Paver walkway
Mountain Paradise Landscaping
Mountain Paradise Landscaping
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Bring Nature into Your Backyard!

Background - Why use keystone retaining walls?

One of Mountain Paradise Landscaping’s projects in Rio Rancho, NM, increased the usable yard space in a two-acre property. While the property was large, much of the yard was not conveniently usable upon exiting the home in the back yard. Existing grading of the soil dropped off about seven feet quickly around parts of the home. Owners wished to have larger usable property space around the home upon which they could install future hardscaping and landscaping features.

There are a number of choices in retaining walls.

One option for retaining walls is a reinforced standard block wall that includes re-bar and is filled with concrete. In this particular project with a seven-foot drop, the wall might include a four-foot wide concrete footer, 12-inch block on the bottom followed by 8-inch block above that then 6-inch bock above that. This block would have re-bar from the footer to the top and all the block would be filled with concrete. Appropriate inspections to ensure compliance to engineering specifications and local building codes would be required. These types of walls are not aesthetically pleasing, are more expensive in this case, and do not easily allow curved shapes. In contrast, Keystone retaining walls offer a number of advantages. They are pre-engineered solutions from the block manufacturer that simplifies installation. They are very aesthetically pleasing, creating beautiful elevations and views for your property that can include curves with a small turn radius. They are also less expensive than other options.

Before - Inconvenient yard grading, poor aesthetics

Our client wanted to raise the grade of the lot around the home to be more convenient and functional. Their objective was to enjoy the outdoors with larger patios and other gathering spaces including fireplaces and landscaping vegetation near the home. David at Mountain Paradise Landscaping worked with the customer to develop a concept and plans for how much space would be needed, the costs, and the structure of the retaining wall. A tiered retaining wall was desired to allow placement of vegetation or decorative landscaping around the yard in parts of the wall. Final design increased usable space around the home from about eight to 22 feet.

During - Installing the keystone retaining wall

A first step to this project was preparation of the soil for the retaining wall base including moving earth and tamping soil. Keystone blocks used on this project were about 80 lbs. each. Because of the height of this wall, about seven feet, geogrid mesh was used to further strengthen and stabilize the wall. Geogrid is a synthetic mesh fabric manufactured specifically to improve earth retention and stability of the wall as part of the manufacturer’s engineering. This mesh is laid between layers of the wall and extends back into the dirt, further holding the wall in place.

After - More usable yard space and a more beautiful elevation

appearance for the property and home

Upon completion of the project our client had much more usable raw yard space for enjoyment themselves, and with family and friends. Property value was increased not only from the increase in convenient yard space, but because of the vast improvement of the property aesthetics and elevation seen from all around the home. Curved flowing shapes in the keystone retaining wall added uniqueness and beauty to the property. In addition, the project stabilized the soil around the home from erosion due to natural forces such as heavy rains. Next step: Our client can now consider hardscaping and landscaping projects to complete their yard!

Blog Article: Keystone retaining walls -

Increasing usable yard space

In this construction project, we increased the usable yard space for a client through the use of keystone retaining walls at the same time adding beauty to the appearance of the home.
Before: The property had limited useful nearby yard space.
Before: Initial preparation of the job site.
After: Usable yard space around the home is increased.
Mountain Paradise Landscaping logo, Elk Logo Landscaping
Bring Nature into Your Backyard!
By Appointment everyday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
#MountainParadiseLandscaping
Mountain Paradise Landscaping
Mountain Paradise Landscaping
Mountain Paradise Landscaping, Elk Landscape Logo
Bring Nature into Your Backyard!

Background - Why use keystone

retaining walls?

One of Mountain Paradise Landscaping’s projects in Rio Rancho, NM, increased the usable yard space in a two-acre property. While the property was large, much of the yard was not conveniently usable upon exiting the home in the back yard. Existing grading of the soil dropped off about seven feet quickly around parts of the home. Owners wished to have larger usable property space around the home upon which they could install future hardscaping and landscaping features.

There are a number of choices in retaining

walls.

One option for retaining walls is a reinforced standard block wall that includes re-bar and is filled with concrete. In this particular project with a seven-foot drop, the wall might include a four-foot wide concrete footer, 12-inch block on the bottom followed by 8- inch block above that then 6-inch bock above that. This block would have re-bar from the footer to the top and all the block would be filled with concrete. Appropriate inspections to ensure compliance to engineering specifications and local building codes would be required. These types of walls are not aesthetically pleasing, are more expensive in this case, and do not easily allow curved shapes. In contrast, Keystone retaining walls offer a number of advantages. They are pre-engineered solutions from the block manufacturer that simplifies installation. They are very aesthetically pleasing, creating beautiful elevations and views for your property that can include curves with a small turn radius. They are also less expensive than other options.
Before: The property had limited useful nearby yard space.

Before - Inconvenient yard grading,

poor aesthetics

Our client wanted to raise the grade of the lot around the home to be more convenient and functional. Their objective was to enjoy the outdoors with larger patios and other gathering spaces including fireplaces and landscaping vegetation near the home. David at Mountain Paradise Landscaping worked with the customer to develop a concept and plans for how much space would be needed, the costs, and the structure of the retaining wall. A tiered retaining wall was desired to allow placement of vegetation or decorative landscaping around the yard in parts of the wall. Final design increased usable space around the home from about eight to 22 feet.

During - Installing the keystone

retaining wall

A first step to this project was preparation of the soil for the retaining wall base including moving earth and tamping soil. Keystone blocks used on this project were about 80 lbs. each. Because of the height of this wall, about seven feet, geogrid mesh was used to further strengthen and stabilize the wall. Geogrid is a synthetic mesh fabric manufactured specifically to improve earth retention and stability of the wall as part of the manufacturer’s engineering. This mesh is laid between layers of the wall and extends back into the dirt, further holding the wall in place.

After - More usable yard space and a

more beautiful elevation appearance for

the property and home

Upon completion of the project our client had much more usable raw yard space for enjoyment themselves, and with family and friends. Property value was increased not only from the increase in convenient yard space, but because of the vast improvement of the property aesthetics and elevation seen from all around the home. Curved flowing shapes in the keystone retaining wall added uniqueness and beauty to the property. In addition, the project stabilized the soil around the home from erosion due to natural forces such as heavy rains. Next step: Our client can now consider hardscaping and landscaping projects to complete their yard!
Before: Initial preparation of the job site.
After: Usable yard space around the home is increased.

Blog Article: Keystone

retaining walls -

Increasing usable yard

space

In this construction project, we increased the usable yard space for a client through the use of keystone retaining walls at the same time adding beauty to the appearance of the home.
Mountain Paradise Landscaping logo, Elk Logo Landscaping
By Appointment everyday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Bring Nature into Your Backyard!
M
P
#MountainParadiseLandscaping