Retaining Walls
Engineered segmental retaining walls that hold back slopes and handle our frost-heave-prone soils.
Most retaining wall failures we get called out to repair have the same root cause: no drainage. Water gets trapped behind the wall, freezes, expands, and pushes the wall out over a few winters. Every wall we build gets a perforated drain tile at the base wrapped in clear stone backfill, so hydrostatic pressure never has a chance to build up.
For walls over 3 feet, we install geogrid soil reinforcement extending back into the slope, calculated for the wall height and soil type. We build primarily with Redi-Rock and Versa-Lok segmental systems, both engineered for exactly this kind of reinforced application, with batter and step-back calculated to our local frost depth.
Walls that exceed the height threshold set by Emmet or Charlevoix County require an engineered stamped plan and a permit — we handle that process for you, including the inspection.
Retaining Walls Projects
Before
AfterTerraced slope, Boyne City
Before
After
Curved wall with integrated cap stones
What Customers Say
“Our old retaining wall was leaning so badly we were worried about the deck above it. Bay Ridge tore it out, found the drainage problem nobody else had mentioned, and rebuilt it properly with drain tile behind it. Two winters later it hasn't moved an inch.”
“Full backyard redo — patio, retaining wall, and a fire feature. They handled the county permit for the wall themselves so we didn't have to deal with it. Everything passed inspection on the first try.”
“Sloped backyard that was basically unusable is now a terraced retaining wall with a patio on the lower level. The drainage work they did behind the wall was more thorough than I expected — glad we didn't cut that corner.”
Retaining Walls FAQ
Why do retaining walls fail in northern Michigan?
Almost always poor drainage. Water gets trapped behind the wall, freezes, and the expansion pushes the wall forward a little more with every winter until it fails. We build drainage into every wall from day one — it's not optional or an upsell.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
Emmet and Charlevoix County generally require a permit — and often an engineered plan — for walls over 4 feet. We'll tell you during the site visit whether your project crosses that line, and we handle the permitting if it does.
How long do properly built retaining walls last?
With correct drainage and geogrid reinforcement where needed, 30+ years is realistic. The block systems we use are rated for decades of freeze-thaw exposure — the drainage behind the wall is what actually determines its lifespan.
Get Your Free Project Quote
Tell us about your project and we'll text you back — usually within the hour.
💳 0% interest financing for 12 months on projects over $5,000, through our partnership with Hearth.