Living in one of Washington DC's historic districts can be a rewarding experience: you get a small-town neighborhood personality with unique historic character and beauty. This is not easy to come by when you need to reconstruct landscaping structures with the strict rules that govern the properties.
Johnson's Landscaping Service finished a retaining wall project in the Mount Pleasant Historic District in Northwest, Washington DC. Retaining walls are a 50-year specialty of Johnson's, so recreating the masonry wall was the easy part. Of additional importance, Johnson's is familiar with all the permitting required for historic landscape construction so the project progressed easily. (check with any landscaper before contracting to make sure they are experienced in this work or your project may go terribly awry and become a source of major frustration for you, the trusting homeowner, if they don't exactly comply to specifications - you could even have to start from scratch).
Any retaining walls (especially ones facing the sidewalk in the "right of way") are particularly complicated because of red-tape.
Walls over 36" in the District must have a permit
If necessary, a structural engineer may need to approve the drawings for the retaining wall construction
If wall is on public space, you will need a Right of Way permit, which requires the homeowner to post a bond (you redeem this 90 days after final inspection).
Walls usually require a footing inspection
Miss Utility must also mark property when digging is required
Additionally if you live in a Historic District
Project approval must be obtained from the local historic district association which may stipulate that the stone must exactly match the replaced wall-as was the case with this reconstruction. A house over 100 years old may have stone from a quarry long gone - so finding a landscaper that can secure a proper match which will be accepted is imperative.
After the wall is built, a final inspection is required and when passed, be sure to mark your calendar for 90 days from the approval date and get your bond back.
Johnson's Landscaping Service is a landscaping construction Design/Build expert in every aspect of building retaining walls (and all types of landscape construction). This includes planning, design, obtaining proper permits, and creating projects with unrivaled craftsmanship. Their special qualifications can make all the difference in the world in your historic landscape project running as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.
Final results? Enjoy the strength and beauty of a historic retaining wall that lasts and maintains or enhances your property value and the neighborhood's inviting charm.
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