Retaining walls have risen above their practical use. Yes, they still can be used to hold up portions of your terrain, but with the right stone selection, they can also be beautiful elements of your landscaping. You can even add a retaining wall just for the look of it – without actually needing to manage any erosion or drainage problems at all.
Retaining walls have become very popular options for swimming pools. They are especially useful for creating pools and other accessories in sloped yards, and they can be used to create beautiful accent spaces for your pool.
Triad Associates can help you bring your vision for your swimming pool retaining walls to life. We have a wide variety of stones to help you get just the look you want, and our hardscaping experts can provide installation for a long-lasting and beautiful design that will enhance your pool’s beauty and increase your home’s curb appeal.
Swimming Pool Retaining Walls for Sloped Landscapes
Many people who have sloped yards believe that they cannot have a swimming pool. But with the right retaining walls, you can add a swimming pool to any yard, no matter the size and no matter the slope.
Retaining walls don’t have to be installed simply to hold back the dirt on the higher elevations. They can be tied into many other elements, including pool decking, patios, and more. You can break your yard into large steps, sectioning your pool areas. One step is a large deck for entertaining and for surrounding the pool. Drop down a foot or less, and you have your next step, which includes the pool itself. The smaller retaining wall can be designed to tie in with the decks on each level. The stone can be the same as what is used on the decks, or can be chosen to complement the different sections. For example, the decks may be colored concrete, but the retaining wall that connects them may be of a stone that has a similar or complementary color.
Of course, retaining walls can also be much larger to hold up much higher sections of earth. Heavier stones can be used to create high retaining walls that separate the pool from large sections of sloped yard. You can use landscaping to edge the top of the retaining wall, and you can incorporate other features into the wall to tie it into your pool’s design. For example, the wall can be, essentially, a feature wall for your pool, or it can include items like water cascades or accent lighting.
The designers at Triad Associates can help you visualize the possibilities by creating sketches and using 3D software, as well as by helping you explore different stone samples to see how the different styles and colors will make an impact on the design.
Decorative Swimming Pool Retaining Walls
You can add a retaining wall anywhere around your pool as a kind of accent wall. The wall can be freestanding, or it can run along a partially elevated portion of the yard. The wall can be short, or it can be many feet high.
The purpose of these retaining walls is to enhance the design of your pool. Your selection of stone, wall design, and accent features will make a big impact on the overall look of your pool space. Some things you’ll want to consider for designing your wall include:
- Stone type
- Stone color
- Stone texture and style
- Accent lighting
- Surrounding landscaping
- Water features
- Fire features
You can incorporate a number of features into the wall. For example, an outdoor fireplace can be recessed into a thicker wall. A water curtain can be added to a taller retaining wall. Accent lighting can be added along any wall and in combination with any other features. You can also put plants and flowers on top of or alongside the wall. You can even build planters into the wall or on top of it.
It is important that you consider the overall design of the pool when choosing the elements for your decorative retaining wall. Your wall can provide a strategic contrast to the pool, or it can be built using the same colors, texture, and other elements as are used in your pool deck, coping, and other decorative elements.
The hardscaping specialists at Triad Associates can help you explore all of these options so you can get a beautiful retaining wall that elevates the look of your pool’s space. You can take your pool from a drab and functional space to something breathtaking and inspiring. You will love spending time at your poolside and having people over for entertaining.
Can You Add Water Features to a Retaining Wall?
Water features offer a lovely way to accent a swimming pool space. You can add a fountain to the middle of the pool or the side of the pool, or you can add small jets or faucets sending water into the pool. You may wonder if you could add water features to a retaining wall, but you may not think it possible because the wall features such a solid design.
Our hardscaping associates can easily incorporate water features into your swimming pool retaining walls. Individual jets, water curtains, and more can all be added. The pipes and hoses can be run through the wall, and the water can come out of spouts or small openings in the stone. Water features can even be added to retaining walls that are designed to hold up portions of land.
We’ll help you understand what’s possible based on the stone you select and the kind of design you want for the wall. As with other parts of the design process, we can use samples, sketches, and software to help you visualize the options and how they can complement your current space.
Above Ground Pool Features
Pools that are partially above ground are becoming more popular. We’re not talking about the plastic, above-ground pools that you can set up in an hour and take down every winter. We’re talking about pools that are built partially on a slope and are surrounded on the exposed side by a retaining wall. With this pool design, you have more stylistic options for that exposed wall. The type of stone you choose can make a real statement for your yard and your pool.
Even if you have an entirely in-ground pool, you can add some above-ground options, such as an above-ground hot tub or pool spa. Adding a retaining wall around can create a sophisticated accent for these spaces, which will elevate the overall look of your pool. You can accentuate the look by adding strategic elements, such as planters at the side of the retaining wall, accent lighting at each corner, and so on.
You can also add retaining walls around large, planted areas. So, instead of building a small planter box, you can create a larger wall that is doubled on the other side and enclosed. You fill that whole space with dirt and plant a variety of lush plants and flowers to create a show-stopping look for your pool.
Hire the Haverhill Hardscaping Experts to Create Beautiful Swimming Pool Retaining Walls
There are several ways you can incorporate retaining walls into your pool area – to divide a sloped yard, to border above-ground features, to section seating and entertaining areas, or just to create a decorative feature. You can add water features, lighting, landscaping, and more to your retaining wall. The hardscaping experts at Triad Associates can help you do it all.
At Triad Associates, we sell high-quality stones for all types of hardscaping projects. You can create the beautiful retaining walls that will raise the profile of your pool area, your entire yard, and your home. You can create any look you like for the retaining wall or other elements of your pool’s hardscaping. We have a large selection of stones in all colors, sizes, shapes, and textures. We can help you bring any vision to life.
If you know you want to upgrade your pool area but you aren’t sure where to start, our design specialists can help you explore the options and give you some tailored recommendations to bring out the beauty of your space and to maximize its functionality. Our design experts have seen it all, and they have innovative suggestions for challenging spaces. They also know how to help you get more out of a smaller budget.
Our hardscaping professionals are committed to providing the highest level of service and craftsmanship, so that you have a pleasant experience from start to finish and you have a beautiful new hardscape that you’ll love for years to come. Browse our online gallery to get some ideas, read our reviews to see what our many satisfied clients have to say about our work, then call us in Haverhill today to schedule a consultation with a hardscaping specialist about your swimming pool retaining walls or other home renovation project.
