Retaining walls are used in areas where sloped terrain would either be too confining or too dangerous.  They do just what their name implies—retain earth or soil.  They allow a space to change elevations immediately vs. changing over a distance.  They might range anywhere from an 18” short seatwall to a 13’ poured concrete foundation wall that separates a steep lot from front to back.  Whatever the instance, they usually are the tool used to provide a flat, leveled area to an otherwise sloping terrain. 

Retaining walls can be constructed of brick that is used elsewhere in the architecture of the home, stone, stucco, interlocking masonry unit (often referred to by their trademark name of Keystone, Versa-lock, etc.), or timber.  Usually architecture, engineering requirements, and/or budget will dictate which of these materials are used. 

Free-standing walls are similar to retaining walls in appearance but will always be exposed on both sides and usually finished with the same details on both sides.  Many times they are combined with decorative columns that both add structure and linear punctuation to the walls. 

They can be built solidly, with paneled insets, or even with openings that breath and allow air circulation as with a pierced brick wall.  They are also available in brick, stone, stucco, or a combination of those materials in a way that will aesthetically tie back in to the existing architecture. 

Steps are needed to allow transition from one level to another in the landscape.  The vertical portion of the step is called the “riser” while the horizontal portion is referred to as the “tread.”  Proper design is necessary to make these transitions both pleasant and easy for the user.  Steps might be incorporated into a retaining wall.  Or they might be stand alone steps that are built into existing grade.