Home » Misc » Terrace backyard ideas

Terrace backyard ideas


61+ Sloped Backyard Ideas on a Budget [You'll Love the Photos!]

Feeling a bit daunted by making something beautiful out of your sloped backyard? Don’t panic! We’ve got all the best ideas for landscaping a sloped garden on a budget!

Some of the most beautiful and creative garden ideas I’ve come across have been on sloped land. Having extra height and different levels gives you much more scope to create intriguing features in your yard.

So whether you want to spruce up your backyard slope – or if you’re looking for a fun outdoor project, then you’ll love these landscaping ideas.

Let’s look at some of the best-sloped backyard ideas on a budget!

1. Stone Slab Path for Sloped Backyards

I love this legendary sloped yard from the Green Thumb Blonde’s blog. The added flower garden looks peaceful, serene, and it makes perfect use of the real estate. The stone steps also look charming.

This stone staircase would make a great feature in any sloped backyard. Stone slabs can be relatively inexpensive, or you may even have some lying around your land. 

2. Easy Raised Garden Beds for Sloped Land

Raised vegetable garden on a slope by Deeply Southern Home

I love raised garden beds because it’s easier to manage rogue weeds! Even if a few weeds sprout up – it’s straightforward enough to spot them when they’re inside of your raised garden bed.

Building raised beds on a slope is a genius use of space and uses less building materials – especially compared to constructing them on flat land.

3. Upcycled Sloped Backyard Water Feature

Check out this borderline-genius yard slope feature from Pilgrim and Pie. I’ve never seen more creative usage of watering cans. Or a backyard slope!

The best thing about having a sloped backyard garden is that the water runs downhill! A downhill slope eliminates some friction when creating a great upcycled water feature, such as this innovative watering can design.

Read More – How to Make an Epic Bubbling Rock Fountain!

4.

Turn Your Slope Into a PlaygroundImage By Ashville Playgrounds

Imagine how much fun the kids will have in this sloped-garden-turned-play-haven! Installing a playground is a great use of the natural slope of your backyard.

5. Sloped Backyard Seating Deck

By Pretty Pink Patch on Instagram

Don’t think you can’t have a flat area to sit outside just because you live on a slope! Wooden decking is a quick and inexpensive way to create a level seating area for a sloped backyard.

6. Turn Your Slope Into a Beach

Image from Sunset

This is such a wonderful idea for your sloped backyard! If you love going to the beach, you’ll love this idea. And so will your pets!

The creator, Bud Stuckey, built this 100-square-foot beach for less than 200 bucks, in two days!

7. A Waterfall Cascading Down the Slope

Tutorial and images by Hometalk

You’ll be totally obsessed with this idea. Whether you’ve always wanted a waterfall (me, me!) or you’ve never considered it before – this full tutorial with photos will get you excited about the idea!

This waterfall cascades down a long slope and ends in a koi pond. And the best thing? The tutorial shows you exactly how to do it yourself, in your own backyard!

8. DIY This Rock Retaining Wall

Image and tutorial at Hometalk

This is a full tutorial, with pictures, instructions, and a video! Learn how to build a rock retaining wall just like this one in your own sloped backyard.

It’s ultra-cheap to DIY, too!

9. Terraces for Sloped Backyards

By Reverie Interior Design on Instagram

Bring a Mediterranean vibe to your yard with some simple terraces. Plants such as rosemary and lavender will thrive in these rocky conditions and bring color and fragrance to your outdoor areas.

10. Budget Path for Sloped Backyard

Here’s an excellent example of loose stone (gravel) stairs to accommodate an upward slope. Read more about how to build steps on a hill from the Scrappy Geek blog!

Putting in some simple wooden supports is a quick and easy way to build steps into a slope. You can either fill the steps with gravel or use topsoil for a cheaper option.

Read More – How to Make a Beautiful Rockery Garden!

11. Sloped Garden Flower Trail

By White Flower Farm

Create a spectacular point of interest with a beautiful flower trail through your sloped backyard with this tutorial by White Flower Farm.

12. Add a Stone Bench Seating Area With Fire Pit

Image and by Irytek102 on Reddit – see the full photo gallery here.

What an incredible way to make use of your sloped backyard! It’s not hard to imagine many wonderful nights under the stars, lounging with family and friends, the firepit crackling before you…

A great idea!

13. Carve Rustic Stone Steps Out of the Hillside With Flagstone

Image and full tutorial by Jaime Haney

Jaime Haney lists all the steps to your very own set of flagstone steps on his blog, with plenty of photos to show you how to go about it. These stone steps fit beautifully into the natural landscape and would make a stunning addition to any sloped backyard!

14.

