Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry

Why You Might Need a Retaining Wall

If your property has slopes or grade changes, a retaining wall can solve multiple problems. Retaining walls hold back soil, prevent erosion, create level areas for patios or gardens, and manage water runoff. They're both functional and attractive, turning challenging terrain into usable outdoor space.

In Portland, retaining walls need to handle freeze-thaw cycles, heavy rain, and snow load. A poorly built wall can lean, crack, or even fail completely. That's why proper design and construction are critical. We build retaining walls that are engineered for stability, have proper drainage, and look great for decades.

Retaining Wall Options

We install several types of retaining walls depending on your needs and budget:

• •Poured Concrete Walls: The strongest option for tall walls and heavy loads
• •Concrete Block Walls: Cost-effective and versatile for most residential applications
• •Segmental Retaining Walls: Interlocking blocks that create attractive, textured surfaces
• •Stone Veneer Walls: Concrete walls with natural stone facing for premium appearance
• •Garden Walls: Shorter decorative walls for planting beds and landscape definition

The right choice depends on the height you need, the load the wall will hold, your aesthetic preferences, and your budget. Walls over 4 feet typically require engineering and permits. We handle all the technical requirements and work with engineers when needed to ensure your wall is safe and code-compliant.

How We Build Retaining Walls

A stable retaining wall starts with a proper foundation. We excavate below the frost line and pour a concrete footing that's sized for the wall height and load. The footing must be level and stable because everything else builds on it. Shortcuts here lead to wall failure later.

Next, we build the wall itself using your chosen material. For poured concrete walls, we set forms, install rebar reinforcement, and pour concrete in lifts. For block walls, we stack and reinforce blocks with vertical rebar and horizontal bond beams. The wall is built to lean slightly into the soil it's retaining for stability.

Drainage is critical for retaining walls. Water pressure behind the wall can cause failure even if the wall itself is strong. We install drainage pipe at the base, use gravel backfill that drains well, and add weep holes if needed. This removes water before it builds up dangerous pressure behind the wall.

For larger projects, we often combine retaining walls with other concrete work like patios or walkways to create complete outdoor living spaces. When you need professional concrete work in Portland, we handle everything from engineering to final landscaping details.

Making Your Wall Look Great

Retaining walls don't have to be plain and boring. We can add decorative caps, integrate lighting, create tiered walls with planting beds, or use textured blocks that look like natural stone. The goal is to blend function and aesthetics so your retaining wall improves your property's appearance while solving practical problems.

If you want something with visual impact, consider decorative concrete options like stamped or colored surfaces that complement your retaining wall. We can create cohesive outdoor spaces that look professionally designed and built to last.

Retaining Wall Questions