Lowe Larretta is former lead editor for Forbes Home, covering all things related to home improvement and good design. She previously worked in the decor and lifestyle spaces for digital publishers ...

Retaining walls add value to your home and property only if properly built. An essential and often overlooked factor for a sturdy, long-lasting fence is effective retaining wall drainage. Imagine ...

This is the last of three stories on terracing hillsides. To read the first two stories, "Slippery slopes" and "Know your hillside," go to sfgate.com and type in Deborah K. Rich. "Almost all ...