Use Pallets to Create Gardens on a SlopePallet garden idea photo at Hometalk

Julia didn’t like her sloped garden… It was hard to mow and harder to keep it looking nice. She stumbled upon the idea of using pallets as gardens.

Julia isn’t done yet. She’s planning on adding more pallets and stepping stones – then maybe adding vegetables next year.

A fantastic, budget idea!

15. Budget Pond for Sloped Backyard

Using the sloped ground to create a pond gives you so much more scope to get creative, adding in waterfalls and streams running through your yard!

16. Control Run-Off With Stone

By Denise on Hometalk

Look at how Denise controls water run-off in her sloped garden!

She needed a beautiful idea to help control the flow of the heavy, erosive Arkansas rains. The idea above is one of her downhill paths which winds through a variety of relaxing herbs.

17. Increase Your Space With Raised Beds

By DIY Design Fanatic

These raised gardens, built by Pam in her Carolina garden, are a great way to increase your usable space on a slope!

See how she went about it on her blog.

18. Build a Picnic Table That’s Always Level

Image by Hometalk

Here’s a simple hack to build a picnic table for your sloped backyard! You can easily DIY this with simple shelf brackets and a tabletop.

19. Build a Shade Garden on a Slope

Shade garden on a slope. Image by Hometalk.

This is a lovely idea for a budget shade garden in your sloped backyard. Plant hosta, painted ferns, coral bells, variegated Jacob’s ladder, and Astilbe for a natural, work-with-nature approach.

20. Low Maintenance Lawn Alternatives

Clover is one of the most underrated cover crops for your homestead. Check out the guide from Treehugger for more tips on clover laying – and why clover is sometimes better than a grass lawn!

The big problem with sloped lawns is how to mow them! Get around this problem by planting a low-growing alternative lawn, such as clover or creeping thyme. You can buy premium quality, Oregon-grown white clover seed on Amazon!

21. Sheltered Seating Area for Sloped Backyard

If you’re not opposed to masonry work, then this breathtaking sheltered seating from SecretGardenOfMine is one of our favorites. It looks cozy – and private!

This sheltered seating area would be great for anyone on a tight budget, as long as you’re not afraid of a bit of hard work! If you don’t have any bricks handy, you can make the retaining wall from reclaimed wood instead.

Read More – How to Easily Stop Weeds From Growing in Rocks!

22. Sloped Backyard Rock Garden

By Happy Haute Home

Here’s another brilliant landscaping idea for sloped gardens. I love the rocks – I feel like they add a massive amount of personality to the sloped yard!

Rocks are a great way to add structure and help prevent erosion in a sloped garden. Interplanting your rocks with fragrant herbs and flowers will bring scent and color to your yard.

23. Low-Cost Woodland Trail

By marieanned1 via Instagram

Trees are a great way to retain soil and prevent erosion on sloped land. A woodland trail can be very cheap to plant, especially if you have a source of trees such as willow to take cuttings.

24. Children’s Play Area for Sloped Land

By garykidson via Instagram

Another great advantage of sloped land is that you can get creative with the kid’s play area. A longer slope equals a lengthier slide, perfect for hours of outdoor fun!

25. Sheltered Fire Pit Area 

By Olive Branch

I love how the firepit rests within a slope! I think this adds to the privacy of the fireplace and also makes the party feel more exclusive. Awesome!

Building a fire pit in a sheltered area on your sloped land is a clever way to stop smoke blowing everywhere at your next BBQ.

26. Stock Tank Swimming Pool Built Into the Slope

Image and design by Cuckoo4Design

I love the creativity of this sloped landscape! Who else wants to go for a dip? Having a hilly yard was never so relaxing – and refreshing!

Don’t think you can’t have the luxuries in life just because you’re on a tight budget!

This excellent swimming pool built into a sloped backyard derives from a stock tank. You may be able to pick a secondhand tank up for very little money or even barter or swap!

Read More – How To Build a Roaring Cinder Block Fire Pit Grill!

27. Create a Gorgeous Retaining Wall Garden

Create a tiered garden with retaining walls at different heights, complemented by gorgeous, lush plants that cascade over the edges. (See our post on the most stunning cascading plants for retaining walls!)

I could see myself grabbing my morning cuppa and meandering through this peaceful landscape!

28. A Slope of Flowers

Completely fill your slope with gorgeous flowering plants for a wall of flowers. Add scented flowering plants to make it even more impressive!

29. An Inviting Path Up the Slope

Image by Backyard Reflections

This is a very impressive design idea for sloped backyards! The lawn path, meandering through stone retaining walls, looks incredibly inviting – I just want to skip up there! Add a seating area up the top for the ultimate backyard relaxation.

30. Use the Natural Slope as a Waterfall

Make your sloped backyard work for you and with nature by adding a waterfall feature! Birds and wildlife may come to visit and you’ll love the sound of trickling water in the background.

