Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry

Turn Slopes into Usable Space

Sloped yards limit how you use your property. Retaining walls hold back soil so you can create level areas for patios, gardens, play spaces, or parking. We build retaining walls and concrete masonry structures throughout Manteca that are engineered to last and built to handle the soil pressure behind them.

Retaining walls do more than look good. They prevent erosion, manage water drainage, and protect structures from soil movement. Whether you need a low garden wall or a tall structural wall, we design and build it correctly from the footing up. That means proper drainage, adequate reinforcement, and construction that meets engineering requirements.

Where We Build Retaining Walls

Retaining walls solve all kinds of yard problems. Here are common projects we handle for Manteca homeowners:

• Yard Leveling: Create flat areas on slopes for patios and lawns
• Erosion Control: Stop soil from washing away during rain
• Garden Beds: Raised planting areas with built-in borders
• Driveway Support: Hold back soil along driveways on slopes
• Terraced Landscaping: Multiple walls that step down a hillside
• Property Line Walls: Define boundaries while managing grade changes
• Pool Surrounds: Structural walls that level pool areas

Each wall type requires different footing depth, reinforcement, and drainage. We assess your property, calculate the loads, and build the wall system that works for your situation and budget.

Wall Materials We Work With

You have options when it comes to retaining wall materials. Each has advantages for different applications. Here's what we install:

• Concrete Block: Affordable, strong, and versatile for walls up to 4 feet
• Interlocking Blocks: Decorative face with engineering strength for taller walls
• Poured Concrete: Custom shapes and heights for structural applications
• Concrete Masonry: Traditional block with mortar joints for permanent walls
• Stone Veneer Blocks: Natural stone appearance without the stone price

We'll show you samples and discuss which material works best for your wall height, soil conditions, and aesthetic preferences. Some walls need engineering and permits, especially those over 4 feet tall. We handle that process for you.

How We Build Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are structural elements that need proper construction to avoid failure. Here's how we build walls that last:

Site Assessment and Design

We start by evaluating your slope, soil type, and drainage. This tells us how deep the footing needs to go, what reinforcement we need, and how to handle water behind the wall. If engineering is required, we work with licensed engineers to design the wall system.

Excavation and Footing

We dig below grade to stable soil and pour a concrete footing that's wider than the wall. The footing distributes weight and anchors the wall so it doesn't slide or tip. Footing depth depends on wall height and soil conditions.

Wall Construction

We build the wall course by course, whether using blocks, poured concrete, or masonry. Each course is level and properly set back. For tall walls, we add vertical reinforcement through the cores and fill with concrete. This creates a monolithic structure that handles lateral pressure.

Drainage and Backfill

Behind the wall, we install drainage pipe and gravel to channel water away. Without drainage, water pressure builds up and pushes on the wall. We also backfill with gravel near the wall for drainage, then top with soil. This step prevents wall failure down the road.