Concrete retaining walls in Dickinson ND - a wall that drains and holds the slope
How do I get a concrete retaining wall built right in Dickinson?
Vertex Dickinson Concrete builds concrete retaining walls in Dickinson and the cities around it, and we put most of our attention on what's behind the wall. Soil is always pushing on a retaining wall, so the drain rock, fabric and outlets back there matter as much as the concrete you see.
If your yard has a slope that keeps slumping onto the lawn, or an old wall that's starting to lean, the soil behind it is pushing sideways and water is usually making it worse. A retaining wall holds that push back, and it may also have to handle groundwater, frost and the weight of a car or a building up top.
Height alone won't tell you how big a wall needs to be, because the footing, the steel inside it, how deep the base sits and the drainage should come from the project's design or the code that applies. Here, the City of Dickinson's Building Inspection Department enforces a building code based on the state's, with the city's own local changes.
Price and schedule mostly come down to the wall's size, how much digging the slope needs and the weather, and I'll go over both when I come out to look. Lots of walls go in when a yard is being leveled for something else, like a concrete pool deck or a pad that'll carry a concrete floor, so we can plan the two together.
What a solid wall takes
- Footing and steel sized by the design
- Drain rock and filter fabric behind it
- Perforated drain pipe with open outlets
- Weep holes where the design calls for them
- Outlets you can reach to clean
- Ground graded so water runs away
What to weigh before building a retaining wall
What sets the price
Height and length, how much digging and hauling the slope needs, the footing and steel the design calls for, and how much drainage goes behind the wall.
What the timing depends on
A settled design, dry workable ground and the weather, since concrete has to cure and gain strength before we pile soil back against it.
Poured wall or block
Block units stack dry and hold mostly by weight, usually tied by concrete keys or connectors, so ask any bidder how their block wall ties together before comparing it with poured.
Retaining wall questions from Dickinson
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Dickinson?
The price comes from the wall's height and length, what the design calls for underneath and behind it, and how hard the site is to dig and reach. Drainage is the part I won't let a budget cut short, because it's buried on day one and it's what decides whether the wall is still standing straight years from now. I'll give you a real figure once I've stood at your slope.
What keeps a retaining wall from tipping or leaking?
Good drainage behind it does most of the work, because water pressure can greatly increase the load on a wall and cause leaks or freeze damage. That's why we take our time on drain rock, filter fabric and perforated pipe with outlets you can get to for cleaning. Frost pushes too, and a university computer model shows frost heave, the swelling of freezing soil, tilting a wall from behind.
Do concrete block retaining walls hold up through cold, salty North Dakota winters?
They can struggle where they see de-icing salt every winter, since one block maker notes that dry-cast block can break down from freezing and thawing with those salts in northern states. If your wall sits next to a salted driveway or walk, I'll tell you straight if block is a poor match for that spot.
Does my retaining wall contractor need a North Dakota license, and how do I check it?
Yes, when a job's cost, value or price is over $4,000, the person doing the work has to be licensed as a contractor in North Dakota. You can look anyone up in the state's contractor search to see whether their license is in good standing. We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to check us.
How do I keep my retaining wall drains working in winter?
Clear the weep holes and drain outlets in late fall, because one drainage guide calls winter the hardest season on wall drains, when ice blocks them up. The same guide says to make sure downspouts and yard drains empty away from the wall, not right beside it.
What causes a retaining wall to fail after it's built?
Changes to the yard behind it are a common cause. Swapping out the backfill, the soil behind the wall, putting a driveway close to it or letting water collect can undo what the design counted on, even when the concrete itself is strong. If you're planning a driveway near the wall, tell me up front so we build for it.
Retaining walls near you
We're based in Dickinson and build retaining walls there and in the cities around it. Pick your area below, or call (701) 495-9954 if yours isn't listed.
Other concrete work
- Concrete driveway building
- Concrete patio construction
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Concrete steps construction
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
Ask for a free retaining wall estimate
Send photos of the slope, a rough wall length and height, and nearby driveways or downspouts. We'll reply within one business day to set up your free, no-obligation on-site estimate.