A retaining wall can be decorative, but a decorative wall cannot be a retaining wall. Here’s why! ⬇️

When it comes to landscaping a garden or securing a structure, choosing the right type of concrete wall is crucial. Decorative walls and retaining concrete walls serve different purposes and offer distinct advantages. Discover the main differences between these two solutions.

Decorative concrete walls

Decorative walls are primarily used for aesthetics and to delineate spaces. Here are some key features:

  • Main Use: Creating borders, planters, rest areas, or design elements in gardens and yards.
  • Recommended Products: At Patio Drummond, we offer decorative walls such as Moderno, Rustico, and Urbania.
  • Advantages: Easy installation, variety of styles and colors, enhances the visual appeal of the landscape.
  • Installation: These walls often use stackable wall blocks, allowing for mortarless installation for a clean, modern look.

Retaining concrete walls

Retaining walls, on the other hand, have a structural function. They hold back soil and prevent erosion in sloped areas.

  • Main Use: Supporting sloped terrains, creating terraces, preventing landslides.
  • Recommended Products: Our solutions include Backfill Blocks and Alto Blocks.
  • Advantages: Strength, durability, ability to support heavy loads.
  • Installation: More complex than decorative walls, requiring a solid foundation and sometimes additional reinforcements to ensure stability.

Choosing the right product for your project

The key to choosing between a decorative wall and a retaining wall is to clearly define your needs. If your goal is to enhance your outdoor space with aesthetic elements, decorative walls like Moderno, Rustico, or Urbania are ideal. For projects requiring strong structural support, our Slope blocks or Alto blocks are more appropriate.

In summary

Decorative walls and retaining concrete walls play different but essential roles in outdoor landscaping. To explore our full range of decorative walls, visit the walls section of our website. For information or a quote on ALTO retaining wall blocks, contact us directly.

See what the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) says about retaining walls : article.