Retaining Walls

Retaining wall failures make the news because they're dramatic and expensive. Walls that collapse during rain events, lean progressively over time, or develop dangerous cracks often trace back to inadequate engineering, poor drainage design, or construction shortcuts. We build walls that don't fail.

DeSoto Concrete Contractors constructs retaining walls engineered for actual site conditions. We work with geotechnical engineers to understand soil pressures, drainage requirements, and loading conditions before designing wall systems. This engineering approach costs more than eyeballing a wall, but the walls perform.

Retaining wall systems we construct:

• Cast-in-place concrete walls - Traditional reinforced concrete for large grade changes or heavy loads
• Segmental block walls - Modular systems for lower walls with aesthetic flexibility
• Gravity walls - Mass concrete systems for specific applications
• Cantilever walls - Efficient designs for moderate height applications
• Tiered wall systems - Multiple smaller walls for very large grade changes
• Gabion walls - Stone-filled wire baskets for naturalistic applications

Beyond the wall itself, we design and install the drainage systems that keep walls functional. Water is the enemy of retaining walls - it increases soil pressure, undermines foundations, and saturates backfill. Our walls include proper drainage that prevents water-related failures.

For commercial properties, retaining walls often serve multiple purposes: creating level building pads, enabling parking construction on sloped sites, managing stormwater, or enhancing landscaping. We coordinate wall construction with overall site development.