Part 2 Terraces - The economics of ecology - Materials

Material Choices

Several materials are available to create a terrace wall in a landscape project. Each has its own characteristics and skill level required for installation. Traditional products like wood and stone are being reevaluated in several municipalities due to concerns about environmental impact to watersheds from the source of the products. This is spurring manufacturers to create substitute systems that can compete economically as well as esthetically. What follows is a listing of the more popular types.

Wood

In certain parts of the country, wood has been the staple product for creating terraces. Whether as planks or timbers this type of material has been rather easy to install. Current economic and environmental concerns are beginning to force this product out of the prominence that it once had. Some municipalities are restricting its use because of the types of preservatives that are being employed and their impact to local watershed. When considering this material, it is best to check with local building officials as to their particular concerns.

Masonry

Unit masonry has taken a front-row in the terrace arena. Traditional products like concrete masonry units (CMU) and brick are being replaced with larger, stackable units that often don’t require the skill set of a mason for installation. Various sizes and colors create a greater degree of flexibility in the overall design of a terrace project. These products are often the most cost effective for a large terracing project. Yet due to their wide acceptance and uniformity in appearance, many newer developments are beginning to put restrictions on their use especially if there is a lot of terracing that will be required.

Concrete

Pouring concrete into a form is pretty standard stuff, except when you get into terraces. Issues such as excavation, backfilling, forming and bracing, and site access of material are just a few of the issues that must be addressed with this material. Often this type of material is not economically viable if several terraces are planned for the project.

Stone

Stone still evokes that old-world charm in every terrace project. Stone terraces typically are designed using the gravity/mass principle: A large mass is built to resist the force of the gravity being applied against it. The stone mass is built either as a dry-set or mortar-set wall. Determining whether to install a dry-set or mortar-set terrace wall is the key to using stone since each type has its own unique cost and construction requirements. If the project requires removing an existing rockery, it is possible that this on-site stone may be incorporated into a terrace project and keep the hauling costs down. 

Alternative Materials

New products are being introduced every day. Each is created to deal with a specific site condition. Their cost and benefit must be reviewed against more traditional materials. Other types of product to consider are recycled materials. Concrete slabs are an example of this. Numerous municipalities are looking for ways to reclaim this from their limited landfill space. This product can be effectively used to construct attractive stone appearing walls at a fraction of the cost of stone. An added benefit is that if the project site has a driveway, patio, or walk that is going to be replaced, a quick source is readily available, keeping your hauling and disposal costs down.

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 3 - Site Considerations