Concrete retaining walls in Anaheim CA - a wall that holds back your slope and drains
Dirt sliding onto the patio or an old wall leaning out? We build block walls on a solid footing with drainage behind them.
What does it take to build a retaining wall in Anaheim?
A concrete retaining wall holds back the sideways push of soil so a sloped yard in Anaheim can sit level. At AJ Anaheim Concrete Contractors we build them from concrete block set on a concrete footing, the wide base under the wall that keeps it from tipping over or sliding.
Most calls start with dirt washing onto a patio after rain, an old wall leaning out, or a sloped yard where you want flat ground for a concrete pool deck or a shop with a new concrete floor. The price moves with the wall's height and length, what sits above it and how the water behind it gets out. The schedule turns mostly on whether the wall needs drawn plans and a city permit, and when it does, we pull the permit and handle the paperwork with the city's office. I measure all of it at the estimate and give you a clear price for the work.
Why homeowners pick us for retaining walls
You get a straight answer about your wall, even when it's not the one you hoped for, and the parts nobody sees once the soil goes back get the most attention.
The owner does the estimate
I come out to look at your slope myself, and I work alongside our crew on the build and the pour.
Built for what sits above
Before we price your wall, I ask what sits above it, because a driveway or slope up top changes how it's built.
Drainage in the first quote
I also ask where the water behind the wall will go, so the drains are in your price from the start.
Licensed and insured crew
We're licensed and insured, which is worth asking any wall builder about before they start digging into your yard.
Our own crew since 2023
I left a desk job, learned concrete on a local crew and started our business in 2023.
Retaining wall options we'll talk through
The right wall comes from how tall your slope is, what sits above it and how wet the soil gets, so we settle those first and fit the build to them.
Ask about your retaining wall
Have the wall's height, its length and what sits above it handy, and I'll come out to measure and price it.
Why homeowners trust AJ Anaheim Concrete Contractors with retaining walls
The footing has to sit on firm soil that hasn't been dug up, or on fill packed hard, because a wall is only as steady as what's under it. We set reinforcing steel upright in the block cores, which adds a lot of strength against the load, so ask anyone you're comparing how they reinforce their walls.
If the budget has to give somewhere, I'd rather trim the finish than the footing or the drains, because nobody sees those once the soil goes back, and they're what keep the wall standing. I'll tell you straight if a cut you're thinking about will cost you later. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Retaining wall questions we hear
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Anaheim?
Anaheim's Building Division requires a permit for a retaining wall over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or one that holds up extra weight beyond the soil, like a driveway. Part of that height is underground, so a wall that looks short can still count, and the city also points owners to Planning and Zoning to check the wall against zoning rules. If you're not sure where your wall falls, you can call the city for help deciding, and when a permit is needed, we pull it.
Who draws the plans for a retaining wall in Anaheim?
In Anaheim, plans come from a qualified person, and for most kinds of projects that's a California licensed architect or engineer, because the city's building staff don't draw plans themselves. When your wall needs plans, we tell you early and build to them. On an undeveloped lot where the state has mapped weak soil that can give way in an earthquake, a study by a licensed engineering geologist or civil engineer may be required before most structures can be permitted.
How do I keep water from building up behind a retaining wall?
Every retaining wall needs a way out for the water behind it, usually drains through the wall, and where long, heavy rains are expected, a continuous drain can run along the back as well. Trapped water adds a push the wall has to fight, so we plan the drains along with the footing.
Does a driveway above my retaining wall change the design?
Yes, because standard reinforcement for a block wall is laid out for the soil alone, and extra weight above it, like a driveway, or earthquake loads have to be worked in where they apply. Tell us what's up top now and what you plan to add, so the design covers it.
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Anaheim?
I don't give a figure until I've seen the wall, because height, length, the load above it and the drainage all change the build. Tight access for equipment, a decorative block or cap, waterproofing on the back and any drawn plans or permit add to it too. I measure on site and give you a clear price for the whole job.
How long does it take to build a retaining wall?
Plans and a permit usually set the pace more than the build itself, since we can't dig until they're in hand. On site, the block guidance says soil goes back behind the wall only once the block has gained enough strength or the wall is braced, and heavy equipment stays back from the top a distance equal to the wall's height while backfilling, so that part doesn't get rushed. Once I've seen your job, I'll tell you what the timing looks like.
What happens when you call about a retaining wall in Anaheim?
We plan the wall around your yard, what sits above it, where the water goes and any permit the city wants, so you know the order of things before we start.
Call or send the form
Call (657) 347-3028 or use the form, and tell us the wall's height, its length and what sits above it.
I look at the slope
I come out, walk the slope with you, check the ground and measure where the wall will run.
Your price and permit
You get a clear price for the whole wall, and if the city wants a permit, we take care of it before we start.
Build and walkthrough
Our crew preps the ground, forms and pours the footing and builds the wall, and I walk the finished job with you before we call it done.
Get a retaining wall quote in Anaheim
Call (657) 347-3028 or send the form, and you'll know whether your wall needs a permit or plans before you spend anything on it.