Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry

Why You Need a Retaining Wall

Retaining walls hold back soil on slopes, create level areas on uneven terrain, and prevent erosion. If your property has elevation changes, chances are you could benefit from a retaining wall somewhere.

Here in Highlands Ranch, we see a lot of properties with slopes. Maybe your backyard drops off and you want a level patio. Maybe your driveway needs a cut into a hillside. Maybe erosion is washing away your landscaping. Retaining walls solve these problems.

A well-built retaining wall does more than just hold back dirt. It adds usable space to your property, protects structures from soil movement, and can significantly improve your home's appearance and value. A poorly built wall fails, sometimes spectacularly. We build walls that last.

Types of Retaining Walls We Build

Different situations call for different wall types. Here's what we install:

Segmental Block Walls

These walls use interlocking concrete blocks that stack together. They're versatile, attractive, and work well for most residential applications up to about 4-6 feet tall. The blocks come in various colors and textures to match your landscape design.

Segmental walls are relatively quick to install and don't require mortar. The blocks lock together and use their weight plus proper base preparation to create a stable wall. For taller walls, we pin the blocks together with fiberglass pins or we tie them back into the slope with geogrids.

Poured Concrete Walls

For taller walls or situations requiring maximum strength, poured concrete is the way to go. We excavate, set forms, install rebar reinforcement, and pour concrete to create a solid, monolithic wall. These walls can handle serious loads and can be built to significant heights.

Poured walls can be left with a smooth trowel finish, given a stamped or textured surface, or faced with stone or brick veneer. They're more labor-intensive than block walls but they're the strongest option available.

Concrete Block (CMU) Walls

Standard concrete masonry units create strong, economical walls. We typically use this method for taller walls, commercial projects, or anywhere structural strength is critical. The blocks get filled with concrete and reinforced with rebar for maximum strength.

CMU walls can be left as-is for a utilitarian look, painted, stuccoed, or faced with stone or brick. They're incredibly strong and durable, making them ideal for heavy-duty applications.

How We Build Retaining Walls Correctly

A retaining wall is fighting gravity and water pressure every day. If it's not built right, it will fail. We've seen plenty of DIY walls and cheap contractor walls that have pushed out, leaned over, or collapsed. Here's how we make sure that doesn't happen.

Engineering and Design

For walls over 4 feet tall or walls supporting structures, we recommend getting an engineer involved. The engineer calculates loads, determines footing requirements, and specifies reinforcement. This isn't just good practice; it's often required by building codes.

Even for shorter walls, we design with engineering principles in mind. We account for soil type, slope, drainage, surcharge loads, and frost depth. All of these factors affect how the wall needs to be built.

Foundation and Base Work

Every retaining wall needs a solid foundation. We excavate below frost depth and create a level, compacted base. For many walls, this means a gravel foundation. For poured concrete walls, we pour a concrete footing.

The base has to be perfect. If it's not level and stable, the wall will shift. We use laser levels, compaction equipment, and proper base materials. This step takes time but it's critical to long-term wall performance.

Drainage Systems

Water is a retaining wall's biggest enemy. Water pressure builds up behind the wall and pushes it forward. Without proper drainage, even a perfectly built wall will eventually fail.

We install drainage systems behind every retaining wall. That typically means gravel backfill, perforated drain pipe at the base, and weep holes or drainage openings in the wall itself. The goal is to let water drain through and away from the wall instead of building up pressure behind it.

Wall Construction

Once the base is ready and drainage is in place, we build the wall itself. For block walls, that means setting each course level and properly offset. For poured walls, that means setting forms, installing rebar, and pouring quality concrete.

We pay attention to details like proper setback (the lean built into the wall), cap blocks or coping stones, and clean, consistent joints. The finished wall should look good and function perfectly.

Other Masonry Work We Handle

Beyond retaining walls, we handle all kinds of concrete masonry projects:

• Freestanding walls for privacy or property division
• Pillars and columns for entries, mailboxes, and lighting
• Outdoor fireplaces and fire pit surrounds
• Seating walls and planters
• Veneer work over existing concrete or block
• Steps and terracing for sloped properties
• Foundation walls for buildings and structures

Masonry work combines function and aesthetics. We can create structural elements that also serve as design features for your property. If you can imagine it, we can probably build it.