Leveling a sloped back yard
A wall lets us cut into a slope and hold it there, so you get flat ground for a patio, lawn or play area instead of a hill that sheds mud every storm.
Retaining wall construction in Loveland CO - a wall that holds back the slope
Slope washing onto your patio or an old wall leaning? We build retaining walls that hold the soil and give water somewhere to go.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What a retaining wall does for your yard
Retaining wall construction in Loveland, CO means building a wall that holds back the soil behind it, plus whatever weight sits on top of that soil, so a slope stays put and you get level ground you can actually use.
Usually you've got a slope that won't stay put, a wall that's moved, or a flat patio you've wanted for years. The price comes down to how long and tall the wall is, what it's built from, how hard the site is to dig and reach, and whether an old wall has to come out first, and the estimate I write lists what that price covers in one place.
The schedule mostly turns on the weather, getting block or stone delivered and, when a permit is needed, the city's review time. The City of Loveland issues building permits and requires one for new construction, additions or alterations, so we check with the building department on every job, and when a permit is needed we handle the application and set up the inspections.
The same person, start to finish
I'm the one who comes out to look at your slope and write the estimate, and I'm on site with our masons while they build, so nothing you told me gets lost.
We fix why the old wall moved
If a wall has already leaned or bulged, a new one on the same wet ground and weak base will likely do it again, so we find the cause before we price the fix.
Licensed, insured and clearly priced
We're licensed and fully insured, and your estimate spells out what the price covers so there are no surprises later. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
How we plan and build your wall
Before we talk block or stone, I walk the yard and ask where the water comes from and where it's headed. We look at the slope above the wall, where your downspouts empty and whether any water or sewer lines run nearby, because water is the usual trouble with walls, and a wall built without a plan for it is just a dam waiting to tip.
Then we dig out, pack the base and set the wall course by course, backfilling as we go. Here in Loveland, the city's building design criteria list a frost depth of 30 inches, which is a number I bring up when we plan the wall's base, and if your wall goes in under a building permit, the city's storm drainage standards apply to it too, so the water plan has to suit the city as well as your yard.
We also work out how materials get to the wall, since block for a back yard wall usually lands in the front driveway and has to travel. If you've got an old brick or stone wall that's tired but still standing straight, masonry restoration may serve you better than a new wall, and I'll tell you so. And once a wall turns a slope into flat ground, plenty of people want a spot to gather by a fire, which is where our fireplace installation work comes in.
Where a retaining wall makes sense
Holding a bank beside the driveway
Where a driveway or parking pad runs along a bank, the wall carries the soil plus the weight of cars above it, so we plan these around that extra load.
Stepped garden beds
Two or three shorter walls stepped up a slope give you planting beds you can reach without a ladder, and each wall has less soil to hold than one big wall would.
Replacing a sagging tie wall
Railroad tie and timber walls show up in a lot of older yards, and when one sags and spills soil onto the lawn, we pull it out and rebuild in block or stone.
Get a written estimate for your wall
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the slope and the water, and write up a free estimate with no obligation.
Rough length and height
A rough length and height, even paced off with your feet, tells me the size of the job before I arrive, since the area of the wall face drives much of the price.
A few yard photos
Photos of the slope, whatever sits above it and where your downspouts empty help me show up with the right questions, so the visit covers everything the first time.
Any drainage worries
Tell me about soggy spots, ice on a walk or a wall that's already leaning, because that's where I'll start looking for where the water on your lot goes.
Masonry walls and stonework examples
These photos show block, stone and brick finishes and wall layouts you might want to talk through when we look at your yard.
Questions about retaining walls in Loveland
Straight answers to what people ask before building a retaining wall, from cost and wall types to permits and engineers.
How much does a retaining wall cost in Loveland, CO?
Building a retaining wall in Loveland usually costs about $20 to $50 per square foot of wall face, and that's the area's going rate, not our quote. Where yours lands moves with the material you pick, from block to boulders to poured concrete, and tearing out an old wall, curves or tough soil can add to it. Your estimate lists what your price covers.
Which type of retaining wall is best for my yard?
A segmental block wall, concrete units stacked without mortar that hold soil mostly by their own weight, fits a lot of yards. When a wall has more to hold, layers of reinforcement laid into the backfill make it act wider and heavier. Boulder and stone walls are set by weight too and give a more natural look. I'll suggest a type once I've seen your slope.
Why do retaining walls fail?
Most failures trace back to water that wasn't managed and poor communication among the people planning and building the wall, according to one report on failed retaining walls. The water came from groundwater seeping in, surface runoff nobody handled, or leaking water and sewer lines. That's why your wall plan should show where the water goes, and why we start there.
How long does City of Loveland permit plan review take?
The city's current estimate is 20 to 30 working days for each round of plan review. If your wall needs a permit, plan for that wait before you pick a start date, and figure that a second round adds more. Since we handle the application, we'll build that wait into the timing we talk through with you.
Do I need an engineer for a retaining wall in Loveland?
Some lots do, so it's worth asking early who will look at the conditions on yours. The block wall industry's own install guide calls itself general advice and says a qualified engineer should evaluate site-specific conditions. If I think your slope, soil or the weight above the wall calls for one, I'll tell you plainly at the estimate.
Related masonry work for your yard
Book a walk-through of your slope
Call (970) 292-7476 any day from 7 AM to 11 PM or send the form, and starting early leaves room for any permit review.