How the Retaining Wall Created More Usable Backyard Space
The steep grade behind this Oakville home limited how much of the backyard the homeowners could comfortably use. Near the house, there was little defined level ground before the property transitioned into the wooded slope below. The goal was not simply to change the appearance of the hillside. The homeowners wanted more practical space near the home while still maintaining access to the lower portion of their property.
Creating that space required working with the existing grade rather than trying to flatten the entire wooded backyard. A retaining wall allowed the hillside to be held back where additional level ground would make the biggest difference. Positioning the wall along the slope established a clear transition between the more usable area near the home and the natural grade below.
The wall follows a curved layout through the backyard, helping it fit the shape of the property while retaining the grade behind it. Once that transition was established, the area above the wall could function as a more defined part of the backyard instead of immediately dropping into the hillside.
Access was also important. Creating a level area near the home would have been less useful if it cut off the lower portion of the property, so a central staircase was integrated into the retaining wall. The steps connect the upper backyard with the wooded area below, while black metal railing along the elevated edge helps define the transition created by the wall.
The completed project included:
- Segmental retaining wall constructed along the backyard slope
- Curved wall layout following the shape of the property
- Grade retained to create more usable space near the home
- Integrated staircase connecting the upper and lower backyard
- Black metal railing along the elevated edge
- Matching wall caps completing the retaining wall
- A more defined transition between the usable backyard and wooded slope
- Completion in approximately three working days, if confirmed by the project record
The true benefit of this retaining wall is the usable square footage it added to the property. Instead of the backyard ending abruptly where the ground slopes away, the homeowners now enjoy a much wider, functional outdoor space directly outside their doors.
At the same time, the design ensures the yard doesn’t feel cut in half. By incorporating a seamlessly integrated staircase, the new wall beautifully connects the expanded upper patio area with the lower lawn, making the entire property easy to navigate.
The finished backyard still feels connected to its wooded surroundings, but the slope no longer determines how much of the area near the home can be used. For these Oakville homeowners, their retaining wall turned a difficult grade transition into a more practical outdoor space while keeping the character of the property intact.