01
Engineer-Stamped Design (≥4 ft)
Walls 4 feet and taller require an engineer-stamped design by California code. We work with structural engineers across the metro and handle the design coordination.
4.9/5 from 127 verified reviews
Hold the slope without holding water
Sacramento's Trusted
Retaining Walls Contractor
A retaining wall has one job: keep soil where it is, against the force of gravity, water, and time. Most failed retaining walls fail for the same two reasons — no drainage and no engineering for the actual lateral load. We build retaining walls that respect both: drainage gravel and weep holes behind every wall over 3 feet, structural reinforcement designed to actual surcharge loads, and footings sized for the soil bearing capacity at your specific site.
- Engineered for actual loads
- Drainage built in (gravel + pipe + weeps)
- 50+ year service life
- Decorative face options
- Permits & engineering handled
20+
Years in Sacramento
500+
Projects Completed
4.9★
Customer Rating
2yr
Workmanship Warranty
Hold the slope without holding water
Sacramento-metro specialty
About this service
Retaining Walls done right in Sacramento, CA
A retaining wall has one job: keep soil where it is, against the force of gravity, water, and time. Most failed retaining walls fail for the same two reasons — no drainage and no engineering for the actual lateral load. We build retaining walls that respect both: drainage gravel and weep holes behind every wall over 3 feet, structural reinforcement designed to actual surcharge loads, and footings sized for the soil bearing capacity at your specific site.
Concrete retaining walls offer the strongest load capacity and the longest service life of any common retaining option. Done right they last 50+ years. Done wrong they bulge, lean, and eventually fail catastrophically, usually after a heavy winter that saturates the back-fill. The difference is the drainage detail and the footing design — neither of which is visible after backfill, but both of which determine whether you've built a wall or a future emergency.
We build poured-in-place retaining walls, with engineered footings, vertical and horizontal reinforcement to drawings, drainage gravel and perforated pipe at the base, weep holes through the face, and a water-side membrane on walls over 4 feet. For walls above 4 feet in height, an engineer-stamped design is required by code in California — we work with structural engineers across the metro to deliver that.
What's Included
Every retaining wall we build includes
These are the specifications and details we build in by default. Not upgrades. Not extras. Standard scope on every project.
02
Drainage Gravel & Perforated Pipe
12 inches of drainage gravel behind the wall, a 4-inch perforated pipe at the base wrapped in filter fabric, daylighted at both ends. Water never builds up against the wall.
03
Weep Holes Through the Face
Weep holes spaced per code through the wall face for redundant drainage. If the back-side pipe ever blocks, the weeps catch the load — defense in depth.
04
Vertical & Horizontal Rebar
Reinforcement schedule per the structural drawings, properly developed into the footing, with appropriate splice lengths and tied — not skipped to save a couple hundred dollars of steel.
05
Water-Side Membrane (>4 ft)
Tall walls get a peel-and-stick or sheet waterproofing membrane on the back face. Combined with drainage gravel, that's belt-and-suspenders water management.
06
Decorative Face Options
Walls don't have to look like a freeway sound wall. Form-liner textures, stamped patterns, integral color, or stone veneer can be applied — design choice, not a structural compromise.
Our Process
How we deliver retaining walls
- 01
Site Survey & Soil Assessment
Measure the slope, identify the load behind the wall (just soil, or soil plus a driveway, or soil plus a structure), and probe for soil type and any subsurface water.
- 02
Engineered Design
For walls over 4 feet, a structural engineer designs the footing, wall thickness, and reinforcement. We coordinate, you stamp.
- 03
Excavate Footing & Form
Excavate to footing depth (typically 18–36 inches below grade), form the footing and the wall, tie rebar, set drainage pipe.
- 04
Pour, Cure, Strip
Pour footing and wall (or stem in stages depending on height), cure, strip forms.
- 05
Drainage Gravel & Backfill
Place 12 inches of drainage gravel, install perforated pipe and filter fabric, then backfill compacted in lifts. Daylight the drain at both ends.
Technical Specifications
The numbers behind every retaining wall we pour
Most contractors won't publish their specs. Ours are below — what we build to, every time.
- 01Wall thickness
- 8–12 inches typical
- 02Footing
- 12-24 inches thick, engineered width
- 03Concrete strength
- 3,500–4,500 PSI
- 04Vertical rebar
- #4 to #6 per engineer
- 05Drainage gravel
- 12 inches, 3/4 inch clean rock
- 06Drain pipe
- 4-inch perforated, filter fabric wrap
- 07Weep holes
- Every 8 ft at base, per code
- 08Workmanship warranty
- 2 years written
Retaining Walls FAQ
Common questions
Specific to retaining walls in Sacramento, CA
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Sacramento?
Retaining walls over 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) require a permit and engineered design in all California jurisdictions. Walls under 4 feet generally do not require a permit unless they support a surcharge (driveway, structure, or significant slope above). We handle the permit and the engineering coordination either way.
What's the difference between a concrete retaining wall and a block wall?
Concrete masonry unit (CMU) block walls are built from individual blocks with grouted cells and reinforcement. Poured-in-place concrete walls are a monolithic structure with continuous reinforcement. Both can be engineered to perform — poured walls handle taller heights and heavier loads more efficiently, block walls are more forgiving on curved layouts. We do both.
How long do concrete retaining walls last?
50+ years for properly designed and constructed walls. The two failure modes — water pressure and inadequate footing — are both eliminated by good design and good execution. Walls we built 20 years ago are still plumb and dry. Walls built without drainage detail are routinely failing within 10–15 years across the region.
Can a retaining wall be decorative?
Absolutely. Form liners can press patterns into the face (stone, board, stacked-stone), integral or stained color can be applied, and stone veneer can be adhered after the structural pour. The structural and decorative requirements are independent — we treat each on its own merits.
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Sacramento?
Plain poured-concrete retaining walls in Sacramento run $50–$90 per face-square-foot for walls under 6 feet, including footing, rebar, drainage, and backfill. Engineered designs over 6 feet, decorative faces, and walls with structural surcharge above push toward $120/sf. A standard 25-foot-long, 4-foot-tall wall lands around $7,000–$10,000 turnkey.
Still have questions?
Call us directly — we're happy to answer anything about your retaining walls project.
Call 877-542-9872Where We Provide This Service
Retaining Walls across the Sacramento metro
West SacramentoElk GroveRancho CordovaRosevilleFolsomCitrus HeightsCarmichaelArden-ArcadeFair OaksRocklin
Sacramento County · Placer County · Yolo County
Related Services
Other concrete services we offer
Concrete Driveways
Long-lasting driveway installation, replacement & resurfacing.
Learn more
Stamped Concrete
Decorative stone, brick & slate looks at a fraction of pavers.
Learn more
Concrete Patios
Custom outdoor living spaces designed for California summers.
Learn more
Concrete Repair
Crack repair, slab leveling, resurfacing & joint restoration.
Learn more4.9/5 · 127 verified reviews
Ready to start your retaining walls project?
Free on-site estimate, itemized written quote within 48 hours, and a real human on the phone — not a call center. Serving the entire Sacramento metro.