Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry

Strong Retaining Walls for Sloped Properties

If your property has slopes, uneven terrain, or areas where you need to hold back soil, a retaining wall is the solution. These structures do more than just prevent erosion. They create usable flat space, protect your home from water runoff, add visual interest to your landscape, and increase your property value.

Here in Harlingen, TX, we build retaining walls and concrete masonry structures for residential and commercial properties. Whether you need a short decorative wall around a garden bed or a tall structural wall to create a level yard, our team has the expertise to design and build walls that last for decades without failing.

Types of Retaining Walls We Build

We install several types of retaining walls, each suited to different situations:

• Concrete block walls: Built with interlocking concrete blocks, these walls offer strength, durability, and various design options. Great for residential landscaping projects.
• Poured concrete walls: Solid concrete walls reinforced with steel, ideal for taller walls or heavy-duty applications.
• Concrete masonry walls: Traditional block and mortar construction, perfect for walls that need maximum strength and longevity.
• Decorative stone veneer walls: Concrete walls with a natural stone face for an upscale appearance.
• Tiered retaining systems: Multiple shorter walls that create terraced levels on steep slopes.

The right choice depends on wall height, soil conditions, drainage requirements, and your budget. We evaluate your site and recommend the wall type that provides the best combination of performance and value. If you are doing other projects like adding a patio to your newly leveled yard, we can coordinate everything for a cohesive result.

Proper Design Prevents Wall Failure

Retaining walls fail when they are not designed correctly. The wall has to resist tons of pressure from soil and water pushing against it. That is why taller walls, anything over 4 feet, typically require engineered plans stamped by a licensed professional.

Key design factors include wall height and the amount of soil being retained, soil type and drainage characteristics behind the wall, slope of the ground above and below the wall, loads from buildings, driveways, or other structures, and whether the wall needs special features like steps or curves.

We work with engineers when needed and follow building codes to ensure your wall is built to handle the forces it will face. A properly designed wall might cost a bit more upfront, but it saves you from expensive repairs or complete rebuilds down the road.

How We Build Retaining Walls That Last

Every retaining wall starts with proper foundation work. We excavate below grade and install a compacted gravel base or pour a concrete footing, depending on the wall design. This foundation keeps the wall from settling or tipping forward over time.

Behind the wall, we install drainage systems including gravel backfill and perforated drain pipes. Water is the enemy of retaining walls. Without proper drainage, water pressure builds up behind the wall and eventually pushes it over. Our drainage systems direct water away safely so it never becomes a problem.

As we build the wall, we make sure each course is level and properly aligned. We use geogrid reinforcement when needed for taller walls, tie everything together securely, and backfill carefully to avoid putting unnecessary stress on the structure.

Common Uses for Retaining Walls

We build retaining walls for many purposes including creating level yards on sloped lots, preventing soil erosion on hillsides, adding raised planter beds and garden terraces, building up areas for driveways on slopes, protecting homes from water runoff, defining property boundaries with permanent structures, and creating outdoor seating areas built into hillsides.

Whatever your need, we can design a wall that solves the problem and looks great doing it. We also handle all the details like getting permits, coordinating inspections, and ensuring the finished wall meets all local requirements.