Attleboro, MA · Retaining Walls
Retaining wall installation in Attleboro, MA
A retaining wall holds back the weight of wet soil, so it's the one hardscape where the hidden work is almost all of the job. A wall is only as good as its base course, its drainage and what's behind it. Get those right and the face is the easy part.
In Attleboro that usually means older yards with mixed grades, so we work out where the water leaves before we set the first paver. Many of these lots were built up over time, and the high and low spots move around.
Older Attleboro grades shift, so a wall is set on its own footing and drainage behind it is designed before the face goes up.
A retaining wall in Attleboro is mostly the part you never see: a footing dug past the frost line, gravel backfill that drains, and a path for that water to escape at the bottom. The face is the easy part. A wall that holds water behind it will lean within a few seasons.
- A level, compacted base course the rest of the wall sits on
- Drainage stone and a path for water behind the wall, not against it
- Geogrid or batter as the height and soil load call for
- Caps, steps and seat walls detailed to match the house
- Worked to Attleboro's grade and drainage, not a cookie-cutter layout
Common questions
Retaining Walls in Attleboro
How tall can a retaining wall be before it needs an engineer?
Short garden walls are straightforward. As walls get taller, or when they hold up a driveway or a surcharge, the design and permitting questions grow. We'll tell you when a job belongs with an engineer.
Why do retaining walls lean or bulge?
Almost always water. Soil that stays saturated is far heavier than dry soil and pushes harder than the wall was built for. Proper drainage behind the wall is what prevents it.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
It depends on the town and the wall height, and rules differ across the state line. We check the requirement for your property before the work is scheduled.
Retaining Walls in Attleboro
Free estimate, straight answer.