For most of us, a retaining wall solely supports the foundation and landscape of a property. While this is undoubtedly true, retaining walls can also play a great role in creating beautiful outdoor living spaces and enhancing a building’s overall aesthetic appeal.
Retaining walls are found around many homes, businesses, and schools, especially in sloped areas. However, not all walls are capable of preventing flooding and erosion. This is because retaining walls’ functionality and longevity depend largely on their construction quality. Building a durable and sturdy retaining wall requires proper skills and the right materials. Projects like this are not meant to be undertaken on your own because, if done incorrectly, they can damage the property and cause costly repairs.
Building a retaining wall is an important project and a big investment of time and money. Since these walls serve an important function, getting them done right the first time is necessary. For this reason, you need to find an expert contractor with experience building retaining walls. However, not every contractor can construct a long-lasting retaining wall, so you must find a specialist. Here, we’ve listed some tips on finding a skilled retaining wall contractor to ensure smooth project completion.
Experience Counts
To build a robust concrete retaining wall, you need to hire an experienced contractor. The professional must have years of experience and skills to understand the challenges of constructing a retaining wall. A knowledgeable contractor will assess the soil to determine how far they must dig to create a solid foundation. Moreover, only a professional company will obtain the required permits and approval before starting the project. It would also be best to ensure that your hired contractor provides the proper wall level and appropriate drainage.
Use of Equipment and Materials
After the contractor’s skills and experience, the next important factor is material and equipment quality. Make sure to ask the professional what quality of material and tools they use for building the wall. You need to hire a company that uses industry-standard equipment and tools. This is because different types of materials require different installation techniques and tools.
Check Insurance
If any contractor offers you a much lower price, they are not insured. You find this low price tempting, but checking the retaining wall contractor’s license and insurance is crucial to avoid risks. Before hiring an individual, you must verify the ‘general liability insurance certificate’ to prevent future hassles. This is because injuries and property damage can happen as they work on your project, and you don’t want to be held responsible.
Get Agreement in Writing
Once you have found a reliable and skilled retaining wall contractor, you must get a written agreement or contract. This contract should include the project’s specific details, such as the cost of material and labor and the project completion date. Make sure you understand every point in the agreement before signing it.
