aesthetic of your new patio by using similar materials! Patios are typically built using pavers, natural stones, and bricks. These materials are all highly durable and will produce a stunning patio with a classic aesthetic.

Meanwhile, retaining walls are constructed using concrete blocks, as they should be able to bear heavy loads of weight. Fortunately, stone veneers can be added to retaining walls as a decorative material. This way, it will complement the appearance of your patio and create a cohesive aesthetic for your outdoor space!

Call us today to sign up for our patio and retaining wall installation services!

If you want to install a patio in your yard but a slope is in the way, a retaining wall is the ideal solution to create a flat space for it. These two outdoor features will be a big undertaking, and we are the best ones for the job! Our team at Ideal Landscaping & Irrigation offers patio and retaining wall installation services to commercial and residential properties, as well as HOAs, in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Summerfield, NC, and nearby communities. We're licensed contractors and have been in the industry since 1999, so you can rest assured we know what it takes to install your new outdoor features to perfection! Call us today at (336) 396-9191 to sign up for our patio and retaining wall installation services.