Retaining wall installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering retaining wall installation

Retaining walls are judged on whether they stay straight after the first wet season, so customers trust the pros who design for drainage and soil pressure. Win the job by showing you check the soil, the base and the water before you propose a wall.

What customers ask

  • Will the wall hold the slope, and how do you know?
  • Do I need an engineer, and who will sign the plans?
  • What will keep the wall from leaning in a wet season?
  • Can you build it around my tree roots or utilities?
  • How long will the wall last, and what maintenance does it need?
  • What does the permit process involve for this wall?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask how tall the slope is, what is on top of it and below it, and whether there have been any slides or cracks.
  • On site, check the soil, the water flow and any buried lines, and dig a test hole to see what the footing will sit on.
  • Tell the customer whether the wall needs an engineer and who will provide the design, and put that in the quote.
  • Show a section drawing of the drainage behind the wall, including the stone, pipe and outlet, so the customer sees the water plan.
  • In the quote, list the base, the reinforcement, the drainage and the backfill separately, so the scope is clear.
  • Give a maintenance note with the wall's drainage and the top course, written in plain words for the customer.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of the wall during construction showing the base, drainage stone and geogrid layers
  • Finished wall photos from the top and the bottom, with the cap and grading visible
  • Block, stone and timber types you build with, and wall heights you have completed
  • Your service area and whether you also handle drainage, grading and permit work for walls

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a check of the wall after the first wet season to confirm the drainage is working
  • Suggest a drainage upgrade or gutter outlet if water is still running toward the wall
  • Mention a landscaping or planting plan above the wall as information, if the customer is planning the upper area

Licenses and permits

Retaining wall work is commonly done under a contractor license in many areas, and taller walls often need an engineered design and a permit. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What do I do when the customer wants a taller wall than the site allows?

Tell the customer that the taller wall needs an engineered design, and that the design may change the height, the material or the drainage. Put the limit in writing and offer a design step before any digging.

Should I put a warranty on the wall?

Warranty your workmanship on the base, the drainage and the placement, and state clearly that soil movement and water problems outside your scope are not covered. Keep the design and the inspection records with the warranty.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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