Retaining Wall Installation in Naperville

A retaining wall holds back soil on a slope or creates a level area in a sloped yard. What makes one last is what you can't see: the base under it and the drainage behind it.

Why walls fail

Retaining walls usually fail from water and frost, not from the look of the face. Water that builds up behind a wall pushes on it, and freezing and thawing in northern Illinois heaves a poorly built base. A good wall has a compacted gravel foundation, a drainage layer and perforated pipe behind the blocks, and in taller walls reinforcement that ties the wall back into the soil.

Common wall types

• Segmental concrete block, the most common choice for residential yards
• Natural stone for a more traditional look
• Boulder walls for informal, low slopes

Height and permits

Walls taller than about four feet generally need engineered design and a permit, and many municipalities review walls of any height that affect drainage or sit near a property line. Check your local requirements early.