Retaining Walls in Richmond, VA
A retaining wall turns a slope you can't use into level ground you can, and it keeps soil from washing into your driveway or patio. RVA Hardscapes builds retaining walls in block, natural stone and brick for homes across the Richmond area, from sloped lots in Chesterfield and Midlothian to backyards in Mechanicsville.
What makes a wall last
Retaining walls usually fail because of water, not weight. Clay-heavy soil, common around Richmond, holds water and pushes hard against a wall when it's wet. A wall that lasts needs:
• a compacted, level base below the first course;
• free-draining gravel behind the wall, with a drain pipe where the site needs one so water has a way out;
• a slight backward lean into the slope; and
• on taller walls, reinforcement (such as geogrid) tied back into the soil.
Materials
• Segmental retaining wall block: interlocking concrete block made for retaining soil. Comes in many colors and textures, with matching caps.
• Natural stone: dry-stacked or mortared stone for a softer, traditional look.
• Brick: a brick face or garden wall that matches the house, often seen on older Richmond homes.
Is your wall failing?
Leaning, bulging, cracks that keep widening, or soil washing out at the base are signs a wall is struggling. We'll look at the cause, usually drainage, and tell you whether a section can be repaired or should be rebuilt.