31. Create a Classic Landscape With Natural Stone

Natural stone and big rocks create this lovely landscaped garden on a slope. Add lots of creeping plants to turn it into a rockery the neighbors will be envious of!

32. Use Centerpieces to Break the Slope

Break up the slope with big centerpieces. Include big, natural rocks, pots, shrubs, and trees.

33. Rock Walls to Level the Ground

Build rock retaining walls at different heights to go with the slope of your backyard. Increase your space and create an interesting centerpiece at the same time.

34. Vertical Rockery

Create a vertical rockery retaining wall with big rocks and drought-hardy plants, succulents, and creepers.

35. Succulent Water Landscape

Go from drab to fab with this water feature, surrounded by succulent plants.

36. Go All-Out With Style

This sloped garden has been turned into an incredible, drought-hardy wall of beauty. Use Yuccas or Pandanus trees for some vertical interest pieces, and lots of colored-foliage plants.

37. Retaining Wall Surrounding the House

What an amazing design idea! This project would take a fair bit of time but the result is definitely worth it. The gorgeous rock wall adds a beautiful, gigantic raised garden to your backyard and it complements the house.

More Sloped Backyard Ideas on a Budget

Feast your eyes on these amazing photos of sloped backyards and use the inspiration to turn your own slope into a masterpiece!

38. Giant Slip and Slide

By Hometalk

39. Terrace Your Slope

By Hometalk

40. DIY Stacked Stone Garden Wall

By Hometalk

41. Build a Fort on a Slope

By Asheville Playgrounds

42. Terraced Backyard

By Fresh Perspective Landscapes

43. Cave With Slide

By Hometalk

44. Amazing Tranquility on a Slope

By Paradise Restored

45.

Stairway to Heaven

46. Hillside Slide

By Momtessorilife

47. Rock Garden on a Slope

Via Bobvila

48. Native Plant Wonderland

Via Bobvila

49. Artwork on the Hill

By Gro Outdoor

50. Build a Deck

Via Hometalk

51. Stabilize Your Slope With Pallets

By Good Life Permaculture

52. Gardens With Trellis

By Living Hillside

53. Chicken Coop on a Slope

By Barbara Pleasant

54. Horse Trough Hillside Garden

By Rain Barrel Garden

55. Learn to Landscape a Steep Slope the Permaculture Way

By Good Life Permaculture

56. Stunning Sloped Garden Design

Image by Cultiverity

57. Mulch It Well

By Yes I Talk to Plants

58. Retaining Wall With Plectranthus

By The Indigenous Gardener

59. No-Mow Slope With Wild Grasses

By The Indigenous Gardener

60. Use Groundcover Plants to Hold the Slope

By The Indigenous Gardener

61. Make It Maintenance-Free With Helichrysum and Gazania

By The Indigenous Gardener

Sloped Backyard and Hilly Landscaping FAQ

Adding cement steps or a concrete walkway is one of the best ways to upgrade your sloped garden. If you don’t have the most significant landscaping budget, then there are other alternatives. No worries!

We spend oodles of time researching the best landscaping ideas for sloped backyards.

We also have a ton of experience getting our hands dirty – and we’re happy to share our best sloped backyard insights with you.

Let’s begin!

Is It Bad to Have a Sloped Backyard?

Not at all! Sloped yards might take more effort in landscaping, but you have many more creative opportunities when gardening on a hill.

One thing to be aware of with a sloped backyard is where the water runs off. If the land is sloped downhill towards your house, you might end up with a flooded home! However, the correct drainage should sort this problem out.

How Do I Make My Sloped Garden Look Nice?

Most good things take time and effort, and that includes making your sloped garden beautiful! Start small by focusing on just one area rather than embarking on a massive and daunting landscaping project.

The quickest way to add some interest and features to a sloped garden is to install rock (or stone) steps and add a line of flowering plants or shrubs alongside them. Add some solar lights, and voila – you’ve got a sloped garden feature!

What Can I Plant In My Backyard Slope?

When planting on a slope, consider that water and soil retention may differ from your flatter land! The sloped ground may dry out more quickly, and nutrients may run off the soil.

Look for plants with a healthy root system that will anchor them into the ground. The strong roots will help them to stay put in heavy rainfall and reduce soil erosion.

Perennial plants work better than annuals on sloped land, as they will provide ground cover all year round. My favorites would be edible perennials, such as globe artichokes, interplanted with herbs and smaller fruit bushes.

How Do You Prevent Erosion on a Sloped Yard?

There are two ways to prevent erosion on a sloped yard, either by strategic planting or by landscaping the area.

Using plants is the most natural method of preventing erosion. Roots of trees, shrubs, and plants will hold onto soil and even improve the quality of the dirt over time.

