Stop a slope from washing out
When rain carries dirt down onto your patio, driveway or foundation, a wall holds the soil in place and gives the water a planned way out instead of a muddy one.
Retaining wall construction in Columbia MO - a wall that drains and stays put
Slope washing into the yard or an old wall leaning out? We build a wall that holds the ground and lets water out.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What building a retaining wall involves
Retaining wall construction in Columbia means building a wall that holds back the soil on a slope and lets the water behind it drain down and away, so your yard stays where you want it.
Most calls start the same way. Dirt slides onto the patio every time it rains, the yard's too steep to mow, or an old wall has started to lean out at the top. The price moves with the wall type your slope needs, how tall and long it runs, how much digging and drainage go in behind it, and how easy it is to get block and a machine to the spot. The schedule turns mostly on weather and on the marking and paperwork that have to clear before we dig. I come out, look at the slope myself and give you your own number on site.
I come out, and I come back
I look at the slope and write the estimate myself. A lead mason runs the crew day to day, and I stop by to check the work and do the final walkthrough with you.
Only as much wall as needed
I'll help you pick the wall type the slope calls for and nothing more, because a heavier wall than the ground needs just costs you more and holds the hill no better.
New work that fits your yard
We match the block color, cap and layout to your house and the ground around it, so the wall looks like it belongs there instead of something dropped in from a catalog.
How we build a wall that drains
I start by watching where water runs on your lot, because we plan how it gets out from behind the wall before we set the first block. Once the buried lines are marked, the crew digs out the footprint, packs a solid base and sets the first course dead level, since every row above follows that one. As the wall goes up, we lay drain pipe and clean stone behind it and backfill in layers, packing each one down so the soil doesn't settle and shove later. Then we cap the top, shape the ground above so rain runs off instead of soaking in behind the wall, and haul off what we dug out.
If your wall sits beside an older brick house or an old stone wall with crumbling joints, our masonry restoration work brings that up to match, so the new and the old look like one job. Plenty of folks level a slope to make room for a patio, and once the ground is flat, our fireplace installation work can give it a place to gather around a fire.
What a retaining wall can do for your yard
Make flat ground you can use
Cutting a step into a hillside gives you room for a patio, a garden bed or an outdoor kitchen, and the wall is what keeps that flat spot from sliding back downhill.
Replace a wall that's leaning
When an old wall bulges or tips at the top, patching it rarely lasts. We take it out, figure out why it moved and build it back with drainage behind it.
Hold the bank beside a drive
Where a driveway or walk is cut into a slope, a low wall keeps the bank from creeping onto the pavement and gives the edge a clean, finished line.
Get a free estimate for your wall
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come see the slope. The estimate is free, done on site, with no obligation.
Send a few photos
Snap the slope from the bottom and from the top and attach the pictures, so I can start thinking about the wall type and the drainage before I ever pull up.
Note any creek or property line
Tell us if a creek or a neighbor's line runs close by, because the wall needs room for itself and the ground behind it, and that shapes the whole plan.
Rather talk it over?
Call (573) 530-1031 and tell us what the yard is doing. We pick up Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 9 PM and weekends from 8 AM to 10 PM.
Block, stone and brick wall examples
Look through segmental block, natural stone and brick finishes, plus cap styles and curved or terraced layouts, to talk over at your estimate.
Retaining wall questions from Columbia homeowners
Here are straight answers to what people ask me most about retaining wall cost, wall types, drainage and permits around Columbia.
How much does a retaining wall cost in Columbia, MO?
Installing a retaining wall in Columbia usually costs about $2,300 to $10,800 per job. That's the going range around here, not our price. Where yours lands depends on the wall type, its height and length, and how much digging and drainage go behind it. I'll give you your own number on site, and our work is satisfaction guaranteed.
Is a block retaining wall cheaper than a poured concrete wall?
Usually, yes. A dry-laid wall of stacked block costs much less than a poured-in-place concrete wall, so settling which one your slope needs is the first money decision you make. I'll steer you to the type the ground calls for, because paying for poured concrete where block would hold is money you didn't need to spend.
Why do retaining walls fail and start leaning?
Most retaining walls fail because water builds up behind them and pushes, so every wall should have a real way to drain. Research found drains you can clean out keep working better than weep holes, the little openings through the face, which tend to clog over the years. When you compare quotes, ask each builder exactly how they'll drain the wall.
Do I need a state permit to build a retaining wall in Missouri?
The state's land disturbance permit applies when construction disturbs an acre or more, including a smaller piece of a bigger development plan, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources issues it. Your city or county is a separate question, so before work starts we check which office covers your address and handle any permit paperwork. We're licensed and insured.
What should I check before digging a retaining wall near a creek or property line?
Check for creek buffers and buried lines first. Counties and cities may set buffers or easements along creeks, and walls usually aren't allowed inside them. A wall holding up a neighbor's ground needs room for itself, the reinforced soil behind it and any slope we cut back. Missouri's 8-1-1 Call Before You Dig service marks utilities a few days ahead, so plan on that wait.
Should I use timber or concrete block for a retaining wall?
I'd go with block. The block industry's manual says segmental concrete blocks resist cracking and freeze and thaw damage, while treated timbers and railroad ties can splinter or decay. If you're weighing the two, set that rot against how block holds up through winter after winter. We build in block and stone, and I'll show you options at the estimate.
Have us take a look at your slope
Call (573) 530-1031 or send the form, and I'll come see your slope in Columbia, Jefferson City, Fulton, Moberly, Boonville or a city nearby.