Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry
Control slopes, prevent erosion, and create usable outdoor space with engineered retaining walls.
Why Retaining Walls Matter
Retaining walls serve two main purposes: they hold back soil on slopes and they create level areas on uneven ground. Without proper retention, slopes erode, soil washes away, and your property loses usable space. A good retaining wall solves these problems and adds structure to your landscape.
Connecticut properties often have challenging topography. Sloped lots need terracing to create flat areas for patios, driveways, or lawns. Areas near foundations need proper grading and retention to direct water away from the house. Retaining walls make these improvements possible and protect your property from erosion and drainage issues.
A failing retaining wall creates serious problems. Leaning, cracking, or collapsing walls threaten structures below them and lose their ability to control drainage. Building walls correctly from the start prevents these failures and gives you a durable solution that lasts for decades.
Types of Retaining Walls
Poured Concrete Walls
Poured concrete retaining walls are the strongest option. We excavate, build forms, place rebar, and pour concrete to create a solid wall that handles significant height and load. These work well for taller walls or areas with heavy soil pressure. They require more labor upfront but last longest with minimal maintenance.
Concrete Block Walls
Concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls use stacked blocks with vertical rebar and concrete fill. They go up faster than poured walls and cost less for certain applications. We pin the blocks to a concrete footing, reinforce vertically, and cap the top. These walls need proper drainage and often get faced with stone or stucco for better appearance.
Segmental Retaining Walls
Modular block systems like Allan Block or Versa-Lok give you strength with better looks than plain concrete. The blocks interlock and lean back into the slope for stability. They work great for residential walls up to 6 or 8 feet tall and come in various colors and textures. Installation goes faster and you get better aesthetics than poured concrete.
Natural Stone Walls
For a traditional look, we build mortared stone walls using natural fieldstone or cut stone. These take more time and skill but create beautiful, long-lasting walls that blend into natural landscapes. Stone walls work well for lower walls where appearance matters as much as function.
Engineering and Drainage
Retaining walls fail because of poor drainage more than any other reason. Water builds up behind the wall, creates hydrostatic pressure, and pushes the wall over. Every retaining wall needs proper drainage to relieve this pressure and stay stable.
Critical elements for stable walls include:
- •Deep, solid footing below frost line
- •Gravel backfill behind wall for drainage
- •Perforated drain pipe at base of wall
- •Filter fabric to prevent soil clogging drainage
- •Proper wall batter (lean back into slope)
- •Adequate reinforcement for wall height
- •Compacted backfill in lifts
Walls taller than 4 feet often require engineering calculations to determine footing size, reinforcement, and drainage requirements. We work with engineers when needed to ensure walls meet structural requirements and building codes. The same attention to foundation details we use for building foundations applies to retaining wall footings.
Planning Your Retaining Wall
Before building a wall, we evaluate your site and goals. How much height do you need? What is behind the wall (just soil or a driveway, patio, or building)? What soil conditions exist? Answers to these questions drive wall design and material selection.
Multiple shorter walls often work better than one tall wall. Terracing with several 3 to 4 foot walls looks better, costs less, and gives you more usable space than a single 8 foot wall. We can integrate plantings between tiers and create interesting landscape features.
Consider what sits above and below the wall. If you plan to build a patio or structure above the wall, that adds load that affects wall design. If the wall protects a driveway or foundation below, failure has serious consequences and calls for conservative engineering.
Local regulations often require permits for walls over 4 feet tall or any wall that supports a surcharge load. We help with the permitting process and make sure your wall meets all code requirements. A properly permitted and inspected wall gives you peace of mind and protects your property value.
Need a Retaining Wall?
Let's discuss your property. We will evaluate your slope and drainage issues, recommend the best wall type and design, and give you a detailed quote on building a retaining wall that lasts.
(475) 575-0588