Walls that hold back the hill and the water.
Engineered concrete retaining walls for Bay Area hillside properties, slope stabilization, and garden walls that last decades. Proper footings, rebar schedule, weep holes, and drainage integration — not just a wall, a system. For walls retaining more than 4 feet of soil (measured bottom of footing to top of wall), a permit and engineered design are required per CBC — the property owner or general contractor verifies and obtains permits. We perform the work under our C-8 license and coordinate with your structural engineer.
Priced by wall face area, not length.
$35-45/sqft face
Decorative low wall, no engineering required. Perfect for raised beds, planters, tier separators.
$45-65/sqft face
Hillside retention, slope hold-back, permit + engineering. Drainage + weep holes included.
Quote on spec
Requires licensed structural engineer. Soil report often needed. We coordinate the engineer, city, inspection.
Final pricing requires site visit, soil assessment, and engineering (for walls over 4 ft). Per CA Building Code, walls retaining more than 4 ft of soil require an engineered design. Per §7159, final pricing requires written contract.
What homeowners ask.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
Per CA Building Code, walls retaining MORE than 4 ft of soil (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) require a permit and engineered design. Walls under 4 ft usually don't — but check your city and your HOA rules before we pour.
Why do retaining walls fail?
Three reasons: (1) undersized footing for the wall height, (2) no drainage behind the wall — water pressure pushes it over, (3) insufficient rebar. We address all three on every pour. A proper wall has a footing wider than the wall, drain rock and perforated pipe behind, and vertical rebar sized to the height.
Can you finish the wall for stucco or stone veneer?
Yes. Form-board finish is the standard — a clean, flat surface that accepts stucco, cultured stone, or tile veneer. If you want the poured finish visible, we can also do a smooth trowel or texture-rolled finish.
Got a slope that's moving?
Send us photos. Our foreman will tell you if it needs engineering or if it's a simple garden wall. Free consult.