If you have a severe erosion problem, then you may need to give nature a hand. Use supports made from wood, brick, or rock to retain soil, particularly in areas with a high level of water runoff.

What Is the Best Ground Cover for a Hillside?

If you are looking for ground cover for a hillside, look for low-growing plants which spread quickly. Ideally, you don’t want to be mowing or strimming your hillside more than necessary, so plants that are low maintenance work well here.

To cover bare ground on a hillside quickly, scatter seeds of fast-spreading plants such as clover or mustards. You could also consider sowing a wildflower mix to attract beneficial pollinators to your garden.

These majestic stepping stones are one of the best ways I’ve found to upgrade your backyard slope instantly. Excellent for rockery gardens or simple footpaths!

What Are Your Favorite Sloped Backyard Design Ideas?

This alpine slide looks like it takes serious work to build from scratch. However, it’s one of the most elegant methods to complement any slope, hill, or incline!

We’re always trying to find sloped hill ideas from homesteaders all over the world!

If you have some sloped hill ideas that we haven’t thought of yet – please share!

Also – let us know which sloped hill ideas are your favorite? Does anything catch your attention?

Thanks again for reading!

Please have a great day!

Read More – 21+ Epic Texas Landscaping Ideas for a Flourishing Texan Garden!

Turtle Stepping Stone

Garden Turtle Stepping Stone - Cast Iron!

$24.00 $21.17

Want an awesome-looking stepping stone with tons of personality for your sloped yard? I love the detail on these turtles!

These cast-iron stepping stones are heavy-duty and are roughly 13-inches long by 9-inches wide and 1/2-inches thick.

Get More Info

We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

10/23/2022 02:15 pm GMT

Author

50 Backyard Retaining Wall Ideas and Terraced Gardens (Photos)

Our collection of backyard retaining wall ideas and terraced gardens. The retaining walls include wood, rock, stone, brick, gabion, and concrete block walls.

Welcome to our photo gallery featuring a selection of the most luxurious and beautiful terrace gardens with retaining walls we could find! We hope you can glean a retaining wall idea or two from the list we’ve provided below. If you do, let us know!

The use of terrace gardens dates back millennia to ancient times. Terrace gardens are still a beautiful but much less widely seen luxury in the present day.

Terrace gardens also fulfilled a practical purpose in the past and still do in the present; in hilly or steep areas, they were a means of growing more crops to feed a local population. Terrace gardens also help ensure more uniform watering across crops and gardens, where a steep slope cannot and does not.

Contemporary terrace gardens and retaining walls tend to be much smaller and more modest in the majority of residential landscaping designs. While some retaining or garden walls are masonry works, others are simply composed of stacked stones or concrete steps. We’ve listed the ten common retaining wall materials here.

The majority of the terraces and retaining walls you’ll find included in this collection can be found in nearly any suburban neighborhood.

Many contemporary terrace gardens are also located in urban areas. Many of these urban terrace gardens use extensive container gardening to create small gardens in places where a lack of traditional planting beds is an issue.

The terraced garden made from different levels of stone walls in the photo above the text is located in an expansive garden. The terraced garden in the photo is complete with a small pond and waterfall, and small evergreen bushes that line the larger terraces. The natural stone wall was made from cobblestone.

We hope you’ll enjoy this unique collection and perhaps find inspiration for your own terraced garden or wall landscape!

Find more backyard ideas in our article on the definitive guide to backyards!

Wood retaining wall ideas

Here we see gorgeous wood brick retaining walls that use a stacked concept. This timber wall is accented by lovely green plants that sit atop it. The layered design of this garden retaining wall, with its cohesive look, makes it pleasing to the eye.

Here is a wood retaining wall that is topped with charming ornamental plants. These plants make an excellent and enchanting accent to the wood retaining wall landscape.

Here we see a wide soil plot of land that’s divided by a timber retaining wall. The timber wall’s levels grow higher and higher as the wall grows closer.

In this photo, we see a wood-paneled retaining wall surrounding a grassy courtyard. This wood retaining wall wraps around a lush green yard that is filled to the brim with verdant plants and trees.

Stone and rock retaining wall ideas

Here, thin slate stones have been stacked to create a natural-looking, simple, and beautiful barrier between the landscaping and the grass lawn below it.

Here we present a more country or rustic retaining wall that is running along the side of a paved driveway. This stone wall creates a terrace from the large hillside. Moss grows on the old stones, marking this stone wall as aged and weathered.

We see a hand-laid retaining wall made out of natural stone in this photo. The two natural stone terraces are filled with low-maintenance plants and landscaping. These stone terraces smooth out the angles between the much higher house and the soft, lush green lawn below it.

