Behind the Build: How We Install a Retaining Wall
Behind the Build: How We Install a Retaining Wall
Once you've decided on a retaining wall, the next question is usually "so what actually happens now?" Here's the process from first shovel in the ground to finished wall, so you know what's supposed to be happening at each stage.
Step 1: Excavation
The area gets dug out to the depth and width the wall requires — this depends on the wall's height, the type of soil, and how much material is being held back. Taller walls need a wider excavation footprint to accommodate the base and the drainage system behind the wall, not just the wall face itself.
Step 2: Base Preparation
This is the step that determines whether the wall stays straight for decades or starts leaning within a few years. A compacted gravel base is laid and checked for level and proper grade before a single block or stone goes down. Skipping or rushing this step is one of the most common causes of wall failure down the line — it just doesn't show up until later.
Step 3: Drainage
Before the wall itself starts going up, drain rock and a perforated pipe get installed behind where the wall will sit. This is the part of the project that's completely invisible once everything is backfilled — and it's the reason we always talk to clients about what's included here specifically, since it's the easiest thing to quietly cut on a lowball quote.
Step 4: Building the Wall
The wall goes up course by course, checked for level continuously as it rises. Most retaining wall systems are built with a slight backward lean (called setback) built into each course, so the finished wall leans gently into the slope it's holding back rather than standing perfectly vertical — this adds significant stability against the pressure behind it.
Step 5: Backfilling
Backfilling happens in stages as the wall goes up, not dumped in all at once once the wall is finished. This lets drain rock settle properly and keeps the wall from taking on pressure it isn't structurally ready to handle yet.
Step 6: Finishing
Caps, edging, and any surface finishing happen last, along with any surrounding grading, sod, or planting to tie the new wall into the rest of the yard.
How Long Does It Take?
Timeline depends heavily on wall height, length, site access, and soil conditions — a short garden wall might be a few days start to finish, while a taller wall retaining a significant slope, or one with difficult access, can run one to two weeks. Weather is also a factor here in the Lower Mainland, since excavation and base work go much better in dry conditions.
What to Watch For During Your Own Project
If you're having a wall built, it's worth asking your contractor directly about base depth, drainage components, and setback — these are the details that separate a wall that lasts decades from one that needs to be rebuilt in five years, and none of them are visible in the finished photos.
Planning a Retaining Wall?
If you're ready to move forward, or just want a clearer picture of what your specific yard needs, get in touch for a free consultation. We'll walk the site, explain exactly what the project involves, and give you a quote that spells out what's included at every stage.
Areas We Serve
Square Yards Landscaping proudly serves the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore & Belcarra), Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Burnaby, Vancouver, and the rest of the Lower Mainland.
Contact Us
Ready to start your retaining wall project? Reach out today:
Phone: +1 (604) 314-2350
Request a Quote: squareyardslandscaping.ca/contact