Concrete retaining walls in Garden City KS - a wall that drains and stays put
Leaning, cracking or water pooling behind your wall? We build concrete retaining walls with drainage planned in from the first dig.
A concrete retaining wall holds back soil where your Garden City yard steps down, and most of what keeps it standing ends up buried behind it. Water trapped back there with no way out can lean, crack or slide a wall, and freezing makes it worse. That's usually why people call us. So we build the drainage in from the start.
Price comes down to the wall's length and height, how much digging it takes and how much drainage your ground needs. The schedule mostly turns on the permit and the utility locates. Low spots around Garden City that catch runoff are often clayey and slow to drain, and one drainage guide says clay needs more stone and a reliable outlet, so the drainage gets bigger in the plan and the price. Your estimate spells out what we'll do.
How we build a concrete retaining wall
- Drainage listed in the estimate. We build in clean crushed stone, filter fabric, a perforated drain pipe and an outlet or weep holes, small openings where water leaves, and your estimate lists each one.
- The planner is at the pour. I don't hand the job off after the estimate, because our crew does the work with me on site and I can catch a problem during the dig.
- Since 2013, water first. We've been in business since 2013. Before that I spent years patching rental walks and steps, and that taught me most trouble starts underneath or with water.
- Licensed and insured in Garden City. Garden City licenses concrete contractors and asks them for at least $500,000 in general liability coverage. We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask for proof.
- Questions before we pour. I'd rather answer the same question twice than have you guess, so call (620) 315-5440 or send us the details and I'll come take a look.
What goes wrong with retaining walls
| Problem | What it looks like | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wall leaning out | What it looks like: The top tipping toward the yard, or a gap opening behind it | Usual fix: Usually a rebuild from the base |
| Cracks through the face | What it looks like: New cracks running up or across the wall after storms | Usual fix: Find the trapped water, and rebuild if it has moved |
| Base pushed out | What it looks like: The bottom of the wall shoved forward past where it sat | Usual fix: A new wall with drainage from the start |
| Soggy ground at the base | What it looks like: Soft, wet soil or new staining near the wall after rain | Usual fix: Check the drain pipe and outlet for a blockage |
Clear it, rebuild it or start new
- Clear and keep up. If the wall still stands straight, getting water flowing out of it again may be all it needs. I'll check that first.
- Rebuild from the base. If your wall leans or has cracked from moving, new drainage won't pull it back, so it usually needs a rebuild from the base. I'll tell you plainly.
- New wall. When you're holding a slope for the first time, it's the easiest time to get drainage right, since nobody has to dig out a finished wall to fix it.
How a retaining wall job runs
- You call, I come out. You call, and I come out to look at the wall, the slope and where the water runs, and ask what you want from it.
- A plain estimate. You get an estimate that spells out what we'll do, and I'm glad to go over it twice so you know what you're paying for.
- Permit and locates. When your wall needs a city permit, we pull it or help you apply yourself, and we settle who's calling in the utility locates before anyone digs.
- Dig, drain, pour. Our crew digs out, builds the drainage and pours the wall, then lets it cure, the wait concrete needs to harden before soil goes back against it.
- Walk it together. We walk the finished wall with you, show you where the water comes out and go over how to care for it.
Keeping your retaining wall draining after we leave
A wall stays sound as long as water can get out from behind it. Keep leaves, mulch and soil cleared off the base so the weep holes stay open, and point downspouts away from the wall so roof water doesn't run straight in behind it.
Homeowners, landlords and small business owners in Garden City and the cities around it call us for walls, concrete pool decks and concrete floor installation. If you've got a slope that needs holding, ask us for a free estimate and I'll come take a look.
Tell us about your wall
Send the wall's location and photos of any leaning, cracking or soft ground. We'll reply within one business day and set a time for me to come out.
(620) 315-5440- Free on-site estimate
- No obligation
- Each drainage part listed
Questions about retaining walls
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Garden City?
Poured concrete retaining wall installation in Garden City usually costs about $32 to $35 per square foot. That's the going rate around here, not our quote, and a clayey site that needs more drainage can push yours higher. We'll measure your wall on site and price it from there.
Will a new retaining wall in Garden City crack or lean like my old one?
It's much less likely when the water behind it has a way out, because trapped water is what usually leans, cracks or slides a wall. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you skip a fancy finish than cut drainage stone, since the face can be redone later and buried drainage can't.
Who handles retaining wall permits and inspections in Garden City and Finney County?
The city's Building Inspections Division reviews, inspects and approves construction in Garden City, Holcomb and Finney County, so owners outside city limits deal with the same office. Ask them about your wall at 620-276-1120 or gcpermits@gardencityks.us. We'll pull the permit when your job needs one, or help you through it.
What should I check on my retaining wall after heavy rain?
Look for water coming out of the outlet pipe or weep holes, which means the drainage is working. Also watch for new staining, cracks, leaning or soft ground near the wall, and if you spot any, give us a call and I'll come look.