Retaining wall know-how

One of the best ways to boost the resale value of your home is by revamping your outdoor area, both the front and backyards.

If you're thinking about giving your property a makeover this summer, why not create your own courtyard style patio?

Surrounding it with retaining walls and planters will help it become the focal point of your outdoor area, boosting the appeal of your home for prospective buyers in the process.

Once you have chosen the area of your patio, you will need to clear the ground - using an excavator from your local Kennards Hire is perfect for this job.

When digging the trenches for the base of your retaining wall, make sure that they are deep enough for the border stones to sit.

After this you can fill the trenches with sand, smoothing the area down to create a solid, level base for the wall.

After putting down the base stones, you can start building your retaining wall up - it is important to spend time with this part of the project, strategically arranging the stones for the best result.

You may choose to have a layer of permeable crushed rocks between the blocks and soil to improve drainage.

Once your retaining wall is complete and you have laid the pavers for your courtyard, there's nothing left but to enjoy your new outdoor space!