Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry
Strong, attractive walls that hold back soil, create usable space, and enhance your property.
Sloped yards and hillsides create challenges for homeowners. Soil erodes in the rain, usable flat space is limited, and landscaping options are restricted. Retaining walls solve these problems by holding back soil, creating level terraces, and adding structure to your property. A well-built retaining wall also adds value and visual appeal to your home.
At Pinpoint Gilroy Concrete Masters, we build retaining walls and concrete masonry structures that combine strength with attractive design. We understand the engineering principles that make retaining walls work and the local building codes that govern their construction. Your wall will be built to last, whether it's holding back a gentle slope or a steep hillside.
Types of Retaining Walls
Different situations call for different wall types. Here are the main retaining wall options we build for Gilroy properties.
- •Concrete Block Walls: Interlocking concrete blocks create strong, versatile walls in various styles and colors. Good for most residential applications up to 4 feet high.
- •Poured Concrete Walls: Reinforced concrete walls handle the highest loads and can be finished smooth or textured. Best for tall walls or heavy-duty applications.
- •Concrete Masonry Walls: Traditional concrete block or brick construction provides strength and classic appearance. Can be stuccoed or left exposed.
- •Decorative Stone Walls: Natural stone veneer over concrete cores combines the strength of concrete with the beauty of natural stone.
- •Segmental Walls: Dry-stacked units that use their weight and interlocking design for stability. Popular for garden walls and terracing.
What Makes a Retaining Wall Work
Retaining walls fight against tremendous soil pressure. Building a wall that won't lean, crack, or fail requires understanding and applying proper engineering principles. Here's what goes into a quality retaining wall.
Deep, Strong Footings
Every retaining wall needs a solid footing below ground. The footing must be deep enough to resist frost heaving and wide enough to handle the load. Taller walls need deeper, heavier footings. We excavate trenches, install reinforcement, and pour concrete footings that provide a stable base for your wall.
Proper Drainage
Water buildup behind retaining walls creates pressure that can push walls over. We install drainage pipe behind walls to collect water and drain it away. Gravel backfill allows water to flow down to the drain pipe instead of building up behind the wall. Weep holes at the base let water escape. Good drainage is essential for wall longevity.
Reinforcement
Walls over 3 feet tall typically need reinforcement. This might be steel bars grouted into hollow block cores, geogrid fabric layers extending back into the soil, or tie-backs anchoring the wall. The specific reinforcement depends on wall height and soil conditions. We design reinforcement to meet or exceed local code requirements.
Common Retaining Wall Applications
Retaining walls solve many different landscape challenges. We build walls to create level yards from sloped properties, giving you usable space for lawns, gardens, patios, and play areas. Driveway walls support the cut into hillsides, allowing access to homes on slopes. Garden walls create terraced beds for plants and improve drainage.
Erosion control walls prevent soil from washing downhill during heavy rains. Property line walls define boundaries while managing grade changes between neighboring properties. And seat walls around patios provide both function and comfortable outdoor seating. Many of these applications complement our other services like patio installation and flatwork.
Get Your Retaining Wall Project Started
Ready to create more usable space and solve your slope problems? We provide free consultations and estimates for retaining wall projects. We'll visit your property, assess your situation, and recommend the best wall solution for your needs and budget. Call us today to get started on your retaining wall project.