Block instead of timber
Concrete block resists cracking, and unlike treated timbers or railroad ties it resists splintering and rot, so it's the usual pick when an old timber wall has given out.
Retaining wall construction in Fresno CA - a wall that stays straight and drains
Soil sliding into your yard or a wall leaning out? We build retaining walls with drainage planned in, so the slope stays where it belongs.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What a retaining wall does for your yard
Mastercraft Fresno Concrete and Masonry builds retaining walls in Fresno and the cities around it. A retaining wall holds back a slope so you get level ground you can use, and the stone packed behind it lets water drain away instead of pushing on the wall.
Most calls start with dirt washing off a slope onto a patio after rain, or an old timber or block wall that's started to lean. The price turns on the wall's height and length, the material, whether it curves, how hard the soil is to dig and whether an old wall has to come out first. The schedule mostly turns on permits and what we find once we dig, so I come out, look at the slope and give you a written price for your wall.
Known for walls that stay straight
Before I went out on my own in 2013, I ran crews on large commercial block jobs in Fresno. That work taught me a wall is won or lost in the footing and the prep.
I write the estimate myself
I come out, look at the slope and put the price in writing. Our own crew builds the wall, with a lead mason running the job on site.
A straight answer on size
If a shorter wall or a repair will do the job, I'll tell you so rather than sell you a bigger one. Either way, it's satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
How we build a retaining wall, step by step
Most retaining walls that fail lose the fight with the water behind them, so I plan the drainage into the wall from the first sketch. I start by measuring the height and length, checking what sits above the wall and looking at where water runs, and if the height or the site calls for an engineer, I'll tell you up front. Our crew digs out, packs a solid base for the footing and sets the first course dead level, because any lean there shows all the way up. Then we build course by course with drainage stone and a pipe behind the block, backfill in layers and pack each one, and clean up before we leave.
Not every yard needs a new wall. If you already have an older brick or stone wall that's sound but worn, masonry restoration can bring it back, and we can look at both options at the estimate. A new wall often opens up flat ground for a patio, and if you want a fireplace out there or in the house, our fireplace installation work starts with the same attention to the footing.
Choosing a wall for your slope and soil
Reinforced block for taller walls
Taller walls, walls with a driveway above them and walls on poor soil usually get grid reinforcement, mesh laid back into the soil between courses so block and earth work as one heavy mass.
Stone where it's on show
Natural stone suits a front yard or garden wall that people see every day. It still gets the same footing and drainage behind it, because the soil pushes just as hard.
Hardpan and wet winters here
Where a lot sits on Fresno soils, a sandy clay over hardpan of cemented lime and silica, water moves slowly and pools in wet winters, so drainage stone behind the wall matters more.
Get a written price for your retaining wall
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the slope and give you the price in writing, free and with no obligation.
Rough length and height
A tape-measure guess is plenty. Height matters most, because it decides the kind of wall and whether permit and engineering questions come into it.
Photos of the slope
Send a few pictures of the slope, the old wall if there is one and anything sitting above it, like a driveway or a shed, so I come out prepared.
Any water trouble
Tell us if water pools, runs over the slope or soaks the ground after rain, since that changes how much drainage stone and pipe the wall needs.
Retaining wall and masonry examples
Block, stone and poured walls, straight and curved, with different caps and finishes, to help you picture what fits your yard.
Common questions about retaining walls in Fresno
Straight answers on cost, permits, engineering, licensing and how long a retaining wall takes to build around Fresno.
How much does a retaining wall cost in Fresno?
Retaining wall construction in Fresno usually costs about $20 to $55 per square foot of wall face, the side you see standing in the yard. Height, material, curves, hard digging and tearing out an old wall all push it toward the high end. I'll give you your own price in writing once I've seen the slope.
Does a short retaining wall need a permit in Fresno County?
The County of Fresno requires a permit for any structure except a retaining wall 4 feet or less, measured from the footing to the top, that isn't holding up extra load like a driveway above it. Inside Fresno city limits, I'll check what the city needs. When a wall needs a permit, we file it and handle the paperwork.
Does a retaining wall under 4 feet tall need an engineer?
It can. One block maker's guide says the 4-foot mark people go by is only a rule of thumb that assumes the best case, so a short wall on a less than ideal site can still need a soils engineer. A final design can also call for experts on water, soil strength and settlement. If yours needs one, I'll tell you at the estimate.
How long does it take to build a retaining wall in Fresno?
The wall itself usually goes up fast once the ground is ready. One industry manual says an experienced crew of three or four typically builds 300 to 500 square feet of wall a day. More of the calendar goes to permits and the 8-1-1 call, the service that marks underground utilities a few days before anyone digs.
Do I need a licensed contractor to build a retaining wall in California?
Yes, once the job is worth $1000 or more in labor and materials combined. California requires anyone contracting for that much work to hold a current license from the Contractors State License Board. We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about it at the estimate.
Tell us about your slope today
We're open until 9 PM every day, so you can call (559) 319-0148 after work or send the form with photos of your slope.