Soil Assessment
Soil type and bearing capacity evaluated before wall design.
Site & Soil Assessment
Week 1Wall layout staked, total height calculated, soil test pit if conditions are uncertain.
Retaining Walls
Walls That Hold the Hill
Engineered retaining walls in natural stone, manufactured block, or poured concrete — designed to soil-mechanics spec, fully drained, and footed to last decades.
- 50yr
- Service Lifespan
- Engineered
- Above 4 ft
- French
- Drain Behind Wall
- 6"
- Cap Detail
Overview
Retaining Walls Are an Engineering Problem
Most retaining walls fail because they were built like fences. A wall holding back soil is a structural element subject to lateral earth pressure, hydrostatic load, and freeze-thaw cycles. We design to soil-mechanics spec — geogrid reinforcement, drainage behind the wall, and footings sized to the load.
- Engineered above 4 feet
Walls over 4 feet receive a sealed engineering design; below 4 feet built to standard spec.
- Geogrid reinforcement
Geogrid pulls reinforcing soil mass back from the wall face — the modern standard for tall walls.
- Full drainage behind
French drain at the wall base wrapped in filter fabric prevents hydrostatic build-up.
What's Included
Engineered Footing
Concrete or compacted aggregate footings sized to wall height and soil type.
Drainage System
4” perforated French drain wrapped in filter fabric, daylit to grade.
Geogrid Reinforcement
Layered geogrid mats tied into the soil mass behind taller walls.
Stone or Block Face
Natural stone, manufactured block, or board-formed concrete — selected to architecture.
Coping & Cap Detail
Solid cap stone or finishing course that protects the wall and finishes the line.
Our Approach
How a Wall Project Runs
- 01
- 02
Engineered Design
Weeks 2–3Wall section, footing, drainage, and reinforcement specified — sealed engineering for walls over 4 feet.
- 03
Excavation & Footing
Week 4Excavate to footing depth, prep base, pour concrete or compact aggregate footing.
- 04
Wall Construction
Weeks 5–6Wall built course by course with drainage installed concurrently behind.
- 05
Cap & Backfill
Week 7Cap stones set, backfill in lifts with compaction, drainage daylit, surface restored.
Common Questions
Retaining Walls, Answered
How tall can a wall be?
Practically unlimited with proper engineering. We commonly build single-tier walls to 8–10 feet and tiered systems much higher. Walls over 4 feet require sealed engineering in most jurisdictions.
Do I need a permit?
Most municipalities require a permit for walls over 4 feet from grade to top. We pull all required permits as part of the project.
Why do walls fail?
Three reasons: undersized footing, no drainage behind the wall, or insufficient reinforcement for the height. We engineer all three to spec.
Natural stone or block?
Both have a place. Natural stone is the heritage aesthetic and tier of finish; manufactured block delivers strong engineering at lower cost. We present both with pros/cons for your design.
Design Your Retaining System
A senior lead will assess the slope, soil, and site conditions and propose an engineered wall.