We Build, Repair, and Replace Retaining Walls
We build beautiful and functional retaining walls.
Retaining walls are a great addition to any landscape, especially if your property has an existing slope. Building a retaining wall allows you reclaim some of that lost space by carving out usable outdoor spaces on sloping ground that would otherwise not be usable. Retaining walls can hold back earth and soil which helps to create new level areas for the construction of a new garden bed, a new lawn, a patio or outdoor cooking area, a parking area, and more. Retaining walls can be built using a variety of materials including rock, brick, block, boulders, or even wood.
Why Do You Need A Retaining Wall On Your Property?
- Do you need to prevent soil erosion on your property?
- Do you have an existing retaining wall that has failed and needs repair or rebuilt?
- Do you have a sloped property you’d like to landscape?
- Do you want to create a new outdoor living space?
- Do you want some raised garden beds around your home or property?
Topscape Landscaping is a landscaping contractor serving Moline, IL. We specialize in designing and building functional retaining walls for property owners looking to landscape their naturally sloped property. From a 30′ foot long stacked block retaining wall to hold back earth around the edge of your home to larger, more complicated, retaining walls for your terraced property. The team at Topscape Landscaping will be able to provide you with a retaining wall solution that will benefit your specific property.
Construction Of New Retaining Walls
We specialize in the construction of new segmented retaining walls. The benefits to segmented retaining walls are many. Segmented retaining walls are aesthetically pleasing, they offer design flexibility, they are economical, easier to install, and durable.
They are also pre-engineered, meaning the wall can be built to your project specifications without having to have an architect or engineer design the wall itself. We can build the wall to the engineering specifications and have a qualified engineer sign off on the project if the height or size of the wall requires it.
Retaining Walls & Building Permits in Moline, IL
In most of Rock Island County (your municipality could be different) retaining walls that are under 3 feet in height generally do not require permits or design plans. There are some specifics that may or may not apply to your situation. If the retaining wall is 3 feet in height or over than a permit is generally required. Any retaining walls over 6 feet in height will require a permit and additionally an engineered design to ensure the structure is sound. This information does not account for any covenants that might be on your property.
When we view your property we’ll be able to let you know any specific building codes that might apply to your circumstance depending on the height/length of your wall and what it’s specifically being installed for and whatever surcharges (weight) might be applied to the soil above and behind the wall.
Proper Drainage For Your Retaining Wall
We are often contacted by potential customers who have an existing retaining wall that has failed, it’s either falling down, bulging, or collapsing. One of the most common reasons for retaining wall failure is that the original wall was built with poor drainage in place. Retaining walls are designed to hold back earth from erosion. This also makes them excellent at holding back water too. The water that builds up behind a retaining wall is referred to in the industry as “hydrostatic pressure” and the external force of the soil or fill held behind your retaining wall coupled with the weight of the water held behind it is often enough to seriously compromise the integrity of your wall which can lead to failures such as bulging and even a total collapse.
Any well-built retaining wall must incorporate good drainage if it’s going to last for many years. Depending on the type of material being used to build your retaining wall there are a variety of ways to integrate sufficient drainage such as lateral drains, french drains, weeping drains, blanket drains and also the use of very granular soil or fill behind the wall can also to disperse rather than hold the water.
Understanding Retaining Wall Surcharges
A "surcharge" when it comes to a retaining wall is the weight on top of or behind the wall. For example, if you're building a retaining wall to create a new parking area for a boat or an RV we need to consider the weight of the boat or RV and it's impact on the retaining wall.
If your wall is going to have a surcharge it must be built with this in mind if it's going to last. This would also include tiered retaining walls or retaining walls with a fence on top or any other weight other than the earth it's holding back.
Geo-grid is often used to provide extra tensile strength to each course of your retaining wall so it's anchored to the ground behind it. Proper use of geo-grid will ensure that your retaining wall will be built to last and won't collapse or buckle under the excess weight.
Failure to properly stabilize retaining walls is another very common failure.
What Materials Do We Use For Retaining Walls?
There are many different materials to build your retaining wall out of. Below are some of the more popular materials in our area because of their availability.
- Block retaining walls
- Timber retaining walls
- Fieldstone retaining walls
- Brick retaining walls
- Natural stone retaining walls
How Our Retaining Wall Construction Process Works
When building a retaining wall on your property that is designed to hold back soil and earth from erosion there is very little margin for error so when required we work directly with engineers if your wall is over 6 feet in height. There are many pre-engineered systems we can use as well that can eliminate the need for detailed building plans.
- We start with our initial consultation.
- We determine how many feet of retaining wall you need.
- We determine the height of the wall and if a building permit or engineer will be required.
- We take into account any surcharges (weight) the wall might be exposed to.
- We consult with you on the materials you’d like your retaining built with.
- We’ll provide you with an accurate written estimate for the work.
The amount of work required to build a retaining wall can vary widely from project to project. The slope of your property, the amount of earth your retaining wall must hold back and the overall accessibility of your property will all contribute to the final cost. We’ll be able to offer you an accurate estimate only after a site visit.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation for your retaining wall construction project please give us a call (309) 749-7696 or fill out our online contact form and we’ll get back to you right away.
