Concrete Block Retaining Wall

What This Service Involves

Concrete block retaining walls offer a clean, uniform look that suits modern Puget Sound landscapes while standing up to constant rain and freeze-thaw cycles. Because our soils stay saturated for much of the year, we install a continuous gravel backfill zone and a perforated drain pipe behind the wall to relieve hydrostatic water pressure. The blocks are set on a compacted gravel base for stability in soft, wet ground. This combination keeps the wall level and prevents the bulging that plagues poorly drained walls in the PNW.

Benefits

Affordable per-square-foot cost compared to natural stone; Consistent, tidy appearance that pairs with most homes; Fast installation with modular units; Strong resistance to our wet freeze-thaw climate; Easy to repair or extend later

Our Process

1) Excavate and grade the slope; 2) Compact a level gravel base footing; 3) Set and level the first block course; 4) Stack courses while placing gravel backfill and a perforated drain pipe; 5) Cap the wall and backfill the final grade

What Affects the Cost

Wall height and total length; Site access and slope steepness; Depth of gravel base and drainage required; Block style and cap selection; Soil removal and disposal

Best Time of Year

Best installed spring through early fall when drier soil compacts well, though our crews can build year-round in Western Washington with proper site prep.