Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry
Build strong, attractive walls that hold back soil and transform your landscape.
Why You Need a Retaining Wall
Retaining walls solve problems and create opportunities. If you have a sloped yard, a retaining wall can create flat, usable space for a patio, garden, or lawn. If you have erosion issues, a retaining wall holds the soil in place and stops the damage. Retaining walls also add visual interest to your landscape and can increase your property value.
Here in Norwalk, many properties have elevation changes that benefit from retaining walls. Maybe you want to level out your backyard for better use. Maybe water runoff is washing away your soil. Maybe you need to create terraced planting areas or build up around a foundation. A well-designed retaining wall addresses these challenges.
At RightWay Norwalk Concrete, we design and build retaining walls that work. We understand the engineering behind soil retention. We know how to provide proper drainage so water does not build up behind the wall. We use materials and construction methods that create walls built to last. See all our concrete construction services for your property.
Types of Retaining Walls
Different situations call for different wall types. The right choice depends on the height you need, the soil conditions, your budget, and the look you want. Here are the main options we work with.
Retaining Wall Options
- Concrete block walls using interlocking masonry units
- Poured concrete walls for maximum strength and flexibility
- Concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls with steel reinforcement
- Natural stone veneer over concrete for upscale appearance
- Brick walls for traditional style and durability
- Tiered or terraced wall systems for larger height changes
For shorter walls up to 3 or 4 feet, concrete block systems work great and go up relatively quickly. For taller walls or challenging soil conditions, poured concrete with proper reinforcement might be the better choice. We can also create beautiful custom walls with decorative block or stone facing. The wall type affects both the cost and the construction timeline. Need foundation work for your wall? Check our foundation services.
Engineering and Drainage
A retaining wall is more than just stacked blocks or poured concrete. It is an engineered structure that must withstand significant forces. Soil weighs a lot, and that weight pushes against the wall constantly. Add water from rain or irrigation, and the pressure increases dramatically.
That is why proper design and construction are critical. The wall needs a solid foundation below the frost line. It needs to be thick enough and properly reinforced for its height. Most importantly, it needs drainage to prevent water buildup behind the wall. We install gravel backfill and drainage pipe behind retaining walls to channel water away safely.
For walls over 4 feet tall or in challenging conditions, engineering calculations ensure the design will work. We never guess or cut corners on retaining wall construction. The consequences of failure are too serious, including collapsed walls, property damage, and safety hazards. We build walls that will stand strong for decades. Want to add a patio or walkway too? See our patio installation services.