Retaining wall cladding

The cladding of retaining walls with tiles and porcelain stoneware, stone and wood, siding and unusual materials allows this landscape element to harmoniously fit into the surrounding landscape. Depending on the choice of finishes, the structure can have a rough or graceful shape, perform certain functions, or serve exclusively as a decorative element. Usually concrete monolithic walls are exposed, but sometimes this technique can be successfully applied on other bases in the course of restoration of landscape elements.

Natural ceramic tiles, as well as wild stone and other materials in a standard shape, are well suited for cladding concrete or brick surfaces of retaining walls. With the right decor, you can completely transform the appearance of this landscape detail.

Tiling involves the installation of an external decorative finish on a prepared base. Most often it is a concrete monolith, previously poured into a crate. Sometimes, when restoring old retaining walls, surface leveling is used with plaster compounds. Installation of tile decor can be carried out both in even rows, and arbitrarily or in a specific order, with the creation of a pattern.

When facing a retaining wall with natural or artificial stone, a masonry mortar is used as a binder. Tile adhesive with high weather resistance and frost resistance can also act in this capacity.

There is a certain order of work in this case.

• The surface is being prepared. "Betonkontakt" or its analogs are applied to it, a few hours later, water is applied over the primer with a brush.
• The stone is cleared of impurities. It is recommended to thoroughly free the material from dust and deposits; you can rinse it with water from a hose.
• Fastening with a reinforcing mesh. It is needed if concrete is used as a base. You can attach a stone directly to a brick.
• The choice of adhesive. Cement-based options are suitable, quite elastic even in conditions of lower atmospheric temperatures.
• Selecting a picture. Natural stone can be laid end-to-end or with the creation of seams. Cutting it with a grinder will help to give the material the correct geometry. A preliminary laying pattern can be calculated on paper, tried on, laid out on the surface of the ground. It is most convenient to create such a projection directly next to the retaining wall.
• Mounting. It starts from the lower left corner of the retaining wall, gradually spreading the prepared material row by row. After every 3 rows, the trim is left to dry.
• Grouting. It is performed after the adhesive has completely hardened.

Upon completion of the finishing of the retaining wall with natural stone, its surface is covered with a special protective impregnation. It is often referred to as "varnish" for stone, but this coating is also suitable for processing bricks.

You can make the retaining wall more interesting, more attractive by revealing it with unusual materials. Much depends on the imagination, financial capabilities and personal preferences of the owners. The main reference point should be the type of garden or backyard landscape. There are several interesting ideas and materials recommended for use.

• Wood. This material is suitable for the creation of temporary retaining walls, as well as an element of external decoration. The options, trimmed with wood in semicircular cuts, with remnants of bark, look especially interesting - such a design element will decorate a landscape in a natural style. A classic timber laid with an offset can also be used in cladding, it is only important to take care of careful protection of the material from moisture and decay.

• Vinyl siding. This option is well suited for the restoration of old retaining walls. Due to the peculiarities of the fastening - on special guides - the cladding can be mounted on almost any surface. Siding imitating wood, stone, brick, block house can also be used to decorate new concrete structures, given that the finish will be exclusively aesthetic in nature.

• Brick. A classic solution that looks good in traditional colors. If you want variety, you can use clinker for cladding ordinary masonry, find color options, use tiles and glazed inserts. The brick finish is suitable for retaining walls in Gothic, German or Dutch architectural styles.

• Wild stone. Tile is definitely not worth leaving without attention. Rough, untreated chips look very impressive in any landscape, but they are best suited for the design of natural gardens and parks, alpine slides.

• Porcelain stoneware. This analogue of natural stone has all its advantages, but is much more diverse in its appearance. Facing retaining walls with porcelain stoneware allows you to create strict and graceful elements of landscape architecture in the garden or near the house.

• Structural plaster. With its help, smooth concrete can be given an unusual and stylish look. The most popular for garden design are weather-resistant varieties of the well-known "bark beetle".

• Flexible facade slabs. They easily imitate natural brick or stone, are made on the basis of fiberglass, basalt granulate and bitumen. Such cladding is perfect for small architectural forms, increases the water resistance of the base, protects it from the negative influence of external factors. Installation of slabs takes a minimum of time, they are easily attached to any type of base.

There are many interesting decorative solutions for the design of retaining walls. Some of them deserve special attention.

• Wood looks pretty stylish when applied correctly.

• The cladding of the retaining wall with natural stone creates the necessary visual complement to the tiled paths in the garden.

• An original combination of tiles and plastered surfaces. This combination allows you to ensure the zoning of the territory.