Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry

Turn Sloped Property into Usable Space

Sloped yards limit how you can use your property. Retaining walls change that by creating level areas for patios, gardens, parking, or lawn space. They prevent soil erosion that washes away your landscaping. They stop hillsides from sliding during heavy rain. A well-built retaining wall adds both function and value to your property while solving drainage and stability problems.

At EverSet Morgan Hill Concrete, we build retaining walls and concrete masonry structures that last. Our team understands the engineering principles behind proper wall construction - adequate footings, correct reinforcement, and proper drainage. We serve homeowners and businesses throughout Morgan Hill with reliable masonry services that combine structural integrity with attractive finishes.

Types of Walls and Masonry Work

We build various types of retaining walls and masonry structures:

• Poured concrete retaining walls: These monolithic walls provide maximum strength for tall walls or areas with heavy loads. We form, reinforce, and pour these walls to engineering specifications for projects requiring superior structural performance.
• Concrete block retaining walls: Concrete masonry units (CMU blocks) create strong walls with faster installation than poured concrete. We build these walls with proper reinforcement and fill all cells with concrete for maximum strength.
• Decorative block walls: Split-face blocks, textured blocks, and colored units create attractive walls with visual interest. These work well for walls visible from your main living areas or street-facing locations.
• Garden walls: Low walls that define garden beds, create terraced planting areas, or separate different landscape zones. These typically don't need heavy reinforcement but still require proper footings and construction.
• Privacy walls and screening: Tall masonry walls provide privacy, block wind, or hide unsightly views. We build these walls strong enough to withstand wind loads while meeting height restrictions and setback requirements.
• Structural support walls: Walls that support driveways, terraces, or buildings need engineering and heavy construction. We work from engineered plans to build walls that safely support the intended loads.

Why Proper Design and Construction Matter

Retaining walls hold back tons of soil and water. When they fail, the results are expensive and dangerous. Poorly built walls crack, lean, and eventually collapse. They damage property above and below the wall. Rebuilding a failed wall costs much more than building it right the first time.

Successful retaining walls start with proper engineering. Taller walls (over 4 feet) typically need engineering calculations and permits. The design must account for soil type, groundwater conditions, loads above the wall, and seismic forces in our area.

Foundation design is critical. The footing must extend below frost depth and sit on undisturbed soil or properly compacted fill. Footing size depends on wall height and soil conditions. Skimping on footing size or depth leads to settlement and failure.

Drainage behind retaining walls is just as important as structural design. Without proper drainage, water pressure builds up behind the wall, greatly increasing the forces trying to push it over. We install drainage systems - perforated pipe, gravel backfill, and weep holes - that relieve water pressure and protect your wall.

Our Wall Construction Process

Building a retaining wall requires careful planning and execution:

We start by evaluating your site conditions and discussing your goals. What are you trying to accomplish? How tall does the wall need to be? What soil conditions exist? Are there any drainage issues we need to address? This information determines the wall design and construction approach.

For walls requiring engineering, we work with structural engineers to develop proper plans. Then we handle permits and schedule inspections. Even walls that don't legally require permits benefit from proper engineering principles in their construction.

Construction starts with excavation and footing installation. We dig below frost depth, pour concrete footings sized for your wall, and install any required reinforcement. The footing must cure adequately before wall construction begins.

Then we build the wall itself - either forming and pouring concrete or laying masonry units. Vertical reinforcement ties the wall to the footing. Horizontal reinforcement is placed at specified intervals. Every cell that contains reinforcement gets filled with concrete for maximum strength.

Finally, we install proper drainage behind the wall - perforated drain pipe, gravel backfill, and weep holes or drains at the wall base. We backfill carefully in compacted layers to avoid damaging the new wall. When complete, you have a properly engineered, correctly built wall that protects your property for decades. This same attention to detail applies whether we're building retaining walls or working on foundation projects.

Morgan Hill Masonry Specialists

Local building codes, soil conditions, and climate affect how walls should be built. Our team knows Morgan Hill's requirements and typical site conditions. We understand local permit processes and have relationships with building officials that help keep your project moving forward.

Whether you need a simple garden wall or a major retaining structure, we bring professional expertise to your project. We also offer commercial masonry services for business properties with more extensive requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions