Retaining Wall Materials 101
At the core, a retaining wall
is a structure that retains soil behind it. However, it’s not necessarily
that
simple. Yes, retaining walls hold soil laterally, and are often used to separate varying elevations. This is, of course, an alternative to having a slope, which may either be undesirable or cause drainage issues.
That being said, there is actually quite a bit of engineering that goes into building retaining walls. Think about how traditional walls work—they are supporting a vertical weight. This allows gravity to work in the wall’s favor, anchoring it downward. But that’s not how retaining walls operate. They must support a lateral weight that is working to push outward.
There are actually several techniques that are commonly used to support this weight and maintain the retaining wall structure.
There are certainly variations of these techniques, involving slight changes as to how they operate and are built. These approaches are all formidable ways to create a durable and long-lasting retaining wall.
Why Build a Retaining Wall?
Well, there are several reasons or scenarios that could call for installing a retaining wall. Some properties could simply benefit from the aesthetic appeal of a beautiful retaining wall, while others actually need these structures to protect their property from environmental damages. Here are some of the most popular reasons why you may want or need a retaining wall on your property.
Or perhaps you just really like the look and feel of retaining walls. Maybe you just want an elevated garden or place to entertain guests, friends, and family. Whatever the reason, you’re going to need to pick out a retaining wall material that fits your aesthetic and feel.
There are several retaining wall materials that you can choose from, all with their own unique benefits, price tags, and styles.
Common Retaining Wall Materials You Can Choose From
Brick Retaining Wall
Perhaps the most popular style for retaining walls is brick. It’s warm, sleek, and perfect for more traditional-style homes. There are actually quite a few upsides to utilizing brick for your retaining walls. Not only is brick a solid structural material, but it also stands up extremely well to the elements. Brick doesn’t wear down with moisture and isn’t flammable.
Other benefits include:
Green:
Brick is an eco-friendly option for retaining walls because it’s made out of shale and clay, which are both extremely common and not harmful to produce.
Maintenance Friendly:
If you’re worried about making constant repairs or painting, you won’t have to with brick. Because it’s so durable and retains color, you’ll be able to spend less time preserving your retaining wall.
Although brick is a great building material for retaining walls, there are some potential negatives we should discuss. Brick isn’t cheap, so it’s not necessarily a “budget option.” It’s also fairly limited in color selection. There are definitely choices available, but not as many compared with other materials.
Concrete Retaining Wall
Concrete is a style that doesn’t get enough love. It has such a unique and modern look, while also providing an extremely durable structure to work with. There’s a lot you can do with concrete, making it one of the most diverse materials on the market for retaining walls. It’s easy to install and has been known to last for nearly a century.
Other benefits include:
Wide variety:
Concrete blocks are essentially shaped however you need, allowing for various shapes and sizes that you can use to create a unique look.
Simple Cleaning:
You can get away with cleaning concrete blocks once or twice a year.
Nontoxic:
Concrete is a non-toxic material that doesn’t introduce any sort of chemicals or allergens to your property.
One issue you may face with concrete retaining walls is how difficult they can be to remove. Dismantling concrete is no small chore, especially compared to alternative materials.
Boulder Retaining Walls
Boulders probably offer the most pronounced look and feel out of any retaining wall material. That’s pretty obviously due to their massive size—but also because using boulders as building materials is as old as time. Depending on the look and feel you’re going for, you can have your boulders shaped and refined, making them a perfect option for almost any type of home.
Other benefits include:
Durability:
This is probably an obvious one, but boulders are extremely durable. All it takes is a quick Google search to see just how long boulder structures have lasted since the beginning of humankind.
Countless Choices:
Boulders come in almost an endless array of sizes, colors, and shapes. So, finding the right selection for your home is not a difficult task.
While boulder retaining walls are sturdy and diverse, there are some roadblocks for some homeowners. If you have a smaller yard, boulders may not look right. If you don’t have somewhere local to source your boulders, the transportation costs will eat away at your wallet. Also, boulders are naturally what they are. Meaning, you get what you get and there isn’t a lot you can do to alter them.
