The desire to have a bit of land to call your own is not an uncommon one. However, in the Bay Area, finding our own personal outdoor space can be a challenge. Some of us live in newer housing ...

Q: I have two deteriorating (but still standing) retaining walls made of timber and two even worse, leaning cinder-block retaining walls. I was planning to replace them all eventually, but to spread ...

There's a lot to love about a stackable retaining wall in your backyard. If your yard has an uneven slope, a retaining wall can add usable space to your outdoor areas and increase the value of your ...

Perhaps this is the year to rid your yard of those pesky railroad ties. Why? The weather and other elements probably have split and hollowed them by now. And upgrading or adding durable retaining ...

Q: I've been researching foundation types for both new homes and room additions. I've narrowed it down to either poured concrete or concrete block. Many websites say poured concrete is better than ...