Retaining Walls

Walls built to outlast the house.

Engineered retaining walls that stop erosion, level your yard, and create usable outdoor space. Built right the first time.

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About Retaining Walls

The Triad's hills demand walls that actually work.

If you live on a sloped lot in the Piedmont, you've probably seen walls fail. Cracks, leaning, bulging, or worse — full collapse after a heavy rain. The problem isn't the wall itself. It's how it was built.

A real retaining wall isn't just stacked blocks. It's an engineered system: proper footing, compacted base, geo-grid reinforcement on taller walls, gravel backfill, and drainage that moves water away from the structure. Skip any of those and you've built a clock that's slowly running out.

We build retaining walls the right way — using systems from manufacturers like Belgard, VERSA-LOK, and Allan Block. Whether you need a 2-foot decorative wall or a 6-foot structural wall to terrace a steep hillside, we engineer for the long haul.

How It Works

From assessment to installation.

Site Assessment

We evaluate the slope, soil, drainage needs, and your goals. No charge, no pressure.

Engineered Design

We design the right wall system for your site — material, height, reinforcement, drainage.

Proper Build

Excavation, base prep, geo-grid, drainage, block install — done in the right order, every time.

Backfill & Finish

Final grading, cap stones, cleanup, walk-through.

Before & After

Real transformations.

Here's a recent retaining wall project — during construction (with the French drain backfill system going in) and after final grading.

Before

After

Engineered wall + drainage system

Mid-build with the perforated drain pipe and gravel backfill being installed behind the wall — that's the system that prevents water pressure from pushing the wall over. Final result: clean, level, and built to outlast the house.

Our Build Standards

How we build walls that hold the line.

Most retaining wall failures aren't bad luck — they're predictable consequences of cutting corners on the build. Here's what every Garrison's wall gets, regardless of size or budget.

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Engineered footing — Compacted aggregate footing buried below the first course. The depth depends on wall height — taller walls need deeper, wider footings.
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Geo-grid reinforcement (when needed) — For walls over 4 feet, geo-grid mesh extends back into the soil at engineered intervals. This is what holds the wall against soil pressure long-term.
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Drainage built in, not added on — Gravel backfill plus a perforated drain pipe with a filter sock. Water pressure behind a wall is the #1 cause of failure — we eliminate it from day one.
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Manufacturer-grade block — We work with engineered systems from Belgard, VERSA-LOK, Allan Block, and Pavestone. These come with manufacturer material warranties.
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Cap stones glued, not just stacked — Top course capstones are bonded with concrete adhesive so they don't shift or get knocked off.

Common Questions

What you need to know.

How much does a retaining wall cost in the Triad? +

Wall pricing varies dramatically based on height, length, material, slope steepness, and access for our equipment. We can't give a real number without seeing the site. Free assessments are always available — call us and we'll come look.

How tall can a retaining wall be? +

We build walls up to 6 feet for most residential applications. Walls over 4 feet typically require engineered design with geo-grid reinforcement. Walls higher than 6 feet may require permits and structural engineering — we'll let you know during the assessment.

Why do retaining walls fail? +

Most retaining wall failures come from three issues: poor base prep, missing drainage, and no geo-grid reinforcement on taller walls. Water pressure behind a wall is the #1 killer. We address all three on every install.

Do retaining walls need drainage? +

Yes. Every wall we build includes gravel backfill and a perforated drain pipe (or French drain) that carries water away from the wall. Without it, water pressure will eventually push the wall over.

What materials do you use? +

We use segmental concrete block from manufacturers like Belgard, VERSA-LOK, Allan Block, and Pavestone. We can also build natural stone walls and timber walls when those are the right fit. We'll show you samples and help you choose.