Sun Lakes Concrete Expert
Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry
Build strong, beautiful retaining walls and masonry structures that protect your property and enhance your landscape. Engineered for the Arizona soil and built to last across Sun Lakes and surrounding areas.
Expert Retaining Walls in Sun Lakes
Retaining walls do more than hold back soil. They create usable space on sloped lots, prevent erosion, manage water runoff, and add visual interest to your landscape. At Sun Lakes Concrete Expert, we design and build retaining walls that are structurally sound, properly drained, and attractive enough to be a centerpiece of your yard.
The desert soil around Sun Lakes presents unique challenges for retaining wall construction. Expansive clay, caliche layers, and monsoon water flow all need to be accounted for in the design. Our team understands these conditions and engineers every wall with adequate footings, drainage systems, and reinforcement to handle the loads and soil pressures specific to our area.
We build retaining walls for residential and commercial properties across Sun Lakes, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and San Tan Valley. From small garden walls to large structural walls, we have the experience and equipment to deliver quality results.
Types of Walls We Build
We work with multiple materials and construction methods to give you the right wall for your situation. Here are the most common types of retaining walls and masonry projects we install.
Poured Concrete Walls
Poured-in-place concrete walls offer the highest strength and can be formed to any shape or height. They are ideal for tall retaining walls, structural applications, and situations where maximum durability is needed. We can finish them with stucco, stone veneer, or decorative form liners.
Concrete Masonry Unit Walls
CMU block walls are the most common choice for property walls, screen walls, and retaining walls under four feet tall. They are cost-effective, strong, and can be finished with stucco, paint, or left exposed with split-face or burnished block for a decorative look.
Segmental Retaining Walls
Interlocking block systems like Allan Block and Versa-Lok are popular for landscape retaining walls. They come in multiple colors and textures, require no mortar, and create a clean, modern look. These are ideal for walls up to six feet with proper engineering.
Decorative and Garden Walls
Smaller walls for raised planters, garden borders, and seating walls add function and beauty to your outdoor living spaces. We build these from block, natural stone, or poured concrete and can match them to your existing hardscape.
Engineering, Drainage, and Permitting
Retaining walls over four feet tall typically require engineered plans and building permits in Maricopa County. We work with licensed structural engineers to design walls that meet all code requirements. Our team handles the permit application process so you do not have to deal with the paperwork and inspections.
Proper drainage is the single most important factor in retaining wall longevity. Water pressure behind a wall is the number one cause of failure. Every retaining wall we build includes a drainage system with perforated pipe, gravel backfill, and filter fabric to channel water away from the wall. We also install weep holes and surface drainage to prevent water from pooling.
Footings are sized based on wall height, soil conditions, and loading. We excavate below grade, install rebar as specified in the engineering plans, and pour concrete footings that provide a solid base. Cutting corners on footings leads to wall failure, and we never compromise on this critical step.
Our Construction Process
Site Evaluation and Design
We assess your property, evaluate soil conditions, measure grades, and discuss your goals. For walls requiring engineering, we coordinate with a structural engineer to create plans that meet code and serve your needs.
Footing Excavation and Pour
We excavate the footing trench to the specified depth and width, install reinforcing steel, and pour the concrete footing. The footing must cure before wall construction begins.
Wall Construction
We build the wall course by course, installing vertical and horizontal reinforcement as required. For poured walls, we set forms, place rebar, and pour the concrete in lifts. Every course is checked for level and plumb.
Drainage, Backfill, and Finish
We install the drainage system, backfill with specified material in compacted lifts, and apply any final finishes such as stucco, cap blocks, or sealant. The site is graded to direct surface water away from the wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need a Retaining Wall or Masonry Project?
Contact Sun Lakes Concrete Expert today for a free consultation. We will evaluate your property and design the right wall for your needs.