Page 10 March 24, 2016 TORRANCE TRIBUNE Like Us on Facebook Improve Your Outdoor Space with Retaining Walls (BPT) - When you picture a retaining wall, do you imagine it holding back dirt? That’s the most common use for retaining walls - to address elevation changes and prevent erosion. But concrete segmental retaining wall (SRW) units are multi-purpose landscaping tools with many more uses. Site planners, engineers, landscape architects, designers, developers and builders have long relied on SRWs to manage sloping properties, provide more usable space, or create stadium seating. Homeowners, too, have discovered retaining walls can be used to create functional outdoor features, says Scott Arnold, manager of Villa Landscapes in St. Paul, Minnesota. “Because segmental retaining walls are both durable and beautiful, landscapers and homeowners can use them to create outdoor seating, raised patios and other features,” says Arnold. “They are the perfect building block to create grill islands, outdoor kitchens and so much more.” Most SRWs are easy to install, which is an important consideration for both landscape professionals and do-it-yourselfers, Arnold said. With retaining wall systems, homeowners and landscapers can create freestanding walls, seat walls, columns, stairs, planters and other features without the need for special units. Stunning Seating While commercial installers often use SRW units for amphitheater and stadium seating, retaining walls can also be used to create beautiful and durable outdoor seating on a smaller scale, from freestanding walls that double as seating, to two-tiered seat walls. VERSA-LOK SRWs can be used to easily create a curved “couch” seating area that works well as a solution around a patio and fire pit for fall evenings. Ditch The Deck Raised patios built with retaining wall units are a low maintenance option to replace aging wooden decks that require continual maintenance. Villa Landscapes designed a raised deck replacement in Minnesota with SRWs from ground level to 42-inches tall to support a paving stone patio. Stairs also built with SRWs connect the patio to the home and yard. The result was a beautiful, spacious and low-maintenance patio with the added advantage of a clear view of the backyard. Willow Creek Paving Stones pavers were used for the patio, surrounded with a contrasting course of river rock that serves as a visual and physical boundary as well as a space for potted plants. Create Curb Appeal Where the yard meets the driveway, retaining walls can be installed as a barrier to protect the lawn from damage caused by tire tracks, plowing or deicing. A tiered arrangement that addresses a slope in the yard adds space for plants and shrubs. Freestanding walls are often built along property lines on corner lots to prevent unwanted traffic from cutting across the yard. Columns created using retaining wall units See Real Estate, page 12 ELOISE MENDEZ DRE# 01378851 PALM REALTY BOUTIQUE • 310-322-9761 • EL SEGUNDO SERVING THE SOUTH BAY SINCE 1989 EZEQUIEL “ZEKE” ACEVES Call for a FREE Market Analysis (310) 951-8679 zekeaceves@aol.com • www.zekeaceves.com License # 01033312 ALWAYS A PHONE CALL AWAY ★ Schofield Realty ★ 323 Richmond Street “For the Personal Service You Deserve” • Property Sales • Property Management • Property Investment 310-322-4660 310-880-2129 Call Ken Today, for a FREE Appraisal Today Schofield Residential Realty DRE # 01166914 COMING SOON! Beautiful upgraded home in El Segundo on a Cul De Sac on the west side of town. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. 2210 sqft, 6,443 sqft lot. 2 stories, 3 car garage. $1,359,000 Ken Schofield Investment Opportunities OFF MARKET!! Two apartment buildings coming up! Competitive cap rates, 100% occupied. No rent control. Call or email me for details! JODIE INFANTINO • 310.704.1507 JODIE.INFANTINO@SHOREWOOD.COM • DRE #01521084 KIRK BROWN, JR. KIRK BROWN BROKER BRE# 00556073 BROKER BRE# 01359453 310-322-0066•kirkbrown@gmail.com Happy Easter! ✱ FOR SALE - 1735 AVIATION BLVD., REDONDO BEACH Beautiful town home, corner unit. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. Air Conditioning. $849,000 ✱ FOR SALE - 4250 REDWOOD, MDR One of the BEST buildable corner lots! Great Westside walking location. NEW PRICE!!! ✱ 126 W. OAK Two on a Lot. 3 bedroom, 2bath + office or 4th bedroom. Second home is 2 bedroom, 2 bath with many upgrades. ✱ 510 STANDARD ST. New carpet. New paint. 4 bedroom home in best location. Bonus room, great floorplan, 2 car garage. Must see many extras! S O L D We Work Hard Everyday to Exceed Your Expectations! S O L D
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