In this photo, we can see a series of layered garden retaining walls between the highest and lowest levels of a split-level home. There is a ramp overhead, as well. 

Here, a brand new garden is completed with several garden tiers and new plant growth. The stone retaining garden walls that make up the terraces will help keep the arrangements separate from one another.

We see a residential stone retaining wall running along a winding stone path along the side of the home in the photo above.

Here we can look at a terrace garden with stone retaining walls and a nearby stone path from the rear of a home.

Here, stone retaining walls run alongside a paved road.

In this photo, a series of stone walls surround a waterfall that runs into a small creek down a hill.

Here we can see a unique rock retaining wall by a sidewalk. This rock wall is composed of rocks of various shapes and sizes, which adds visual interest to the overall look of the retaining wall. The wall is topped with evergreen plants, which give a sense of life to the wall.

Here, we see layered stone brick retaining walls above a green lush slope. The layered stone retaining wall is accented by lovely ornamental plants, and a green chair adorns the area near the third level of the terrace garden.

In this photo, there is a sophisticated stone retaining wall complete with serene pine trees in its backdrop. A stone pathway and matching steps in the middle lead up to a concrete bench.

This stone retaining wall is fitted with a concrete staircase that leads to an area with flagstone flooring. The rustic wood chairs complete the look.

Here, natural stone retaining walls surround a majestic garden that is filled with lovely, colorful blossoming plants crawling throughout it.

This home features stone retaining walls that end in planters on a stacked wall layout. Captivating flowers add character and softness to the area.

Cobblestone/Brick retaining wall ideas

This contemporary home has terraced landscaping on either side of the stone stairs that lead up to the home’s front door. The light-colored stones are stacked neatly around the planting beds, making the hillside less dramatic.

This stone retaining wall snakes around either side of a paved driveway. Ornamental trees, flowers, and draping vines fill the area in and around the sides of both stone terraces.

Stacked cinder block landscaping stones are an easy and excellent method for keeping grass out of planting beds. These block walls also add curb appeal to the landscaping. Any borders created with concrete blocks will remain in place.

The bricks used to create these terraces and retaining walls are speckled with small holes. These small holes give the bricks the appearance of a kitchen sponge.

A series of light stone retaining walls that help keep the sand dunes of the landscape from eroding away. They also provide a sturdy place for larger evergreens to grow.

Here we see lush landscaping complete with a small birdbath, looking glass, and uniformly stacked stones. A small set of stairs leads up to a pathway on the top of the brick terrace.

In this photo, brick retaining wall rises next to a stone courtyard using alternating red and gray stone.

Here we see a simple terrace garden with ornamental grasses and bushes atop the stone retaining wall.

In this photo, a simple, curved retaining wall forms a circular planter. The owners chose to fill the stone retaining wall planter with bright petunias.

A retaining wall of light-colored stacked stone that is uniform in both color and size. The ground above the stones is covered in a thick ground cover.

Here we see a simple retaining wall that creates a raised gardening plot filled with petunias, black-eyed Susans, and other members of the daisy family.

In this photo we see a brick retaining perimeter wall surrounding the wooden backyard patio. The top tier of the terrace continues into the surrounding woods.

Here terraces of varying heights surround the swimming pool. Retaining walls and terraced gardens are an ideal methods to create your own private oasis.

Here we see three beautifully fashioned terraces, each planted a different plant in large gathered groups.

In this photo, the concrete block retaining wall snakes along the lush green lawn. It has drainage on its side. Ornamental flowers and green plants peek out from below and above the gray wall.

Here, a serpentine retaining wall landscape wraps around the area surrounding a traditional ranch house with blue vinyl siding. The house and landscaping are lined with beautifully manicured bushes and shrubs, as well.

Here, a gorgeous brick retaining wall is situated beside a curved pathway that sports a two-tone color. This retaining wall is overflowing with lush green plants.

Here, a beige two-story house is framed by brick retaining walls. The retaining walls are accented by plants and manicured shrubs.

In this photo, multi-tiered brick retaining walls showcase a stunning design. There’s even a matching staircase along the side of the terraces. The terraces’ unified gray color makes the green plants stand out even more.

This house boasts natural brick retaining walls that wrap around a gorgeous tree and lush plants.

Concrete retaining wall ideas

A series of small concrete terraces create steps along this hillside. The soft, plush grasses make this spot perfect for sitting and relaxing.

Here, sleek concrete retaining walls with a striking and unique layout double as seating areas. The fresh, smooth grasses complete the clean and modern look and provide an overall serene vibe.

Gabion retaining wall ideas

See our entire gabion wall and fence article/gallery here.

Here we see gabion retaining walls that are framed with wire mesh, which showcases the concrete staircase in the center of the gabion wall.

