Service
Concrete block
Retaining walls: building, repair and upkeep
A wall that leans, cracks or gives way is not just a cosmetic problem. It is a safety problem. We build and repair walls that hold, on a proper footing with proper drainage.
What you are seeing
Is your wall leaning? Are cracks appearing? Are blocks shifting out of line? Does the wall look like it is being pushed forward? Those are signs that the footing, the drainage, or soil pressure is the problem.
What causes it
A wall that leans or cracks is usually caused by insufficient drainage (water pressure pushing the wall), a footing that is too shallow, unstable soil, or a wall height that the base was never built for.
The movement is rarely even. One section drops, another stays put, and the blocks stop bearing on each other the way they should. That is the point where a wall goes from a looks problem to a safety problem.
What we do
We work out what is causing the movement. If it is drainage, we correct the drainage. If it is the footing, we rebuild on a stronger base.
We do not simply straighten the wall - we fix what is moving it. A wall straightened over an unchanged footing will lean again.
What the work can include
- Dismantling the affected section
- Excavating and rebuilding the footing
- Installing or correcting drainage behind the wall
- Clean stone and geotextile fabric
- Resetting the blocks, aligned and level
- Resetting the cap course
- Backfill, grading and clean-up
Types of wall
- Retaining walls
- Decorative walls
- Seat walls
- Planters and raised beds
- Walls along a driveway
How it goes
- 01
Assessment
We look at the wall, the grade and where water goes, and identify what is causing the movement.
- 02
Excavation
We take down the affected section to see what is behind and beneath it.
- 03
Footing
We prepare or reinforce the base - it decides how long the wall lasts.
- 04
Drainage
We install or correct the drainage: clean stone and fabric, so water drains instead of pushing.
- 05
Rebuild
We rebuild the wall, level and aligned, and set the cap course.
- 06
Finish
We backfill, clean up, check the work and stand behind it.
Our projects
See all projects- Retaining walls
- Retaining walls
- Retaining walls
What our customers say
Mes marches n’étaient plus sécuritaires, heureusement Oasis Construction sont venus remettre le tout comme neuf.
David Travail propre, rapide et très professionnel. Le résultat dépasse nos attentes, je recommande sans hésiter.
William
What affects the price
The cost of a wall depends on several things:
- The length and height of the wall
- The material (block, natural stone)
- The condition of the existing footing
- How much drainage work is needed
- Access for machinery and materials
- Whether it is a repair or a new build
Free on-site assessment for an accurate quote. A wall cannot be priced without seeing what it is holding back.
Service areas
A lot of North Shore lots are sloped and held by a block wall built fifteen or twenty years ago. Frost, water and soil pressure eventually get the better of the footing. It is one of the jobs we redo most often in the area.
Service areasFrequently asked questions
Not necessarily. If drainage is the cause, we can often correct the drainage and reset the wall. If the footing is the problem, a partial rebuild may be needed. We will tell you what we see after the assessment.
The height allowed without a permit varies from one North Shore municipality to the next, and the rules differ depending on whether the wall is in the front yard, the back yard, or near a property line. Check with your city before starting - theirs is the answer that counts. We can tell you what is usually asked for the kind of wall you have in mind.
Because soil is not what pushes hardest on a retaining wall - the water held in it is. A layer of clean stone wrapped in fabric lets water drop and exit at the base of the wall instead of collecting behind it and freezing. It is the part of the wall nobody ever sees, and it decides whether the wall holds.
Often yes, if the rest of the wall is stable and draining properly. We take down the affected section, redo the footing and drainage under it, and rebuild. If drainage is missing along the whole length, a partial repair will not solve anything long term.