If your property could benefit from a retaining wall, the experts at KG Landscape
can help. Give us a call at 763-568-7251 or use our quote system
to get in contact with us today.
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When Pergolas Don’t Last, There’s Always a Reason After nearly two decades of building outdoor spaces across Medina, I’ve seen what happens when pergolas aren’t designed for Minnesota’s conditions. You can spot them a mile away—posts that lean, beams that twist, and concrete pads that have heaved out of level after just a couple of winters. It’s not because homeowners cut corners intentionally. It’s usually because whoever built it didn’t account for what our climate really does to structures that aren’t anchored right. Medina’s heavy clay soil doesn’t drain well. It holds moisture, freezes solid, and then expands like a hydraulic press pushing on everything above it. When pergolas are set on surface-level post bases, that pressure has nowhere to go but up—and the whole thing moves. Even small shifts can cause joints to separate, wood to crack, and hardware to loosen. That’s how a $15,000 structure starts looking tired after a few years instead of standing straight for decades. The truth is, pergolas here aren’t just about shade or looks. They’re about structure, drainage, and how every piece ties into the patio beneath it. A pergola that stands tall through Minnesota winters is built on the same principles as a good foundation—it’s only as strong as what’s underneath it. If you live in Medina and want to enjoy your backyard without worrying about your investment warping or sagging, start with design that respects the environment it’s built in. That means thinking beyond lumber and stain colors. It means understanding soil movement, water management, and the importance of integrating your pergola with the patio below it.
Solutions for Properties in Minnetonka You can always tell a Minnetonka yard that’s fighting its slope. Water doesn’t lie, it finds the weak spots every time. I’ve walked plenty of properties where a backyard starts beautiful in June, but by September, the patio is heaving, the grass near the pool looks like a marsh, and the homeowner is wondering how it got so bad so fast. The truth is, when you’re dealing with rolling terrain and heavy clay soils like we have around Minnetonka, you can’t just move dirt and hope gravity behaves. You need a plan that manages water from the surface all the way down through the subsoil. This is what I’ll walk you through here. You’ll see what actually causes drainage issues on sloped properties, how poor planning leads to cracked patios and shifting pool decks, and the smart drainage systems that can stop those problems for good. Whether you live near Lake Minnetonka or up in the higher ridges closer to Deephaven or Woodland, understanding how your yard sheds water is the difference between a property that lasts and one that’s constantly under repair. The Real Challenge of Sloped Minnetonka Yards Minnetonka is known for its hills, lakefront properties, and mature trees, but all that beauty comes with a set of challenges below the surface. Most of the soil here is dense clay. It holds water like a sponge and drains slowly, which means after every heavy rain, that water looks for a way downhill. If it doesn’t have a proper outlet, it ends up collecting right where you don’t want it, like along your patio, at the base of a retaining wall, or near your pool deck. I see this every season: homeowners trying to solve slope problems with a quick regrade, a layer of rock, or a simple surface drain. Those things might help for a while, but they don’t address what’s really happening underground. Clay soil doesn’t just get wet—it becomes saturated, expanding and contracting with every freeze-thaw cycle. When that happens under a patio or wall, it doesn’t matter how well-built the surface looks. The ground will move, and that movement cracks stone, shifts pavers, and slowly tears apart everything on top. The other challenge with sloped lots is how water interacts with gravity. It accelerates downhill, gaining momentum as it goes. When it hits a flat area like a patio, the water loses speed but not volume, pooling instead of flowing. That’s why I tell clients that “flat spots” on a sloped property are both an opportunity and a responsibility. They’re the best spaces to create usable outdoor areas, but they have to be engineered to handle water movement. I’ve worked on plenty of Minnetonka yards where the backyard has a beautiful view but terrible grading. You can have a perfect slope on paper, but if it directs water toward your house or creates a bowl effect between structures, you’ll end up with soggy soil and standing puddles that never dry. The goal is to move water off and away while keeping the surface level enough for comfort and usability. It’s a fine balance, but when it’s done right, it completely transforms how a property functions.