WOOD RETAINING WALLS SANTA MONICA

A wood retaining wall reshapes your property’s slope and makes flat areas such as driveways, gardens, patios, etc. Retaining walls also keep the ground and vegetation away from established structures.

Low Wood Retaining Walls

A low wooden retaining wall does not need deep tie-backs buried into the slope, like many of the four-by-six timber retaining walls. Low retaining walls do not rely on weight or inclination to hold back earth. This is in contrast to many types of mortar-based walls.

Post holes should be excavated in the same manner as when constructing a fence. Pressure-treated boards are nailed to the backs of these posts with nails like for a fence. The bottom of the wall and the soil behind it must be low. Heights over 24 to 30 inches will result in too much pressure against the back of the wall, and it may eventually fail.

What kind of wood should I use for a retaining wall?

 The best lumber material for wood retaining walls is Douglas Fir pressure-treated with fungicide to deter rot. It will be either green or brown in color, and is heavy duty enough to sustain earth-to-wood contact.

Are wood retaining walls good?

 Wood retaining walls provide structure, stability, and natural beauty to gardens and landscaping projects. They continue to be a popular choice because of the natural look they provide and because of their low price point, relative to masonry or concrete walls.

What is the cheapest retaining wall material?

 Retaining walls come in a variety of materials which vary in price; pine is one of the cheapest options at $250 per square meter.

 These are a few cost ideas for different materials:

 Though treated pine is the least expensive option, it won’t last as long as other materials. If galvanized posts are installed, the wall will last longer. Hardwood is more expensive than treated pine. Before buying, make sure it is treated for durability to keep dirt and water at bay. Railway sleepers are another – more expensive – option and are built to withstand ground and water contact. Keep in mind that choosing the cheapest retaining wall material may cost more in the long run. Treated pine and even hardwood won’t last as long as concrete or natural stone.

Wooden retaining walls will typically last between 20 to 40 years. To ensure it is well-treated, the material should have a high level of water and pest resistance (i.e., HR5) or you will need to replace them much sooner.

How long do wood retaining walls last?

Timber can last up to 40 years. There is no limit on the life span of a properly installed masonry or concrete wall.

 Water and Moisture Drainage

 To maintain the longevity of your timber wall, it is important to pay close attention to where and how water pools both on top and behind the wall. Water accumulation speeds up the decomposition of wood, so drainage structures are especially important as well as grading at the first row and last row.



In most cases, a layer of waterproof sheeting is applied to the back side of the timber retaining wall. There should also be gravel packing behind it. Gravel extends both the length and height of the wood retaining wall, with perforated tubing installed at intervals to create a French drain that is flushed to one or both ends of the wall.