Tag: clarity pool service

You Know You Need One!

So, you need a retaining wall. It’s not such a bad thing. Now you have options, and if the wall is above your pool, you have a plethora of waterfall and fountain features you can implement. Use that wall for something creative! Now, your options are endless, and we understand that the wall might not be a part of the original plan, but “when life gives you lemons.” Well, you know, let’s make some lemonade!

Sky View Custom Swimming Pool Project by Clarity Pool Service of Las Vegas, Nevada

When it comes to perfect contrast, there’s nothing like a dark grey slate accent wall to give your pool some modern flair. Some homeowners add walls to their custom swimming pool designs, even when they functionally don’t need them to retain anything—purely aesthetic appeal walls. You’ll find plenty of examples online of homeowners using walls to do some pretty appealing stuff. More often than not, a homeowner won’t just opt to include a retaining wall to improve overall aesthetic appeal. The custom swimming pool designer usually has a design concept that requires an elevated top-level or tier. The higher ground allows many designers to install waterfalls, water walls, scuppers or spouts, sheer descents, and other design options.

The Retention Wall Overview – What is a Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is what its name implies, a wall specially designed to hold back earth and natural rock. Most backyards and outdoor areas where we build in-ground swimming pools are not level (flat). Southern, Nevada land is pretty flat, to begin with, so retaining walls aren’t usually required. As mentioned above, they are, however, pretty common and called for through the pool design. They often get added for specific water or level feature.

Here are some common topics about retention walls for custom swimming pools.

• Retaining walls get implemented to hold earth (dirt or rock) in place.

Some land here in Las Vegas isn’t level, and some have substantial slopes or uneven surfaces that the pool builder has to contend with, and the retaining wall is just one of the tools in our arsenal.

• The size and areas you’ll need a retaining wall for are dependent on how much earth you need to hold back. An engineer designs the retaining wall plans, and then Clarity Pool Service realizes those plans through construction.
• Common retaining wall materials are poured-in-place Concrete, cinder blocks, concrete blocks (or reinforced cinder blocks with wet Concrete poured into cavities).
  Dry stacked concrete blocks – using the dry concrete blocks to build a segmented wall. The solid dry concrete blocks are designed to lock together. It’s relatively easy to determine the difference between a segmented wall (which uses solid concrete blocks in a staggered pattern), opposed to a reinforced cinderblock wall, or poured in place concrete wall. Cinder block walls are often back-poured with wet Concrete. The cinder blocks are reinforced with steel rebar.
• You can install stacked stone on the retention wall’s surface as an aesthetic option, or any other material that is appropriate and adheres onto the wall.
  Don’t look at a retaining wall as an eyesore. A wall is used in ways that will not only compliment your yard but open up additional options where function and visuals features are concerned.
  How the retaining wall gets constructed is determined by the Engineer, and quite possibly the swimming pool contractor.
• Poured Concrete Walls are arguably more reliable than a Cinder Block wall design. Poured concrete walls have better lateral strength when compared to back-poured cinderblock walls. The stronger the wall, the more pressure it can withstand. A poured wall doesn’t have joints like a block wall, making it the preferred choice of pool contractors.
• How much does that retention wall cost? Your cost is dependent on the size and scope of the wall. Basically, how tall (depends on how much earth needs gets retained) and the length or span of the wall impacts the overall cost of building a wall. That’s not including any features or decorative materials you want to use to finish the wall.
• Retaining wall costs can typically range from $7K – $20K (costs associated with the wall are dependent on the choices you make with our Clarity Pool Service design consultant and the Engineer hired to plan & design the retaining wall.)

We hope we helped you understand some in-depth concepts about retaining walls. If you’re interested in learning more about Clarity Pool Service, call today at (702) 839-9265. We would be happy to give you a quote for the custom swimming pool design & construction. Plus, we’ll help you build something memorable and awe-inspiring with that retaining wall.

Custom Water-Wall Waterfall with dual flanking Water and Fire Bowls