Concrete retaining walls in South Burlington VT - a wall that holds back your slope
Soil slumping onto your lawn or a slope washing out? We build poured walls that hold the ground and let the water behind them drain.
What a concrete retaining wall does for your yard
A concrete retaining wall is a poured wall, formed and filled on site, that holds back the soil on a slope. You usually need one when a bank keeps creeping onto a patio or walk, washes out after heavy rain, or leaves part of the yard too steep to use.
At South Burlington Concrete, we build them in South Burlington and the cities around it, often alongside other work such as a concrete pool deck on a sloped lot or a new concrete floor in a garage dug into a hill. Most wall trouble comes from water held behind it, so I plan the drainage as carefully as the wall itself. That buried stone and pipe is the first thing people want to trim, but I'd simplify the face before I'd cut it.
The price moves with the wall's height and length, the ground under it, whether an old wall has to come out, and any curves or steps in the design. The schedule turns on the weather and on curing, the time new concrete needs to gain strength before we fill in behind it. Your written estimate will spell out the work and materials.
Poured retaining walls, built to drain
A poured wall gives you a slope that holds its shape, as long as the water behind it has a way out. Here's what working with us looks like.
- I come out to every job and write the estimate myself
- In business since 2017
- We're licensed and insured
- A level, usable yard where the slope used to be
How a retaining wall job runs
Call or send the form
Call (802) 307-1329 or send the form, and tell us where the slope is and what you'd like that part of the yard to do.
I walk the site with you
I come out myself, walk the slope with you, take measurements and answer your questions, then send you a written estimate.
Planning and the pour
Once you're ready, we set a pour date with the weather in mind. Our crew lead runs the work, and I stay in touch until it's finished and you're satisfied.
Describe your retaining wall and drainage
Send the wall's length and height and photos of the slope. We reply within one business day by phone or email, and the on-site estimate is free with no obligation.
Retaining wall questions we hear
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost near South Burlington?
In the Burlington area, a poured concrete wall 3 ft. high usually runs about $43 to $47 per square foot, counting excavation, backfill and reinforcement. That figure leaves out removing an old wall, terraces, curves, extra height, stamped or stained finishes and landscaping, so those raise it. Your written estimate prices your own wall.
Is a block retaining wall cheaper than a poured concrete one?
Usually, yes. One block industry manual says segmental walls, built from stacked units, typically cost less than poured concrete. I'm glad to price a block wall beside a poured one so you can compare them side by side and talk through which suits your slope.
Does the ground in my yard change the cost of a retaining wall?
It can. One state highway design manual says poured cantilever walls, the kind that stand on a wide footing, suit firm ground that bears weight well, while weak or settling ground may need piles or other foundation work that adds significant cost. I look at it on the site walk so it's in the plan from the start.
Why does drainage behind a retaining wall matter so much?
Water held behind a wall can greatly increase the load on it and cause leaks or freeze damage. A sound wall has drainage stone, filter fabric, perforated drain outlets and surface grading that sheds water, and the outlets only work while they stay open, so I'll show you which ones to keep clear.
Who handles retaining wall permits in South Burlington?
The South Burlington Planning & Zoning Department handles development review and permitting. Before we set a date, we check with that office about what your wall needs and help you prepare and file it. On a lake, river or stream lot, the city's development rules give planted shoreline restoration an exemption that walls and other structures don't get.
Does a contractor need to register in Vermont to build my wall?
Yes, if the job is over $10,000.00 in labor and materials. Vermont law requires a contractor to register with the Office of Professional Regulation before contracting with a homeowner for residential construction above that amount, and that includes exterior work on a home or a property with four or fewer dwelling units, unless an exemption applies.
Other concrete work we do
- 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
Plan your retaining wall and its drainage
Call (802) 307-1329 and mention any driveway planned near the slope, since it changes what the wall holds. I'll come out and write your estimate.