This lovely white rock gabion retaining wall wraps around plants, forming a steady and sturdy planter for the plants inside it.

This garden features a round rock gabion wall planter that is filled with green plants and solar lights that illuminate the area at night.

This is a close look at a gabion retaining wall that is fitted with a chrome lamp and topped by luscious green plants.

Here, a curved gabion retaining wall atop a concrete tiled courtyard is lined with garden plants.

These towering gabion retaining walls serve as a fence around a house. The vibrant yellow color of the gabion wall blends well with the green plants and their yellow flowers.

In this photo, the layered gabion retaining wall beside the poured concrete staircase is filled with large pebbles. The terraces are topped with various plants and shrubs.

Here, multi-tiered gabion retaining walls that use two-toned rocks are accompanied by alternating well-manicured plants. This creates a stunning fence for a backyard or even a front yard!

In this photo, the simple terrace was created using wooden blocks, chicken wire, and large stones for an overall rustic look. The landscaping is simple and low maintenance. 

How to make a DIY retaining wall

First, find the elevation contour of the area where the retaining wall is desired. If there is a change in elevation in the land, the water can roll off and away from the soil and plants on the terrace.

A retaining wall must be built along the contour line, so that rainwater that falls on the terrace will remain in place, slowly sinking into the terrace. One can locate elevation contours using a tool called an A-frame level.

Next, drive stakes every two to six feet along the contour line. On steeper slopes, the stakes should be closer together than the stakes on gentler slopes. Stakes can be made from waste wood, or they can be purchased from a local home improvement store. Wooden deck balusters can also be used as stakes.

To prevent weeds from growing on the new terrace, lay cardboard where the terrace will be the way shingles on a roof are laid, beginning at the bottom and working up from there, with overlapping pieces.

The next step is to lay materials like logs, and tree limbs, and brush uphill of the stakes. These materials act as a dam for the terrace, to help keep rainwater from draining from the terrace quickly. Dig a slight ditch for the logs, limbs, and brush, to help get some of the pressure they exert off the stakes.

The best logs and tree limbs to use are six to eight inches in diameter. It’s best to stack the logs, limbs, and brush so that they are slightly above level, because over time (due to gravity), the terrace will settle.

Next, pack materials such as twigs, leaves, and more brushes between the logs. These materials act as a filter and also hold the soil in place. Then, add the soil to the cardboard. It will settle in time, so more soil will need to be added in the future.

It’s important to observe what happens with the new terraces after a few hard, heavy rains. Once happy with the stability of the terrace, feel free to plant perennial plants and flowers in it!

Garden Wall Ideas

So, what is the difference between a garden wall and a retaining wall? Aren’t the two terms interchangeable?

The difference between a garden wall and a retaining wall lies in the purpose of the wall. Retaining walls hold back the earth, essentially creating a staircase-like structure out of a natural slope or hill, especially a steep slope or hill.

Retaining walls can present a stunning look and can be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but their basic and most important function is to hold back the earth. Thus, the retaining wall design is dictated by the naturally occurring slope or hill that is present on a property.

Garden walls are purely aesthetic, for decoration or separation only. These walls are not built for strength or to hold back the earth.

They are typically used to designate different types of gardens or one garden bed from another. Garden wall design is not dictated by a natural slope or hill but is decided by the landscaper or gardener.

Here, a short retaining wall made of layered blocks creates dedicated planting beds that are easily distinguishable from the grass lawn below them.

This charming garden bed is filled with gorgeous plants that line the decorative rock retaining wall.

Beautiful terraces in the backyard to the house - 135 best photos, terrace design in a private house and in the country house countertops, and a custom decorative metal railing that connects to the lower deck's artificial turf area. The ground level features custom concrete pavers, fire pit, open framed pergola with day bed and under decking system.


Lake Norman - indoor-outdoor living

Collaborative Interior Design

The outdoor dining, sundeck and living room were added to the home, creating fantastic 3 season indoor-outdoor living. The dining room and living room spaces are roofed and screened with the sun deck left open.

BBQ Deck Project

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Original design example of a pergola on a medium sized classic backyard terrace with outdoor kitchen

ROWE House

Peter Cohan Architect

Peter Cohan
Source Source: Medium -sized Terrace in a modern style with a canopy 9000

Ladera Remodel

libbby raby raby ramp archeb. original design: neoclassical (modern classic) medium sized backyard terrace shower without sun protection

Tracy Project

Timberline Patio Covers

This project is a huge gable style patio cover with covered deck and aluminum railing with glass and cable on the stairs. The Patio cover is equipped with electric heaters, tv, ceiling fan, skylights, fire table, patio furniture, and sound system. The decking is a composite material from Timbertech and had hidden fasteners.

