Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry

Solve Slope Problems and Create Usable Space

Retaining walls do important work on sloped properties. They hold back soil to create level areas for patios, driveways, gardens, or buildings. They prevent erosion on hillsides and keep soil from washing away during heavy rains. They can turn an unusable slope into functional outdoor space. And when designed well, they add visual interest and structure to your landscape.

Properties around Seguin often have elevation changes that need retaining walls. Maybe your yard slopes toward your house and you need to redirect water flow. Maybe you want to create a level patio area on a hillside. Or maybe erosion is washing away soil and you need to stabilize the slope before it becomes a bigger problem. Retaining walls solve these issues by providing engineered support that works with your property rather than fighting against it.

We build retaining walls using poured concrete, concrete block, and other masonry materials depending on your needs and preferences. Each type has advantages for different situations. Height, soil conditions, drainage requirements, and your aesthetic preferences all factor into choosing the right approach for your property. See our complete concrete services to learn how retaining walls fit into overall property improvements.

Types of Retaining Walls We Build

Poured concrete retaining walls offer maximum strength and durability, especially for taller walls or walls supporting significant loads. We build forms, place steel reinforcement, and pour concrete to create a solid structure that can last for decades. Poured walls work well when you need a smooth finished surface or when structural requirements demand maximum strength. They can be left with a natural concrete finish or covered with stucco, stone veneer, or other decorative treatments.

Retaining wall options we install:

• •Poured concrete walls with steel reinforcement for maximum strength
• •Concrete block (CMU) walls for economical height and quick installation
• •Segmental retaining wall blocks with interlocking design
• •Decorative finishes including stone veneer and textured surfaces
• •Terraced walls creating multiple level changes on steep slopes
• •Garden walls and raised planting beds using masonry materials

Concrete block walls (also called CMU walls for concrete masonry unit) provide good strength at a lower cost than poured concrete. The hollow blocks are stacked and filled with concrete and rebar, creating a strong structure. Block walls can be left with exposed block texture, painted, or finished with stucco for a smooth appearance. They work well for walls up to about 6 feet tall. Taller walls may require engineering calculations and specific reinforcement patterns.

What Makes a Retaining Wall Last

A retaining wall is only as good as its foundation and drainage. The wall itself might look solid, but if the footing is inadequate or water builds up behind the wall, failure is just a matter of time. We start every retaining wall with a proper footing poured below the frost line and sized for the wall height and soil pressure. This gives the wall a stable base that resists settling and tilting.

Drainage is critical because water weighs a lot and creates enormous pressure behind retaining walls. We install drainage systems including gravel backfill, perforated drain pipes, and weep holes that allow water to escape rather than building up pressure. Good drainage prevents wall failure and extends the life of the structure. Skipping proper drainage to save money is one of the most common retaining wall mistakes.

We also consider soil conditions and what is happening above the wall. Is there a driveway or patio adding extra load? Are tree roots going to push on the wall over time? Will runoff from uphill concentrate at certain points? All these factors influence how we design and build your wall. For properties where you are doing multiple improvements, we can coordinate retaining walls with other work like installing a concrete patio on the level area created by the wall, or building walkways and steps that integrate with the wall design.

Retaining Wall Questions

Retaining walls involve engineering and site work that homeowners do not deal with every day. Here are answers to questions we commonly hear from property owners in Seguin and the surrounding area.