Concrete retaining walls in Arlington VA - a wall that drains and stays put
Leaning wall, soggy soil behind it or a slope washing into the yard? We build walls that drain right and hold the ground back.
How do you build a retaining wall that won't lean?
A concrete retaining wall in Arlington, VA holds back the soil on a sloped yard by standing up to its sideways push, along with any water, frost or driveway weight behind it, so the ground above stays where you want it.
Most calls start with a slope sliding onto the patio, an old wall that's leaning, or a yard you'd like to make flat enough to use. The price moves with the wall's size, where it sits, how easily we can get to it and how much steel goes inside, and soft ground under it can add a lot. The schedule mostly turns on access and on whether your lot needs county or city sign-off first, which we check and apply for when it does. I'll walk you through all of it at the estimate and put what's included in writing, like hauling away an old wall.
Why Arlington homeowners pick us for retaining walls
You get the owner on your site, a straight answer about where the water will go, and a written estimate that says what's in the price and what isn't.
The owner walks your site
I come out to every job myself, and our crew does the forming, pouring and finishing, usually with me there.
In business since 2021
I learned the trade on driveway and patio crews around Northern Virginia, then started this business in 2021.
Fully licensed and insured
That covers every wall we build, and we're happy to show you the paperwork at the estimate if you'd like.
Questions answered, even twice
I'd rather spend a few extra minutes explaining than leave you guessing about what you're paying for.
Satisfaction guarantee
Every wall we build is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and I'll walk the finished job with you before we pack up.
Concrete retaining wall options for your yard
The right wall depends on how much ground it holds, what sits above it, how firm the soil is and how easy your yard is to get into. We'll talk it through on site.
Talk to us about your retaining wall
Call or ask for an estimate, with the wall's rough length and height, a few slope photos and any driveway plans.
Why homeowners trust Mainstay Arlington Concrete Construction with retaining walls
We ask about drainage before height, because water stuck behind a wall causes more trouble than anything else. It's like a kitchen, where the whole night rides on the prep you did before service. For a wall, that prep is the footing it stands on, the gravel and the drain behind it, all buried once the soil goes back.
If the budget gets tight, I'd rather trim the face finish than the footing or the drain, since a plain wall that stays put beats a pretty one that leans. And if the wall cuts into the slope to make room for a shed or workshop, we can handle the concrete floor installation as well.
Retaining wall questions from Arlington homeowners
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Arlington, VA?
A poured concrete retaining wall in Arlington usually costs about $51 to $56 per square foot for a wall about 3 feet high, covering the concrete, materials and supplies. That's the going rate around here, not our quote, and the wall's size, location, access and how much steel it needs all move it. Soil matters too, since Wisconsin's highway design manual notes that weak or settling ground may need piles, which add significantly to the cost.
How do I make sure a retaining wall drains properly?
Ask every builder how the wall will drain, because poor drainage is by far the most common reason retaining walls perform badly, and left alone it can lead to outright failure. Weep holes, the small openings that let water out through the face, often clog with poor backfill, plants, animals or trash. So ask how the drains will stay clear over the years, too.
Does the height of a retaining wall decide how it's built?
No, height alone isn't enough to size a retaining wall. The footing size, the steel, how deep the wall sits, the drainage and the soil should come from a design for your project or from the building code's set rules, so ask which one a quote follows.
Do I need county permission to build a retaining wall near a stream in Arlington?
You may, because Arlington County restricts some work in Resource Protection Areas, which take in any ground within 100 feet of a stream, and you'd apply for special permission. Steep slopes of 25 percent or more next to a stream buffer count too, and existing trees and plants there are protected. The county's maps show whether your lot has one, and its staff answer at RPAreview@arlingtonva.us or 703-228-4488, so check the map first and tell us what you find.
Does a contractor need a license to build a retaining wall in Virginia?
Virginia sets contractor license classes by the value of the job, so check that a builder's class fits your quote. Class C covers a single contract over $1,000 but less than $30,000, and Class B covers $30,000 or more but less than $150,000.
What causes a concrete retaining wall to lean or crack years later?
Usually something changed after it was built, like different fill behind it, a new driveway close above it, or water left to pile up, which can undo what the wall was designed for even when the concrete is strong. That's why we ask about any driveway or yard plans near the wall up front, since they change how it should be built.
What happens when you call about a retaining wall in Arlington?
We plan the wall around your yard, how water moves through it and what you'll use the ground for, and you'll know what's included before anything gets dug.
Call or message us
Call (571) 760-4256 or send the form with the wall's rough size and a few photos, and we'll set up a time to come out.
I walk the slope
I come out myself, look at the ground, the slope and where the water goes, and ask how you'll use the space above and below.
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out what's included, so you know whether things like removing an old wall are part of the price.
We build it
Once you say go, we handle any permit steps, prep the base, form, pour and finish the wall, then leave you plain care notes for the first winter.
Concrete retaining walls in Arlington and nearby cities
We're based in Arlington, VA and build walls in the cities around it, like Alexandria and Falls Church. Some addresses fall under a city and some under a county, so we check which office covers yours. Pick your area below.
Get a retaining wall estimate in Arlington
Call (571) 760-4256 or use the form for a free estimate, since a wall is easiest to plan before the patio or driveway around it goes in.