Concrete retaining walls in Duarte CA - a wall that holds the slope and drains

A concrete retaining wall in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $12 to $35 per square foot. Short, simple walls on easy ground sit toward the low end, while tall walls with deeper footings, more steel, full drainage and tight access push toward the high end. Every job we do is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.

Usually it's water trapped behind the wall with nowhere to drain. That trapped water can greatly increase the load on the wall as well as push through as leaks, so a wall that's built well but drained badly can still lean. Stains or damp at the base are worth a look before the next rainy season.

Duarte's Building & Safety Division handles plan check and permits, and the city says plans must be prepared and submitted before any building related construction or installation happens. Plans go in at the Community Development Department counter, not online or by email, and some are approved over the counter while others get a detailed check. Setbacks, fences and hillside standards sit in the city's Development Code, so it's worth checking your wall's spot with the Planning Division, and California's earthquake hazard maps also feed into permit decisions. Which walls need a permit is a question for Building & Safety, and we check it for your address before we schedule.

Often, yes. One industry design manual says segmental walls typically cost less than conventional poured-in-place concrete walls. If cost is driving the choice, it's fair to get a price on both kinds before you decide.

Keep the drainage working and don't change what the wall was designed for. Weep holes, the small drain openings in the face, can clog with plants, debris or settling soil, so check now and then that they're clear and look for ponding or seepage along the face. Changing the backfill, adding a driveway near the wall or letting water build up behind it can undo the design even when the concrete is strong, so call before you build next to it.

In most cases, yes, because the state's small-job exemption only covers work up to $1,000 that needs no permit, done by someone who employs no one. California's contractor licensing board defines a concrete contractor as one who forms, pours, places, finishes and installs concrete work. We're fully licensed and insured.