Retaining wall construction in Odessa TX - a wall that holds the soil and drains
Slope washing into the yard or an old wall leaning out? We build a wall that holds the soil and lets the water out.
What goes into building a retaining wall in Odessa?
Retaining wall construction in Odessa, TX means building a wall that holds back soil, so a slope stops creeping into your yard, driveway or patio and you get level ground you can use.
Most folks call when a bank keeps sliding after a hard rain, a flower bed is washing out, or an old wall has started to lean. The price moves with how long and tall the wall is, what it's built from, whether it curves and whether an old wall has to come out first. The schedule turns mostly on what happens before any building starts, such as whether the wall needs an engineered design, any permit step and getting the underground lines marked. When I come out, I write up what I think is going on with your slope and what we'd do about it, and that's where your own figure comes from.
What happens after you call us about a retaining wall?
Call or send the form
Tell us roughly how long and tall the wall needs to be, and send a few photos of the slope if you can. We'll set a time for me to come out.
I walk the slope with you
I look at where the soil and water are headed and ask what you've noticed after a hard rain. Then I write up an estimate that says what I think is causing the problem and what we'd build, so you can see what's in the price.
We sort out permits and lines
Once the design is settled, we check with the city or county office that covers your address, handle any permit application and tell you where it stands before work starts. We also have the underground lines marked through the 8-1-1 Call Before You Dig service, which takes a few days, so we build that into the start date.
Build, clean up and walk through
My crew and I build the wall, clean up the site and walk it with you at the end. I'll show you where the water gets out so you know what to keep an eye on.
How we build a retaining wall, and the work that often goes with it
Before anybody digs, I sit down with you and sort out whether the wall needs an engineered design, because one block maker's installation guide says to check the local code rules on a wall of any size first, and when engineering is needed, the approved plans get followed to the letter. Next comes the water, since how it gets out from behind the wall is part of the plan from the start and isn't something we tack on at the end. For most slopes I lean toward a segmental block wall, which is concrete units stacked without mortar that hold the soil mostly by their own weight, and because they're dry stacked, water drains out through the face instead of building up behind them. Some designs also run layers of soil reinforcement back into the fill to add width and weight, so that's worth asking about on any plan you're comparing. Once the lines are marked, we dig out, set the base, stack and backfill the wall, and clean up.
Sometimes the slope isn't the only thing in the yard that needs attention. If there's an older brick or stone wall nearby that's sound but worn, masonry restoration can bring it back without tearing it out. And once a slope turns into level ground, some folks want a spot to sit by a fire, which is where fireplace installation comes in.
Get a written retaining wall estimate for your slope
We reply within one business day, and then I come out, look at the slope and write up a free estimate on site, with no pressure and no obligation. If you have the wall's rough length and height and a few photos of the slope, send them along with the form.
Retaining wall questions from Odessa homeowners
What does a retaining wall cost in Odessa, TX?
An installed poured concrete retaining wall in Odessa usually costs about $33 to $36 per square foot. That range leaves out removing an old wall, decorative concrete, curved walls, brick, walls taller than 3 ft and yards with challenging soil, so any of those adds to it. Material moves the price too, and in nearby Midland prices vary with whether the wall is boulders, stone, wood, concrete, interlocking block or railroad ties.
Who issues permits for a retaining wall in Odessa?
The City of Odessa Building Inspections Division issues permits and inspects all construction projects for code compliance. Where the wall sits on your lot matters too, because construction in a special flood hazard area needs a Flood Hazard permit from Public Works at City Hall, and work in the public right-of-way along the street needs a permit from Odessa Public Works. We're fully licensed and insured, and I'll tell you which of these your lot touches once I've seen it.
How long does a wood retaining wall last?
Pressure-treated pine or fir rated for ground contact can last up to 40 years, while western red cedar or redwood lasts about 20. If you want wood, the treated pine or fir rated for ground contact is the one that gives you the longer life.
Can a leaning retaining wall be fixed?
Usually not. Once a wall bows or leans, taking it down and rebuilding it with drainage built in tends to work better than a repair. I'll still look closely before anything comes down, because I'd rather know why it moved than guess.
How long does it take to build a block retaining wall?
The building itself often goes quickly, since one industry design manual says an experienced crew of three or four typically builds 300 to 500 square feet of block wall a day. Most of the calendar time goes to what comes first, which is the design check, any permit step and the line marking, and I'll talk that through with you when I come out.
How do I maintain a retaining wall?
Keep the weep holes, the small openings that let the wall drain, clear, and check now and then for shifting, bulging or cracking. Pull plants growing on or right next to the wall, and fill in any erosion at the base before it spreads.
Other masonry work around your yard
Masonry restoration
Old brick or stone that's crumbling, stained or missing mortar can often be brought back, which keeps the character of a wall or house you'd rather not replace.
Fireplace installation
If you're adding a patio on new level ground or want a fire inside the house, we build fireplaces that draw well and suit the space around them.
Send us photos of your slope
Call (432) 280-0058 or use the form, because a slope that's already shedding soil usually loses a little more with every hard rain.