01The problem
Bay Area lots aren't flat. Hillside cuts, terraced yards, neighboring grade differentials — every retaining wall is holding back tons of soil that's actively trying to move downhill.
Service · Pacific Construction
RetainingWalls.
Retaining walls that hold the line — built for Bay Area soils, slopes, and seismic loads.
CSLB #917675Since 1998Serving 5 Bay Area counties
Why now
Retaining Walls done late costs more than retaining walls done right.
02What it costs you
A wall that fails doesn't just lean — it dumps. Soil slides into your yard, your driveway, your neighbor's pool. The repair touches landscape, drainage, sometimes the property line. And insurance treats “wall failure from improper design” very differently than “act of God.”
03What we do
We've built timber, segmental block, stone, and reinforced concrete walls across hilly terrain — Daly City, Tiburon, Lafayette, the SF hills — since 1998. Engineered drainage from the back of the wall to daylight, footings sized to the load, and the right material for the job. CSLB #917675 (B · C-8).
What’s included
Every retaining walls project, every line item.
You see the whole scope before any concrete is poured. Nothing hidden, nothing quietly billed mid-project.
- Site survey, grade measurement, and soil-condition review
- Engineering coordination for walls above jurisdictional thresholds (typ. 4 ft+)
- Permit pulls and inspection scheduling, end-to-end
- Demolition and safe removal of failing walls
- Excavation to engineered footing depth
- Reinforced concrete footing with rebar and key (where applicable)
- Wall material selection: timber, segmental block, stone, or reinforced concrete
- Drainage tie-ins: gravel backfill, perforated drain pipe, weep holes, daylight outlet
- Geotextile fabric to prevent soil migration through the drainage layer
- Backfill placed in lifts with compaction (not dumped-and-walked)
- Cap, finish, and aesthetic detailing
- Site walk-down and post-build clean-up
How we do it
The retaining walls process — every job, in order.
The same rhythm whether the job is a $12,000 footing or a $200,000 structural retrofit. Owner on site, same crew, same standards.
- 01Step 1 / 6
Visit & assess
Jose walks the property, takes elevations, measures grade differential, and asks what failed last time (if anything). Written bid in 48 hours.
- 02Step 2 / 6
Engineer & permits
For walls above your jurisdiction's threshold, we coordinate the structural design, pull the permit, and schedule the inspections.
- 03Step 3 / 6
Demolition
Old wall comes out cleanly. Soil that was held back gets stabilized before any new excavation begins — no surprise slides.
- 04Step 4 / 6
Footing & forms
Footing trench excavated to engineered depth. Rebar tied. Concrete poured continuously. Forms set true before the first course goes in.
- 05Step 5 / 6
Wall construction
Material laid course-by-course (block, stone, timber) or formed-and-poured (concrete). Drain pipe and gravel backfill installed in lifts as the wall rises.
- 06Step 6 / 6
Cap, finish & walk-down
Cap installed, top dressed, drainage outlet verified. Site cleaned. We walk you through the work and hand it back.
Where we work
Retaining Walls across the Bay.
We do retaining walls regularly in the cities below — each with its own soil profile, code requirements, and seismic considerations. Click through for the local context.
Common questions
Retaining Walls.Asked & answered.
Don’t see your question? Call (650) 754-3064 and ask Jose directly.
Q01Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
Most Bay Area cities require a permit for walls over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing). Some jurisdictions trigger at 3 feet — especially when the wall supports a surcharge (driveway, building, slope above). We pull permits as part of the bid.
Q02Timber, block, stone, or concrete — what's right for my wall?
Depends on height, soil, drainage, and aesthetic. Timber for short walls and tighter budgets (15–25 year life). Segmental block for clean lines and low maintenance. Stone for high-end aesthetic. Reinforced concrete for tall walls, hillside cuts, and seismic-prone slopes. We'll recommend, not upsell.
Q03How long does it take?
Most residential walls run 5–12 working days, depending on length, height, and access. Hillside or no-equipment-access jobs take longer. We sequence demo, footing, and construction so the wall isn't open to weather between phases.
Q04What about drainage behind the wall?
Drainage is the difference between a 30-year wall and a 5-year wall. Every wall we build gets gravel backfill, perforated drain pipe behind the base, geotextile fabric, and a daylight outlet — to either an existing drain, a dry well, or a graded swale. We don't shortcut this.
Q05Can you tie into my existing landscape and irrigation?
Yes. We protect what we can and disclose what we can't, before we start. Irrigation lines and roots in the work zone are documented in the bid; you decide whether to relocate or replace. We don't surprise you with a damaged-sprinkler bill at the end.
Q06Will the wall need engineering?
For walls above jurisdictional thresholds, yes. We work with engineers we trust and coordinate the report so the bid lines up with the drawings — no double-billing for the same site visit.
Often paired with
Adjacent work we do on the same job.
Ready when you are
Tell us what you’re building. We’ll be on site by Tuesday.
Free walk-through, written bid within 48 hours, no surprises. The same crew, the same owner — every project, since 1998.
Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm · Sat–Sun closedCSLB #917675 — B · C-8 · C-36