Concrete& Hardscape

A retaining wall without drainage is a wall that will lean

This is the most common failure we get called to fix. A wall goes up on undisturbed dirt with backfill dumped straight behind it, and within a few years it's bowing out. It isn't the block that failed. It's water.

Soil behind a wall holds water, water freezes, and frozen soil expands with more force than any block wall resists. The fix is drainage: a compacted gravel base, perforated drain pipe behind the wall, clean gravel backfill and filter fabric to keep soil from clogging it. That's how we build them, and our photos on the work page show that pipe going in.

Base preparation on everything

The same principle applies to paver walkways and patios. Pavers set on loose dirt will settle unevenly within a season or two, and the wobbly section by the corner is always where the base was thin.

Excavate, compact, lay and level the base, edge it so it can't spread, then set the surface. It's more work up front and it's the reason it still looks right in five years.

Pricing

What Drives the Price

We don't publish flat rates, because a number quoted without seeing the job is either padded to cover the worst case or it's going to change later. Neither is fair to you. Here's what we're actually looking at when we price it:

• Square footage or wall face area
• How much excavation the site needs
• Grade and slope of the lot
• Material choice — block style, paver type, concrete finish
• Whether existing concrete must be broken out and hauled
• Access for equipment and material delivery
• Drainage complexity

Estimates are free, there's no obligation, and you get the number before any work starts.

Questions

Straight Answers

How tall can a retaining wall be?

Many jurisdictions require engineering above a certain height — often around four feet. Below that, well-built segmental block walls are straightforward. If yours needs to be taller, we'll tell you it needs an engineer rather than building something that fails.

Why is my existing wall leaning?

Almost always drainage, sometimes an inadequate base. Water behind the wall with nowhere to go freezes and pushes. Rebuilding with proper drain pipe and gravel backfill is the actual fix; straightening it without addressing water just resets the clock.

Pavers or poured concrete?

Pavers flex with freeze-thaw instead of cracking, and individual ones can be lifted and reset. Poured concrete is faster and cheaper up front but cracks eventually here. For walkways and patios in Colorado we usually lean pavers.

When can you pour concrete?

Concrete needs temperatures that stay reliably above freezing while it cures. Practically that's spring through fall. Winter pours need protection and aren't worth it for most residential work.

Do you fix drainage problems?

Yes, and often that's the real job. Water pooling against a foundation, a downspout dumping right at the wall, a low spot that never dries — those are fixable with grading and drainage before they become foundation problems.