Landscaping & Property Improvements
Retaining Walls & Site Drainage
Engineer-designed retaining walls and site drainage – French drains, swales and grading – to manage water and grade changes on your property.
Overview
Water and grade changes need to be managed deliberately. Standing water in a yard, water against the foundation or soil washing out from a slope usually has a cause in grading, soils, downspouts or the way water leaves the property. Retaining walls hold back soil where a grade change is needed, and must resist the pressure of soil and water behind them.
For drainage and retaining walls, a licensed engineer evaluates the site and designs the solution where required – wall type, footing, reinforcement and drainage behind it, or the grading, swales and drains that move water. We coordinate that design with your survey, landscaping and hardscape and build it as designed. Drainage changes cannot send water onto neighbors’ property, and local stormwater rules apply.
Who it’s for
- Owners with yard flooding or standing water after rain
- Homes where water collects near the foundation
- Sloped lots that need retaining walls to create level space
- Properties with failing or leaning existing walls
- Commercial sites with drainage problems in landscape or paved areas
What’s included
Typically included
- Site review with the survey and, where needed, a topographic survey
- Coordination of engineering for retaining walls and drainage design
- Permit coordination and HOA approval where required
- Retaining walls in segmental block, poured concrete or reinforced masonry, built to the design
- Drainage behind walls: gravel, filter fabric and drain pipe
- French drains, catch basins and pipe to approved discharge points
- Swales and regrading to direct surface water
- Downspout extensions and connections to drainage
- Restoration of disturbed landscape and sod
Common exclusions
- Foundation repair, which is assessment-based and scoped separately
- Stormwater work in public right-of-way or shared systems unless coordinated as part of the scope
- Sinkhole investigation and remediation
- Landscape work beyond restoration
Every proposal lists its own inclusions and exclusions in writing.
Materials, design options & upgrades
How pricing works
Retaining walls and drainage are priced per project, once the site has been evaluated and the engineering or design is defined. The estimate is based on wall length, height and type, drainage components, excavation and fill, and restoration. Before design, we can describe likely approaches but cannot price the work accurately.
What changes the cost
- Wall height, length and construction type
- Engineering and survey requirements
- Soil conditions and groundwater
- Excavation, fill and haul-off
- Drainage pipe length, structures and discharge locations
- Access for equipment
- Restoration of landscaping and hardscape
If this work is part of a larger project, it’s priced within that project’s budget — please don’t add separate estimates together. Read the pricing guide.
Typical stages
Site evaluation
We observe the problem, review the survey and gather information on how water moves on the site.
Engineering and design
A licensed engineer designs the walls or drainage solution where required.
Estimate and permits
We price the design and coordinate permits and HOA approval.
Excavation and installation
Walls, drains, structures and grading are built to the design.
Restoration
Disturbed areas are restored, and the system is checked after rain where possible.
What affects the schedule
- Survey and engineering timing
- Permit and stormwater review
- Weather, since wet soils limit excavation and compaction
- Coordination with landscaping and hardscape
Questions & answers
Why does my yard flood?
Common causes include flat or reversed grades, compacted or clay-like soils, high groundwater, downspouts discharging into low areas or blocked drainage paths. Identifying the cause comes before choosing a solution.
Does a retaining wall need engineering?
Taller walls and walls that support driveways, structures or slopes typically need engineering and a permit. Requirements vary by jurisdiction; we confirm them before design.
Can I direct water to the street or neighbor’s yard?
Discharge must follow local rules and cannot create a problem for neighbors. The engineer designs approved discharge points as part of the plan.
Start here
Planning retaining walls & site drainage?
A short form — three steps, a few minutes. Share plans or photos if you have them. We’ll review it and follow up using the contact details you provide.