Retaining wall construction in San Rafael CA - level ground that stays put
Soil slumping onto your patio or a slope you can't use? We build a wall that holds it back and gives you usable ground.
A retaining wall sits on a buried footing and holds back everything pushing on it from behind. The first thing I ask is what will sit near the top, like a fence, a car or trees, because that shapes the design.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
A wall that holds what's behind it
I see every job myself
I come out to look at your slope and write the estimate, and I'm on site while our masons build.
Fully licensed and insured
You won't have to wonder whether the people digging behind your house are covered if something goes wrong.
What does it take to build a retaining wall in San Rafael?
Retaining wall construction in San Rafael means building a block, stone or concrete wall on a buried footing so a slope stays where it is and the ground in front of it is flat enough to use. The price moves with the wall's height and length, the material, and whatever will push on it from above, since a driveway or fence up top calls for a stronger wall. The schedule turns mostly on whether the city needs a permit or extra review for your lot and how much digging the slope takes. Your written estimate spells out what's included for your wall.
How do you know you need a retaining wall?
Soil washing onto your patio
When dirt and mulch from the slope keep ending up on your patio, walkway or driveway after every storm, the slope needs something holding it back.
An old wall leaning out
A wall that tips forward, bulges in the middle or shows a gap along the top is losing to the push behind it, and it won't straighten itself.
Cracks and loose blocks
Cracks that get wider each year, blocks sliding out of line or timbers going soft mean the wall is giving way and should be looked at.
A slope you can't use
If half your yard is too steep to plant, play on or walk across, a wall can turn it into level ground you'll actually use.
How a retaining wall job runs, start to finish
You call or message
- Call (628) 234-2038 or use the form
- Tell us where the wall would go
- Photos of the slope help
- We get back to set a visit
I look at the site
- I walk the slope with you
- I measure the height and length
- You hear what I'd do on the spot
- Written estimate shows what's included
We plan, permit and build
- We check what the city or county needs
- Permits and inspections handled if needed
- We set a start date with you
- Our own crew of masons builds
Final check and walk-through
- I check the wall before we leave
- We clean up the work area
- We walk the finished wall together
- Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
Get a free on-site retaining wall estimate
Send the wall's rough height and length, photos of the slope and any plans for a fence, pool or trees behind it. We reply within one business day, and there's no obligation.
Retaining wall questions we hear
These are the questions San Rafael homeowners ask before a wall goes in. If yours isn't here, call (628) 234-2038 and I'll give you a straight answer.
How much does a retaining wall cost in the Bay Area?
Retaining wall construction in the Bay Area usually costs about $21 to $65 per square foot of wall face, and that's the going range in the area, not our price. Height, material and what the wall has to hold back decide where yours lands, and the written estimate shows what's included.
When does a retaining wall in San Rafael need a building permit?
The city issues building permits for retaining walls over four feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing, and for any wall with extra load behind it, like a driveway, pool or fence. Rules change, so we confirm them with the city for your address before design starts.
Does a retaining wall on a San Rafael hillside lot need extra approval?
Yes. The city requires Design Review for walls on hillside lots, which it counts as sloping 25 percent or more or sitting in its hillside overlay, and 50 cubic yards or more of digging and filling takes a Public Works permit. Lots in state-mapped liquefaction or landslide zones may also have to study that hazard during permitting.
Can I put a fence, pool or trees near my retaining wall?
You can, but the city wants an engineer to evaluate anything that pushes on the wall, like trees, parked cars or even a freestanding fence, which catches wind. As a general rule it also has to sit at least twice the total wall height back, buried part included, so a four-foot wall puts a pool or fence at least eight feet back.
Is a block retaining wall better than timber or railroad ties?
On how it holds up, yes. An industry design manual says interlocking block resists cracking and, unlike treated timbers or railroad ties, doesn't splinter or decay, and that block walls properly designed for earthquakes have come through them better than conventional retaining walls. I'll tell you which material suits your slope at the estimate.
How long does it take to build a retaining wall?
Building the wall itself is usually the quick part, since an industry manual says an experienced crew of three or four typically puts up 300 to 500 square feet of block wall a day. Any permit or engineering comes first, along with 8-1-1 marking underground lines a few days before digging.
Work that often goes with a wall
- Service
Masonry restoration
When an old stone or brick wall is worn but still sound, restoring it can keep the character you have instead of starting over with a new one.
Read more Masonry restoration - Service
Fireplace installation
If your new terrace is meant for evenings outside, a masonry fireplace built from the same stone or block ties it to the wall below.
Read more Fireplace installation - Service
Walkway construction
Terraced yards need a safe way between levels, and a walkway or set of steps built alongside the wall lets you reach every part of it.
Read more Walkway construction
Get a free estimate for your wall
Request an estimate- VisitSan Rafael, CA 94901
- Call(628) 234-2038
- Emailteam@sanrafaelconcreteandmasonry.com
- HoursMon–Fri: 8 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
Retaining walls in San Rafael and nearby
We're based in San Rafael and build retaining walls in San Anselmo, Novato and other cities nearby. Pick yours below, or call (628) 234-2038 if it's not listed.