Concrete retaining walls in O'Fallon MO - a wall that holds your slope and drains
Slope washing into the yard or an old wall starting to lean? We build poured concrete retaining walls in O'Fallon with drainage planned behind them.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Can you fix the old wall or start over?
It mostly comes down to whether the wall still stands straight and whether water can get out from behind it. We check both before we suggest anything.
A repair is enough when:
- The wall still stands straight
- Cracks are small and not growing
- Seams are still tight
- Soil behind it is staying put
- The drains only need clearing out
A new wall makes sense when:
- The wall leans or has shifted
- Cracks keep getting wider
- Seams are pulling apart
- Water has no way out
- You want more height or flat yard
How your retaining wall gets built
You call or send the form
Tell us roughly how long and tall the wall should be and where it goes. Photos of the slope and your address help me plan the visit.
A visit set up
I come out and measure
I look at the slope, measure it and check where water runs off the yard. Then I walk you through your choices before you decide anything.
Your options explained
You get a written estimate
It spells out what's included and what isn't, like hauling off old concrete, with a plan showing each step in order and when the yard above is ready to use.
A written estimate
Our crew builds the wall
Our crew forms, pours and finishes the wall, then sets the drain and the backfill. If the job needs a city inspection, it's usually done the day after it's booked.
A finished wall
We clean up and walk it
The crew cleans up the site, and I walk the finished wall with you. I show you where the drain comes out and how to keep it clear.
Care instructions
What our retaining wall work includes
Layout and dig-out
We mark the wall line, check where water runs, then dig out to firm soil instead of building on loose dirt.
A packed base
The ground under the wall gets packed hard so the wall doesn't settle along with the dirt around it.
Forms and steel
We set the forms and the rebar, the steel bars inside the concrete that help it hold the soil back.
The pour
We pour ready mix concrete early in the day when we can, because midday heat can leave a weak, dusty face.
Drainage behind the wall
Drains that can be cleaned out later go in behind the wall, so water still has a way out after backfilling.
Curing and backfill
Once the concrete has cured and hardened enough to take the load, we backfill with fill picked so water reaches the drain.
What changes the price of a retaining wall?
Length and height drive the price most, because a longer, taller wall takes more digging, more steel and more concrete. How easily we can get equipment to the slope matters too. A basic wall is one thing, and anything beyond it is priced separately, such as tearing out an old wall, stepping the wall into terraces, a stamped or stained face, a curved line, extra height or landscaping afterward.
If the budget gets tight, cut the finish before you cut the drain. The drain and the backfill are buried on the first day, but they decide whether the wall stays put, while a plain face can be stained later. Timing turns mostly on the permit and the weather.
Why O'Fallon homeowners call us for retaining walls
I started this business in O'Fallon in 2017 after years of building schedules, so every wall gets laid out in order before anything is poured. I come out and do the estimate myself, and our crew handles the forming, pouring and finishing. We plan how water gets out from behind the wall as carefully as we plan the wall itself.
St. Charles County has more clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry than the state and national averages, which is one more reason we're careful about what goes behind a wall. We're based in O'Fallon and work across St. Charles County and St. Louis County, on everything from walls to concrete floor installation. Call (636) 614-2331 and we'll talk it through.
- The estimate done by me, in writing
- Drains you can clean out later
- Satisfaction guaranteed
Get a written estimate for your retaining wall
Send the wall's rough length and height, a few photos of the slope and your address. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
(636) 614-2331Retaining wall questions we hear
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in O'Fallon, MO?
In O'Fallon, a poured concrete retaining wall about 3 feet high usually runs about $32 to $35 per square foot, with labor and materials included. That's the going rate for a basic wall in the area, not our price, and the extras covered above are priced on top. Your written estimate shows what your own wall costs and what's included.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in O'Fallon?
Plan on one, because retaining walls are on the city's list of projects that need a permit, and the City of O'Fallon Building Division handles permits for small projects. Grading goes through the city's engineering staff, who also review work in the floodplain, and your fire district may want its own permit. We're licensed and insured, we check with the offices that cover your address before we schedule, and when a permit is needed we handle the paperwork and line up the inspections.
What causes a retaining wall to fail?
Poor drainage is by far the most common reason retaining walls perform badly, according to research on highway walls. Water that can't get out builds pressure behind the wall, and if nobody deals with it, those problems can turn into outright failure. That's why the drain gets as much planning as the concrete.
Are weep holes enough to drain a retaining wall?
Weep holes alone usually aren't enough to drain a retaining wall. Guidance for highway walls says drains at the face of the wall fall short of keeping the soil behind it fully drained, and it recommends pipe, gravel or perforated drains, or crushed rock backfill. Researchers also found weep holes are likely to clog over a wall's life, while drains built to be maintained kept walls draining more reliably, so ask any contractor which of these their design uses.
How do I keep a retaining wall drain from clogging?
Keep plants and trash away from the drain outlets and make sure the right fill goes behind the wall. Researchers say bad backfill, plants, wildlife and trash are the usual reasons weep holes clog. We use drains that can be cleaned out later, so you can clear one if it backs up.
How long does it take to build a concrete retaining wall?
The schedule turns on the permit, the weather and curing, since the concrete has to harden before we put backfill against it. A taller or longer wall also takes more forming and pouring than a short one. Ask me when I come out and I'll walk you through the order for your wall.
Retaining walls around O'Fallon
We're based in O'Fallon and build retaining walls in St. Peters, Wentzville and other cities nearby. Pick yours below, or call (636) 614-2331 if you don't see it.
Get a quote from D&R O'Fallon Concrete Company
Call (636) 614-2331 or send the form, and I'll come out to look at your slope and quote it free.