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Granite boulder retaining wall with drainage stone and pipe

Retaining walls in Portland, ME

Retaining wall contractor in Portland for slopes and wet yards

Walls and drainage that hold the slope and move water away, built with frost and ledge in mind.

  • Walls built with stone drainage behind them
  • Fixes for pooling water and washouts
  • Written quote with the scope spelled out

Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

What does a retaining wall contractor in Portland do?

A retaining wall holds soil back so you can use a slope, level a yard or protect a bank from washing away. Building one that lasts is mostly about what you cannot see: the base, the stone behind the wall and the way water leaves the area.

A typical job follows these steps:

  1. Mark out the wall line and check where water flows.
  2. Excavate and set a compacted stone base.
  3. Build the wall in courses, stepping the first course into the ground.
  4. Place clean stone behind the wall and a drain pipe where needed.
  5. Backfill, grade and finish the top and planting areas.

Walls can be made from block, cut stone or natural granite boulders, and the choice affects how the yard looks as well as cost and strength.

What water and soil problems come up in Portland yards?

Many sites around Portland slope toward the water or toward a neighbor. Heavy rain, snowmelt and clay soil mean water has to go somewhere, and if it does not, it will find a way through or over a wall. Frost makes it worse by pushing on walls from behind.

Problems we see often include:

  • Leaning or bulging walls. Often caused by water trapped behind with no drain.
  • Washouts. Downspouts that dump at the base of a slope strip soil away.
  • Wet basements. Older homes with stone foundations can take water when the grade falls toward the house.
  • Ledge. Granite near the surface can make digging slow and affect where a wall can sit.
  • Pooling. Flat areas with no outlet hold water for days.

Drainage fixes can include regrading, swales, downspout extensions and buried drain pipe.

What changes the price of a wall or drainage job?

Prices come in writing after we see the site. The main factors are:

  • Height and length. Taller walls need much more base and material.
  • Material. Block, cut stone and large boulders differ in cost and labor.
  • Access. Heavy stone needs a machine, and a tight lot slows everything.
  • Drainage. More stone, pipe and outlet work adds to the scope.
  • Ledge or poor soil. These can mean extra digging or different methods.
  • Engineering and approval. Taller walls often need a plan from an engineer and permission from the local office.

Wall height limits vary, and many places require engineering and a permit once a wall passes a certain height, so check locally. If you want planting or a patio above or below a wall, see our landscape design and hardscaping services.

A short garden wall can be built in a few days. A long or tall wall with drainage can take a couple of weeks. Wet weather and ledge are the usual causes of delay.

The crew arrives with a small excavator and stone is delivered close to the work area. Expect digging, noise from machines and a pile of stone and soil in the yard for a while. Utilities are located before excavation begins, which in Maine means calling 811.

The wall goes up course by course, with drainage stone and pipe placed as it rises. At the end the crew regrades, tidies the site and goes over how to keep gutters and outlets clear. Rain in the first few weeks is a good test, so keep an eye on how water moves.

When should you call about a wall or drainage problem?

Call as soon as you see a wall leaning, soil washing out, water entering the basement or a spot that stays wet. These problems tend to get worse each freeze and thaw, and a small repair costs less than a rebuild.

Also call when you are planning a project, such as a terraced garden or a level lawn on a slope, and want to know whether a wall is the right answer. If the new lawn area is the goal, see our sod installation page.

If the wall is near the shore, a wetland or a property line, extra rules may apply, so check with the local code office early. You can see all of our services on the home page. Send a few details and we will arrange a visit and a written quote.

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Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

Questions about landscaping in Portland

How tall can a retaining wall be before I need approval?

It varies by city and town. In many places, walls above about four feet need an engineered plan and a permit, but the exact limit can differ and can be lower near the shore or a property line. Check with the local code office before you build, and tell us so we can plan around it.

Why do retaining walls fail?

Most failures come from water. If there is no drainage stone and no drain behind the wall, water builds pressure and frost pushes on it. Weak base, poor compaction and walls that are too tall for the method used are other causes. Good drainage and base work prevent most problems.

What is the difference between a retaining wall and a drainage fix?

A retaining wall holds soil in place. A drainage fix controls where water goes. Many jobs need both, since water behind a wall is the usual cause of failure. We look at the whole slope and decide whether you need one, the other or both.

Can you fix water getting into my basement?

We can fix outdoor causes, such as grade sloping toward the house, short downspouts and poor drainage near the foundation. If water enters through cracks or from inside, that needs a different trade. We will tell you what we find and what falls outside our work.

Which wall material should I choose?

Block walls are uniform and quick to build. Cut stone looks traditional and suits older Portland homes. Natural granite boulders look at home along the Maine coast and suit informal settings. The right choice depends on height, style, access and budget, and we can compare options on site.

What you can expect

  • Free written quotes

  • Local crews

  • Reliable scheduling

  • Tidy job sites

Ready when you are. Call now or request a quote online.

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How it works

1

Tell us about the yard

Size, goals and any photos.

2

Site visit and quote

We walk the property and put the price in writing.

3

We do the work

Scheduled crew, cleanup included.

Takes about 30 seconds. Get my free landscaping quote