Home › Concrete Retaining Walls
We construct concrete retaining walls in St Louis, MO to stabilize slopes, prevent erosion, and add structure to your landscaping. Our retaining wall solutions include cast in place concrete walls and decorative faced options that blend with your yard. We design each concrete retaining wall for proper drainage and long term performance.
St. Louis Concreters provides professional concrete retaining wall throughout St Louis, MO, Missouri and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (314) 207-8572 or request your free quote.
Concrete Retaining Walls Built for St. Louis Slopes and Soils
Concrete retaining walls in St. Louis are not just for looks. They control erosion on our hilly city lots, hold back raised driveways, and keep older foundations from being exposed as yards settle. At St. Louis Concreters, we build concrete retaining walls that are sized and reinforced for the clay-heavy soils and freeze-thaw cycles that are common across the metro area.
Many of the homes we work on are older brick houses in South City, mid‑century ranches in North County, and newer builds in St. Charles and West County. Each of these areas has different grading patterns and drainage issues. On a narrow South City lot, we often build a thinner, steel-reinforced wall that maximizes yard space and ties into an existing alley or parking pad. In the suburbs, we might build a taller stepped wall to carve out a flat backyard from a sloping lot.
When you ask us to look at your property, we walk the yard, check slopes with a level, note downspout locations, and look for existing cracks or sinkholes. That tells us what kind of concrete retaining wall will actually work on your site, not just what looks good in a brochure. We explain what height is safe without engineering, when a wall needs a structural design or permit from your local municipality, and where drains and outlets will go so water does not end up in your basement.
Types of Concrete Retaining Walls and Finish Options
Most of the retaining walls we build in St. Louis fall into three main concrete types: poured-in-place, concrete block with core fill, and concrete with a decorative face.
Poured-in-place concrete retaining walls are the strongest and cleanest looking. We set up forms, place steel rebar in a grid, and pour concrete in one or two lifts depending on the height. These walls are good for tight spaces behind city garages, property line walls, or where you want a simple smooth finish that can be painted or left natural.
Concrete block retaining walls use solid or hollow concrete units stacked on a footing. For structural strength, we insert rebar vertically in the block cores and pour concrete into those cores, then tie that steel into the footing. This style works well where we need a segmental look or where curves are needed around patios, gardens, or around walkout basements.
For customers who want an upgraded look, we often combine a structural concrete wall with a decorative veneer. That can be stone-faced concrete, colored and stamped concrete, or a broom-finished wall with a formed stone cap. In many older neighborhoods near the city, we match the look of limestone or brick retaining walls using modern concrete systems so you keep the historic feel but gain modern stability and drainage.
During the estimate, St. Louis Concreters will show you sample finishes and discuss pros and cons. Smooth or broom-finished walls are lower cost and easy to maintain. Decorative or stamped concrete costs more upfront but can blend better with patios, drives, and existing masonry on your home.
How We Build a Concrete Retaining Wall, Step by Step
A reliable concrete retaining wall starts under the ground. The first step is layout. We mark the proposed wall line with paint and stakes, then confirm property lines if the wall is going near a neighbor’s yard or alley. Once the line is set, we excavate to the required depth for the footing, usually below frost depth for taller walls so frost heave is not an issue.
Next we install the base and footing. We place and compact a layer of crushed rock to give the concrete a stable, drained base. Then we build footing forms and install rebar. In St. Louis clay, footing width and thickness are critical, since clay can swell and shrink with moisture. We size the footing based on wall height, soil conditions, and any surcharge loads like driveways or parked vehicles above the wall.
After the footing concrete cures, we build forms for a poured wall or start laying block for a block wall. Rebar is tied into the footing and runs through the wall in a vertical and horizontal pattern. This steel is what keeps the wall from bowing or cracking when the soil pushes against it, especially when saturated after heavy St. Louis rains.
Drainage is the next key step. Behind the wall, we install perforated drain pipe (French drain) at the base, wrap it with fabric, and backfill with clean rock. We also add weep holes or outlets so water has a way out. Without this drainage, hydrostatic pressure builds up behind the wall and even a thick wall can fail over time. Finally, we backfill with soil, compact in layers, and grade the surface so water runs away from the wall and nearby structures.
Throughout the process, St. Louis Concreters keeps access and your daily routine in mind. On tight city lots we often bring in smaller equipment or hand-dig sections to avoid damage to existing landscaping, fences, and garages.
What Affects the Cost of a Concrete Retaining Wall in St. Louis
Concrete retaining wall prices in St. Louis vary a lot because every yard is different. The biggest drivers of cost are height, length, access, soil conditions, and what is above the wall.
Height and length are straightforward. A 2‑foot garden wall behind a bungalow costs far less than an 8‑foot structural wall holding up a driveway in Clifton Heights. Taller walls require larger footings, more steel, and often engineering, which adds time and materials.
Access also matters. On some South City properties, we only have a narrow alley or a side yard to work with. That can mean smaller machines, more hand work, and sometimes staged concrete deliveries, which affects labor cost. In open suburban lots with easy truck access, costs per foot can be lower because we can work faster and more efficiently.
Soil conditions and drainage issues are another factor. If we hit soft spots, old buried debris, or unstable fill dirt (common behind older garages and in some North City rehabs), we may need to over‑excavate and install more rock or a wider footing. If water is already a problem, we might tie wall drainage into a yard drain or dry well to keep water away from your foundation, which adds material but prevents much bigger problems later.
Finish level affects budget too. A plain structural wall with a simple broom finish is the budget‑friendly option. Decorative faces, colored concrete, custom caps, or integrated stairs raise the price but may add value and usability to your outdoor space. St. Louis Concreters always breaks these options out so you can see where every dollar goes.
What St. Louis Homeowners Should Check Before Hiring
Before you hire anyone to build a concrete retaining wall, there are a few local details that are important to understand. First, height and location rules. Many St. Louis area cities require permits or engineering for walls above a certain height, often around 3 to 4 feet. If the wall is near a public sidewalk, street, or neighbor’s property, there may be extra rules. St. Louis Concreters can help you sort out which permits or drawings are needed for your address.
Second, ask exactly how drainage will be handled. Any contractor who talks about a retaining wall but does not mention drain pipe, gravel backfill, and outlet locations is skipping the most important part. Given the heavy storms we get, poor drainage is the number one cause of wall failure in our area.
Third, check how the footing and reinforcement will be built. Ask to see a basic sketch that shows footing depth and width, rebar spacing, and wall thickness. The answers should change if you tell them the wall will hold up a parking pad, pool deck, or heavy landscaping. One design does not fit every situation.
Finally, look for a contractor who has worked on properties like yours. A crew that only does new construction may not be prepared for the tight access and surprises that come with 100‑year‑old city homes or rehabs. St. Louis Concreters spends most of our time on existing homes and small commercial sites, so we are used to tying new walls into old structures, navigating alleys, and protecting neighboring buildings and fences.
If you need a concrete retaining wall anywhere in the St. Louis, Missouri area, we are ready to walk the site with you, explain your options in plain language, and give you a clear, written plan before any work starts.
