Engineered retaining walls for steep, wet, and failing home sites
We design and build walls that fix failing walls, sliding slopes, and chronic drainage problems. Free estimates and a 5-year warranty on every wall we build.
What we put behind every wall
Most retaining walls don't fail because of the block. They fail because of what's behind it: no geogrid, no drainage, backfill that was never compacted. We build every wall with base prep sized to your actual soils, geogrid at the engineered elevations, clean drainage rock and pipe carrying water away from the wall, and backfill compacted in lifts. Then we stand behind it with a 5-year warranty.
- Base prep sized to your actual soils
- Geogrid at the engineered elevations
- Drainage rock and pipe carrying water away from the wall
- Backfill compacted in lifts, then a 5-year warranty
Have a failing wall or a slope you need to hold back?
Send us the site and a few phone photos. We will walk you through what the job needs and what it takes to build it right, at no cost.
The residential walls we specialize in
Bigger, engineered, drainage-heavy walls where doing it right the first time matters.
Hillside & slope stabilization
Hold back steep grades and unstable slopes so your home and yard stay protected for the long term.
Waterfront & river access
Engineered walls and integrated stairways that create safe, usable access on riverfront and lakefront lots.
Drainage & erosion control
Walls built with the drainage and reinforcement that wet Willamette Valley winters demand, defending against erosion and washout.
Tiered & terraced walls
Multi-tier systems that turn a steep, unusable slope into level, functional outdoor space.
Reclaim usable yard
Grade changes managed with engineered walls that expand your flat, usable lawn and living area.
Engineered & permitted
Built to engineered drawings and code, including City and FEMA floodplain permitting when the site calls for it.
Riverfront access wall, West Linn, OR
A large engineered residential wall and stairway that reclaimed safe access to the Willamette River.
The challenge
A West Linn home backed up to the Willamette River, but a steep grade cut the house off from the flat, usable space along the water. Because the property borders the river, the project had to clear both City of West Linn permitting and FEMA floodplain regulations, a process that took roughly a year and a half before construction could begin. Access was just as tight: the only machine that could reach the work area was a small excavator, and every one of the 250 yards of soil removed had to be staged and hauled out through a narrow corridor.
Our approach
We designed and constructed a retaining wall system with an integrated stairway, creating a safe, functional path from the home down to the river. The build spanned about 1,100 square feet of wall face and reclaimed roughly five feet of additional usable lawn at the top of the grade.
The result
What was once an inaccessible slope is now a fully usable outdoor space with direct river access. The integrated stairway and handrails provide safe passage from the home to the waterfront, and the wall system added flat lawn space that did not exist before.
Riverfront wall gallery
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from homeowners planning a large or engineered wall.
Yes. We focus on the larger, engineered residential walls: hillside stabilization, waterfront access, and drainage-heavy sites that go beyond typical landscaper work. We are licensed and bonded in Oregon and Washington (Oregon CCB #198317, Washington Lic #SEQUOSI876RK).
Requirements vary by city and site, and taller walls, surcharge loads, and waterfront or floodplain locations typically trigger engineering and permits. We help you understand what your site requires and coordinate the approvals before construction begins.
Yes. We have navigated City permitting and FEMA floodplain regulations on riverfront wall projects. We help you understand what is required and coordinate the approvals before construction begins.
Every wall is built with the drainage, geogrid reinforcement, and compaction the site calls for. In the Pacific Northwest, managing water is central to a wall that performs for decades.
For patios and smaller residential hardscaping, our sister company Sequoia Stonescapes is the right fit. For large or engineered walls, you are in the right place.
Tell us about your wall
Share the site, the slope, and what you are trying to solve. A few phone photos go a long way. We will follow up to talk through the project and what it takes to build it right.
Patios and smaller hardscaping
Our sister company, Sequoia Stonescapes, handles patios, walkways, and smaller residential hardscaping.
Visit Sequoia Stonescapes →