Cedar Deck

Artistic Concrete Surfaces

Lindsey Denny
Stylish design: large contemporary backyard terrace with fire pit without sun protection - the latest trend

The Mediterranean Meets California In Minnesota

Mom's Design Build

Stylish Design: Pergola on Mid-Sized Backyard Terrace, Second Floor Neoclassical (Modern Classic) with Privacy Divider and Mixed Material Railing - Latest Trend

Denny-Blaine Outdoor Revival

Board & Vellum

Even as night descends, the new deck and green plantings feel bright and lively. Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Fresh Design Idea: Large Classic Backyard Ground Floor Terrace with Privacy Barrier, Canopy and Metal Railing - Great Interior Photo

Outdoor Living & Exterior Makeover in Atlanta

Boyce Design and Contracting

The panoramic doors provide instant indoor/outdoor living onto this gorgeous Brazilian hardwood deck that features an outdoor kitchen with concrete countertops, grill, sink, refrigerator and kegerator with a double tap.

French Country Renovation

Alto Design

Jeffrey Jakucyk: Photographer
Pictured: large classic backyard terrace with fire pit and canopy with

Full Home Remodel

0 Outdoor shower030 Pearl0 Remodeling 90 Deck
Stylish Design: Large Neoclassical (Modern Classic) Backyard Terrace Shower with Canopy - Latest Trend

Product Gallery

Lampert Lumber - Rockford

Fresh design idea: a medium-sized classic backyard terrace without sun protection - great photo of the interior

best projects and realized ideas earth. But the terraces attached to the house have their own characteristics, which do not always coincide with the characteristics of the classical design.

Contents

Location Features

If you consider the terrace as a place to relax, there are several options for location relative to the house:

  • On the sunny or leeward side. This condition is relevant for regions with a short summer and a pronounced wind rose. Although for the southern regions, landscape features of the area are more important than the direction of the world.
  • In the backyard, if there is a garden, lawn, swimming pool, playground or barbecue area. This expands the possibilities of relaxation and allows you to control small children.
  • Near the main entrance, if there is a large palisade with a hedge or a high fence to block prying eyes.

As one option, you can build a terrace around the house. If the size of the plot and financial possibilities allow.

Design features

The design of each structure has mandatory and "optional" elements. The minimum set of terraces attached to the house consists of a foundation and flooring. The third prerequisite is one wall common with the house, which has a separate front door connecting to some room (most often the living room).

Another element depends on the height of the basement of the house. Terrace decking is usually flush with the ground floor floor. If the base is high, then in order to go down to the courtyard, they make either a step or a small staircase with a railing.

To increase comfort, in most cases the terraces have a roof to protect them from rain. It is also common to make a fence to protect family members and guests from accidentally falling from the deck to the ground.

Prudent owners equip open outbuildings (without a canopy) with special awnings, which can be opened if necessary.

These features, as well as the type of foundation, influence the design of the extension.

Features of the choice of foundation and project development

The type of foundation, and the project as a whole, depends on the nature of the building itself and the seasonality of residence.

Newly built houses and cottages with year-round habitation are usually designed with permanent terraces, the structure of which is completely connected with the house at the level of the foundation and roof. But even here there can be nuances. If the foundation of the house can be of a full profile (deep, with a basement or basement), then a shallow type of tape base is chosen for the terrace.

And the roof can be either common with the house or separate, supported by a wall and pillars (for buildings with two or more floors).

For an extension to an existing house, the terrace foundation can be connected to the main one if their types are the same. But, when the soil and the weight of the building allow, they can choose a lighter base - a columnar one. And as a roof, they make a separate canopy - it is not advisable to redo the truss structure of the house.

For summer residence or, for example, near the bathhouse, it is possible to provide the possibility of installing a temporary terrace. If it is open, then it is enough to prepare a crushed stone base, on which deck boards can be laid in warm weather. To convert a temporary terrace into a closed category, it is possible to equip a canopy in this place, an adjoining pergola, or provide for the possibility of installing a terrace awning on the wall.

An interesting project on piles - see the following video:

Choosing materials for decking

Deck board or decking is used for deck decking. The deck board can be smooth (like a floorboard), but more often a corrugated profile is used for terraces, which has anti-slip properties and the ability to drain water.

Decking is another name for deck boards, but this is also often called park parquet, which resembles a modular version of ordinary parquet in shape.

Materials for the manufacture of such a coating are usually moisture-resistant wood species. But you can also use ordinary pine, which has undergone special processing.

In total, three types of materials can be distinguished: from wood of domestic or exotic wood species, from wood-polymer composite. Do-it-yourself exotic species for a terrace can not be considered - the price of decking in terms of 1 m 2 is much higher than a board from domestic wood.

