RetainingWalls

Engineered grade changes.20 – 200 linear ft

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— 01 / Overview

“A wall is a quiet argument with gravity. We try to win every line.”

01

What it is

A retaining wall is structural before it is decorative. We engineer for the soil behind it, not just the look of the stone in front. Drainage, geo-grid reinforcement, and base preparation are non-negotiable on every build over 24 inches.

02

How we approach it

We'd rather over-engineer a 36-inch wall than have to come back and rebuild a 30-inch one. Earth pressure doesn't negotiate.

— 02 / Options

Patterns & variations

P/01

Allan Block Classic

Mortarless, dry-stacked. Modular blocks engineered for grade.

P/02

Natural Limestone Veneer

Stacked over a concrete core. Reads as solid stone.

P/03

Armour Stone

Hand-placed monoliths. Sculptural and structural at once.

P/04

Tiered Terraces

Two or three short walls instead of one tall one. Better drainage, softer presence.

— 03 / Materials Library

What we work with — and where it comes from.

M.01USA / Canada
Allan Block AB Stones
Engineered SRW units. Charcoal, sandstone, terracotta.
M.02Wiarton, Ontario
Wiarton Limestone
Local. Warm beige with grey veining.
M.03Bedford, Indiana
Indiana Limestone
Tight grain. Cuts clean for capping.
M.04Various
Geo-Grid Reinforcement
Polymer grid tied back into compacted fill.
M.05Ontario
Drainage Aggregate
Clear ¾-inch stone behind the wall, never sand.

— 04 / Method

How a walls actually gets built.

01
Survey + engineering
Anything over 1.0 m requires a stamped engineered drawing in Ontario. We arrange that.
02
Excavate footing
Down to undisturbed soil. Width = wall height ÷ 2 + 12 inches.
03
Compact base
6 inches of crushed stone, vibratory plate compacted.
04
First course level
The most important course in the entire wall. Buried 10–15% of total height.
05
Backfill + drainage
Drain rock behind every course, grid layers per spec, fabric over the top.
06
Cap and seal
Capstones glued with structural adhesive. Drainage tile tied to daylight.

— 05 / On Site

The build, day by day.

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String lines walk the curve before we dig.

Drain rock placed and compacted in lifts.

— 06 / Investment

Starting at

$180–$320/ linear ft

Most residential walls land $8K–$45K depending on height and access.

Lead time
6–10 weeks (engineering included)
Duration
4–10 working days
Scale
20 – 200 linear ft
Warranty
10 years on structure

Get a detailed estimate Use the estimator first

— 07 / Built example

N° N° 065

From the work

Wismer Walk

Wismer, ON · 2023

A young family with two electric cars asked for a driveway that could shrug off Markham winters without salt. The answer was a hydronic snow-melt apron embedded in a fan-pattern field, banded by a heavy charcoal soldier course that doubles as a wheel guide on a tight approach..

See the project

— 08 / Questions