Retaining Wall Design & Installation

Retaining walls do more than look nice. They solve real problems that affect your property value and usability. Sloped yards wash away soil during heavy rains. Uneven terrain makes it hard to use your outdoor space. Erosion near your foundation can cause serious structural damage. A properly designed retaining wall stops these problems and turns wasted slope into usable yard space.

Many Rochester homeowners need retaining walls but do not realize it until they see damage. Maybe your driveway is settling because soil underneath is washing away. Or your basement floods because water runs toward your foundation instead of away from it. These problems get worse every year, and the repair costs climb. A retaining wall installed now prevents expensive foundation and drainage repairs later.

We design and build retaining walls that last for decades. Whether you need a short decorative wall for a garden bed or a tall structural wall to create a level yard, we engineer solutions that work. Our walls look great and stand up to Rochester weather, soil conditions, and freeze-thaw cycles that destroy poorly built walls.

Building a retaining wall that lasts requires careful planning and proper construction. We follow engineering principles and local building codes to ensure your wall stands strong for decades.

First, we evaluate your site conditions. We look at soil type, drainage patterns, slope angle, and how much earth your wall needs to hold back. These factors determine what type of wall you need and how deep the foundation must go. We also check for underground utilities and get any required permits before starting work.

Next, we design your wall. For walls over four feet tall, we often work with structural engineers to ensure the design meets code requirements. The design includes proper drainage systems because water pressure behind retaining walls causes most failures. We plan where water will go so it does not build up behind your wall.

Then comes excavation and foundation work. We dig down to solid, undisturbed soil and create a level base. The foundation might be compacted gravel, poured concrete, or solid bedrock, depending on your wall type and height. This foundation work is crucial because walls built on unstable bases will eventually fail.

We build the wall in courses, ensuring each level is perfectly level and plumb. We install drainage systems as we build, not as an afterthought. Perforated drain pipe behind the wall and gravel backfill let water drain away harmlessly. We also build in proper batter, which is the slight backward lean that helps the wall resist soil pressure.

Finally, we backfill carefully with proper drainage material and compact it in lifts. Poor backfilling causes many wall failures. We take time to do it right so your wall stays stable. We also grade the area to direct surface water away from the wall. The result is a beautiful, functional retaining wall that adds value to your property.