Domestic species of wood

Terrace board from pine is the most affordable. Advantages: prevalence, ease of processing and drying, affordability. Disadvantages: low hardness (2.5 on the Brinell scale), tendency to rot in conditions of high humidity and prolonged contact with water.

The last drawback is especially pronounced if the wood is close to the ground and poorly ventilated. Namely, these are the operating conditions for the terrace attached to the house.

However, pine decking can last up to 10 years with proper preparation and care:

  • Antiseptic treatment. Solves this problem for a while - it requires periodic updating of the impregnation.
  • Heat treated wood. The structure is changing - the cellulose of the upper layer is depolymerized, which creates a waterproof shell. The disadvantage of processing is a decrease in hardness.
  • Impregnation - pressure impregnation with an antiseptic.

Siberian larch is one of the most popular species for decking. Its hardness is almost the same as that of pine, but the density is 2-2.5 times higher. It is resistant to decay and insects, and in terms of resistance to mechanical stress is not inferior to oak. It belongs to the middle price category, but the price range is very large - it depends on the type of wood. Decking from larch class "Extra" costs about 40 USD. for 1 m 2 , grade AB is two times cheaper.

Oak has one of the highest hardness values ​​among common domestic hardwoods.

It is used for elite types of flooring, including terraces. White locust has a very high Brinell hardness factor (7.1), is considered an elite type of wood and is valued more than oak (no less than mahogany).

WPC

Wood-plastic composite consists of 50-60% shredded wood. The rest of the volume is the polypropylene component (30-35%) and additives to increase the resistance to color fading (5-15%). WPC board can also be "smooth" and corrugated. But even smooth types have a rough surface, visually and to the touch repeating the pattern of a cut of a sawn tree. Corrugated decking does not necessarily have a wood texture - the board can simply be painted in any color (each manufacturer has its own palette).

In terms of cost, WPC cannot be classified as an “affordable” material. According to the definition of manufacturers and trading organizations, wood-polymer decking is in the middle price category. Domestic products are in the range of 20-30 USD. for 1 m 2 , European production - from 40 c.u. for 1 m 2 .

Features of terrace decking

Installation of deck boards made of wood and WPC differ in the method of fastening and the size of the compensation gaps between the boards. A wooden deck board is attached to the logs in an open way or hidden (using special fasteners). WPC decking manufacturers produce a complete set of fasteners (climers) and auxiliary profiles, and each has its own installation instructions. But regardless of the materials of the board, they have general requirements for the foundation and installation of the log.

Foundation and beams

Even a roofed terrace can be exposed to rain in strong side winds. In order for water to drain naturally from the flooring, a slight slope must be arranged - 1 cm per 1 meter. It is made in the direction of the corrugation grooves, or from the wall of the house (for smooth types of decking). And since the installation is carried out along the lags, the lowering of the level is laid at the stage of arranging the foundation.

The joists under them must have a strong single support. Ideally, they should lie on floor beams resting on the base of a strip or grillage of a columnar foundation. Alternatively, you can lay or pour a concrete slab on a prepared bed of sand and gravel.

For light, small extensions, a column foundation is used. The simplest solution for the column is a concrete base type CO 6. 50 in the form of a truncated pyramid with a mounting plate on top.

For temporary terraces, a “floating base” is provided, which does not have a rigid fixation on the ground and to the foundation of the house. The tile acts as a support, which is laid on its crushed stone base. But even in this case, the flooring must be raised above the ground, and so that the grass does not grow through the gaps between the boards, a geomembrane is laid from below.

The spacing of the log layout depends on the thickness of the board and does not exceed 50 cm. recommended.

Installation of decking

Wooden deck plank is installed in the flooring with a gap between them of 3-8 mm. The size depends on the type of wood and the nature of the processing.

The slots in the deck have three functions:

  • compensation for dimensional changes when wet and damp;
  • surface runoff;
  • wood ventilation.

The expansion of wood along the fibers is less than across, but the end gap between the deck and the adjoining wall should be (1-3 mm).

WPC decking remains virtually unchanged when exposed to moisture. It is protected from this by the polymer component, but it also causes dependence on temperature changes. Therefore, if the flooring is in the shade (under a stationary canopy), the gap between adjacent boards is 2-3 mm. If the flooring is part of the time under the rays of the sun, the gaps are made larger - up to 10 mm. The same rule applies to the gap between the end and the adjoining wall (or other fence).

Roof and railings

Covered terrace projects usually have a shed roof supported by poles around the outer perimeter. Most often they are made from timber (ordinary or glued), less often from a metal pipe. The beam is attached to the bottom trim on the base or to the grillage. The pipe is concreted together with a monolithic base. With rare exceptions, these supports act as part of the fence - they are attached to the railing.

Railings, additional posts between posts and balusters for DIY projects are easier to make from wood.

Learn more