What Does It Cost To Build Retaining Walls?
Retaining walls can vary in price depending on the size, scope, length, height, and the materials chosen. Larger walls will need to be engineered which can add to the cost.
Smaller Garden Walls
$3000 - $5000
This would be for a small garden wall (under 2 feet high) to surround a small garden or to surround a small landscaping bed.
Medium Sized Walls
$10,000 - $25,000
This would be for a medium sized wall up to 4 feet high. Installed with drainage and geo-grid so it lasts.
Large Retaining Walls
$30,000 - $100,000+
This would be a ballpark cost for a very large or tiered retaining wall or multiple wall with courses that are 4 feet or higher
Retaining Wall Projects Can Include
A beautiful retaining wall isn't just for looks. They have an important job to do. Whether we're building a brand new retaining wall or replacing an existing retaining wall that has failed, there are a number of things we do.
These prices do not include stairs. If you need stairs built within your retaining wall there will be an additional cost. These price ranges are for a typical wall built using readily available landscape block. There are a wide variety of styles and patterns available and we'll be able to provide you with a selection during our consultation. The price can vary significantly depending on the specific material you choose.
These prices are ball park figures to give you a rough idea as to what you should expect. Your particular project may vary depending on site accessibility, materials chosen, and the overall scope of work. If you need a firm price please request a consultation so we can view your potential project, listen to your ideas, and determine the actual scope of work required to complete your project. After our on-site consultation we'll be able to provide you with a firm estimate to complete your project.
Retaining Wall Repair Or Replacement
We specialize in rebuilding retaining walls that have failed and/or collapsed.
Retaining Wall Repairs
It's pretty common for us to get called out to repair an existing retaining wall that has collapsed or failed in some way. This could be an old wood retaining wall that is rotting away and falling apart or a block wall that is bulging or on the verge of collapse if it has not collapsed already.
In most cases, we do not recommend repairing retaining walls that have failed. This is because the failure is often due to poor construction or the use of inadequate materials. Instead, we suggest tearing the wall out and replacing it. While this may seem like a more costly option, it is generally the most cost-effective solution in the long run. By replacing the wall, you can ensure that it is built to high standards using quality materials that will last. Our experienced team can help you choose the right materials and design a wall that will meet your needs and budget. If you're unsure whether your retaining wall needs to be replaced, we can provide a thorough evaluation and recommend the best course of action.
Rebuilding Failed Retaining Walls
If your existing retaining wall has failed and needs to be replaced it's usually more cost effective to demolish the old wall, remove the materials, re-excavate the site, install a proper base, geo-grid if necessary, install drainage, and build the retaining wall properly. This will ensure you get a wall that lasts for many years.
We specialize in rebuilding retaining walls that have failed and would be happy to provide you with a consultation if you have a wall that you believe needs to be replaced.
I had let my yard get a bit out of control so I contacted Topscape Landscaping to come do a fall clean up to get it back in order. I was very impressed in all aspects, from the initial response to get a quote, to the quality of work and the speed with which they got it done. Everyone has been friendly and professional and skilled. What more could you ask for?
Topscape replaced our old railroad tie retaining wall. It was incredibly reasonable pricing and Giovanni was excellent with communication. When they started work, they completed everything in a timely manner, even repairing the steps between the walls that wasn't part of the bid, and thoroughly cleaning the driveway and street of dirt and gravel. We highly recommend Topscape!
Great company, easy to work with and flexible, very reasonable pricing and the work looks great. Please see the before and after pics. I will be recommending to others and using their services in the future.
They did an AWESOME job. We couldn't be happier. They provided an estimate ON THE SPOT! We didn't have to wait a week for just an estimate. Our job had its challenges due to current patio that was there and had to be taken out, but they made it look beautiful. They were very meticulous. The workers were prompt and friendly. Cleanup was awesome. Can't say enough good thinks about them.
This company did a great job transforming my jungle of the backyard into something I can enjoy again.
Very impressed with communication, promptness, pricing, and quality work. Highly recommend.
Choose The Right Retaining Wall Builder
Building a retaining wall isn't rocket science but it must be done right if you want the retaining wall to last!
You Want A Beautiful New Retaining Wall...?
There are literally hundreds of landscaping contractors you could choose from throughout our area to design and build your retaining wall. They range from small one man show type businesses to very large companies with lots of overhead.
Somewhere in the middle is the contractor that's probably best suited for your retaining wall construction project. That's us at Topscape Landscaping! Finding a landscaping contractor you can trust to take your vision and transform it from a beautiful design concept into reality is your ultimate goal.
You're not just hiring a landscaper. You're hiring someone to improve your property. It's an important distinction.
What Should You Consider When Hiring A Contractor To Build Your Retaining Wall?
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out who to hire to design and build your new retaining wall. To make things easier when trying to determine who the right landscaping contractor is for your project, start with these questions.
Do they specialize in building retaining walls of the same scope and scale of the project you have envisioned for your property? If yes, how long have they been in business?
Do they have great reviews from other homeowners who've hired them to design and build their retaining walls?
Do they offer any type of workmanship warranty or any after sales service if there is ever a problem with your new wall?
Do they have photos and references of the work they are capable of doing?
