Flat yard on a slope
Cutting into a sloped backyard and holding it with a wall gives you level ground for a lawn, patio or play area instead of a hill nobody uses.
Retaining wall construction in Chino CA - a wall that holds your slope and drains well
Slope washing into your yard or an old wall starting to lean? We build walls that hold the soil and let the water out.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What a retaining wall does for your yard
Retaining wall construction in Chino means building a wall of block, poured concrete or stone that holds a slope back, so the soil stays put and you get flat, usable yard where there used to be a hill. We're based in Chino and build these walls here and in the cities around it.
Most calls start with dirt washing onto a patio, a slope you can't use or an old wall that's starting to lean. Your price moves with the wall's length and height, the material, how much digging and hauling it takes, the drainage behind it and whether an old wall has to come out first. The schedule turns mostly on the city, because if your wall needs a permit, the review and inspections set the pace, and the underground lines get marked a few days before we dig. The estimate puts a number on all of that for your own wall.
The owner writes your estimate
I come out myself to look at the slope, ask where the water runs and write the estimate, so the person pricing your wall knows exactly how it'll be built.
Our own crew builds it
Our own crew does the digging, block and drainage, and I check on the work as it goes, so nothing gets buried behind the wall before it's right.
In business since 2017
I learned masonry on other masons' crews and started this business in 2017, and I still want to know why an old wall failed before we build the next one.
How we build a retaining wall, step by step
On a new wall I put as much thought into where the water goes as into the block, because water piling up behind a wall is what pushes it over. We dig out the slope, pour the footing and lay the block with rebar, the steel bars that run inside it, then fill the cells with grout so the wall works as one piece. Behind it goes drain rock around a pipe that runs to an outlet, since rock with nowhere to send water just holds it, plus filter fabric that won't clog up with fine soil. We make sure your downspouts don't empty behind the wall, then backfill, pack the soil, set the cap and clean up.
Plenty of retaining wall jobs touch other masonry on the property. If you've got an older brick or stone garden wall nearby that's worn but not leaning, masonry restoration can bring it back instead of tearing it out. When the new wall is part of a bigger backyard plan, like a terraced patio built around a fire feature, we handle fireplace installation too, so the masonry matches and goes in on one plan.
Where homeowners use a retaining wall
Soil off the driveway or fence
Where a bank sits right against a driveway, side yard or fence line, a wall keeps the dirt and runoff from creeping onto concrete and piling up against wood.
Terraced planting beds
A tall slope split into two or three shorter walls makes planting beds you can actually reach and work, and it usually looks better than one big wall.
A wall you can sit on
Around a patio or fire pit, a retaining wall built to seat height with a solid cap holds the grade and gives your guests a place to sit.
Get a free estimate for your retaining wall
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the slope and write your estimate, free and with no obligation.
Rough length and height
Pace off about how long the wall needs to be and how tall the slope is, because those two numbers shape most of the questions I'll ask you.
A few photos of the slope
Take pictures from the bottom, the top and each end so I can see the grade, how our crew gets in and anything that might be in the way.
Where the water runs now
Tell us where your downspouts empty and where the ground stays wet after rain, because planning the drainage starts there, well before the first block goes down.
Masonry wall and hardscape examples
Look through block, poured concrete and stone wall finishes, caps and terraced layouts, then bring the ones you like to your estimate.
Retaining wall questions we hear in Chino
Here are straight answers on cost, lifespan, leaning walls, permits and inspections for a retaining wall in Chino.
How much does a retaining wall cost near Chino?
Building a retaining wall around San Bernardino usually costs about $41 to $45 per square foot, which gives you a rough idea for Chino. That's the area's going rate, not our price. Height, material, how much soil comes out, the drainage behind the wall and any old wall to tear out all move your number, and the estimate puts it in writing.
How long does a retaining wall last?
General home-building guidance says a properly installed masonry or concrete retaining wall has no set limit on its lifespan, while timber walls can last up to 40 years. Any wall still needs upkeep, so keep the weep holes, the small drain openings in the wall, clear, pull plants growing on or near it, fix erosion at the base and watch for bulging or cracks.
Can a leaning retaining wall be repaired?
Usually not, since home-building guides say a bowed or leaning retaining wall usually can't be repaired and should come down and be rebuilt with methods that drain water better. I'll look at yours and tell you straight whether it's worth saving. We're licensed and insured, and every wall we build is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Who handles retaining wall permits in Chino?
In Chino, the city's Development Services Department processes building and planning permit requests, so that's the office to ask about your wall. When a job needs a permit, we apply for it and plan the work around the city's inspections, and if it's not clear whether yours does, we check with the city's building office before we start.
What inspections does Chino list for a block retaining wall?
The city's block retaining wall standard lists a footing inspection, then rebar inspections at mid-height and at the top before grout goes in, and a final inspection after grouting but before any decorative cap. Each one pauses the build, which is why we don't set a cap early, however finished the wall looks.
Should I use Chino's standard retaining wall design or hire an engineer?
You can build to the city's standard block retaining wall design or pay an engineer to analyze a different one. The city offers its standard at your own risk, with no guarantee against failure or defects, and its design criteria list Seismic Zone D, the earthquake design rating, and mark a soils report as required. Ask Development Services what your project needs.
Talk to us about your slope
We answer until 9 PM every day, so call (909) 479-6261 after work or send the form with photos of your slope.