Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry

Why Retaining Walls Matter

Retaining walls serve two critical purposes: they hold back soil on slopes and they create level, usable space on your property. If you have a sloped yard, you might be dealing with erosion, runoff problems, or simply wasted space that's too steep to use. A properly built retaining wall solves these issues.

In Chico, we see properties with hillside lots, drainage problems, and uneven terrain. At CCW Chico Concrete Works, we design and build retaining walls that handle the pressure of soil and water while looking clean and professional. We use concrete masonry blocks, poured concrete walls, and other engineered systems depending on the height and load requirements.

Retaining walls are structural elements, not just decorative landscaping. If they're not built correctly, they lean, crack, or fail completely. That's why proper design, drainage, and construction methods are non-negotiable.

What Makes a Strong Retaining Wall

Building a retaining wall that lasts decades requires attention to several critical factors:

• •Proper foundation: We excavate below the frost line and pour a solid footing that distributes weight and prevents settling.
• •Drainage system: We install gravel backfill and perforated drain pipes behind the wall to relieve water pressure and prevent blowouts.
• •Reinforcement: For taller walls, we add rebar, geogrid, or tiebacks that anchor the wall into the slope for extra strength.
• •Batter (backward lean): We tilt the wall slightly into the slope so gravity works with the structure instead of against it.
• •Compacted backfill: We fill behind the wall in layers and compact each one to prevent settling and maintain pressure.

Walls over 4 feet tall typically require engineering and building permits. We work with structural engineers when necessary and handle all the permit paperwork so your wall meets local codes and safety standards.

Applications and Design

Retaining walls open up possibilities for your property. We build walls to create level areas for patios, gardens, driveways, and outdoor living spaces. We also install walls to prevent erosion on steep slopes, redirect water flow, and protect structures from sliding soil.

The design depends on your goals and site conditions. Concrete masonry block walls are popular for their strength and variety of colors and textures. Poured concrete walls offer maximum durability for high-load situations. We can also build natural stone walls for a more organic look, though these require more labor and planning.

Retaining walls often work in combination with other concrete projects. For example, we might build a wall to level a slope, then pour a patio on the newly leveled area. Or we might add a wall along a driveway to create parking space and prevent soil from washing onto the pavement. We look at the big picture to design solutions that solve multiple problems at once.

Frequently Asked Questions