Slope & Hillside Stabilization

When Gravity and Water Threaten Your Greatest Investment 

Your hillside property represents millions in Bay Area real estate value. When that investment shifts even an inch, you need more than a contractor—you need RWR Construction's 34 years of engineering expertise and the only track-mounted drilling fleet in Northern California capable of reaching your site.

Warning Signs: When Your Hillside Needs Immediate Attention 

After stabilizing hundreds of Bay Area slopes, we recognize failure patterns others miss:

Critical Indicators Requiring Immediate Action:

• Sudden door/window misalignment - Your foundation is moving

• Fresh cracks in hillside above your home - Crown failure developing

• Water seeping where it never has before - Subsurface pressure building

• Tilting retaining walls or fences - Active soil movement underway

• Bulging ground at slope base - Rotational failure imminent

Don't Wait for Catastrophic Failure

Minor symptoms today become $500,000+ emergencies tomorrow. Our assessment identifies risks before they become disasters—and our solutions cost a fraction of emergency repairs.

Proven Stabilization Solutions for Bay Area Geology

Deep Foundation Systems: Bypassing Unstable Soils Entirely

While others struggle with surface repairs that fail repeatedly, RWR drives support directly to bedrock:

Micropile Installation

• Drill through 60+ feet of moving earth to stable strata

• Support loads exceeding 200 tons per pile

• Install in spaces as tight as 6 feet using specialized equipment

• Zero vibration—safe for adjacent structures

Caisson Drilling

• Large-diameter shafts (24"-72") for massive load transfer

• Penetrate through fill, clay, and slide debris to competent rock

• Track-mounted rigs access slopes up to 45-degree grades

• Reinforced with high-strength rebar cages and specialized concrete

Helical Pier Systems

• Immediate load-bearing capacity without concrete curing

• Adjustable for future settlement corrections

• Minimal excavation preserves landscaping

• Ideal for emergency stabilization needs

Soil Retention & Reinforcement: Making Earth Stronger Than Nature Intended

Soil Nail Wall SystemsOur soil nailing transforms loose hillsides into monolithic structures:

• High-strength steel tendons installed at calculated angles

• Pressure-grouted to create friction bond with surrounding soil

• Shotcrete facing prevents surface erosion

• Proven performance in Marin County's expansive clays

Tieback Anchor SystemsWhen lateral forces threaten structures, our post-tensioned anchors provide permanent resistance:

• Drill lengths reaching 80+ feet into stable ground

• Prestressed cables locked at precise loads

• Corrosion-protected for 75+ year design life

• Monitoring systems track long-term performance

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE)For new construction on challenging slopes:

• Geogrid reinforcement creates buildable platforms

• Modular facing systems blend with natural topography

• Drainage integrated throughout structure

• Cost-effective alternative to traditional retaining walls

Engineered Retaining Walls: 

Structures That Never Fail

RWR retaining walls aren't just stacked blocks—they're engineered systems designed to specific soil pressures, seismic loads, and drainage requirements:

Cast-in-Place Concrete Walls

• Reinforced design calculated for your exact conditions

• Integrated drainage eliminates hydrostatic pressure

• Architectural finishes available

• 50+ year service life with proper maintenance

Soldier Pile Walls

• Ideal for tight property lines and steep cuts

• Driven piles with engineered lagging

• Can be installed top-down for minimal disruption

• Accommodates utilities and irregular geometries

Segmental Retaining Systems

• Modular blocks with geogrid reinforcement

• Natural stone appearance options

• Built-in drainage channels

• Flexible design accommodates settlement

Advanced Drainage Solutions: Controlling Water Before It Destroys

Water causes 90% of Bay Area slope failures. Our comprehensive approach addresses both surface and subsurface threats:

Horizontal Drain Arrays

• Penetrate 40-100 feet into hillsides

• Intercept groundwater before it creates pressure

• Gravity-flow design requires no power

• Dramatically reduces landslide risk

French Drain Networks

• Perimeter and curtain drain installations

• Calculated pipe sizing for maximum flow

• Filter fabric prevents clogging

• Cleanout access for maintenance

Surface Water Management

• Engineered swales and channels

• Erosion-resistant lining systems

• Energy dissipators at discharge points

• Integration with municipal storm systems

Waterproofing & Moisture Barriers

• Bentonite clay applications

• Rubberized asphalt membranes

• Crystalline waterproofing treatments

• Drainage composites for continuous protection

The Track-Mounted Advantage: Access Where Others Can't And Why RWR Succeeds Where Others Fail

Our specialized fleet of track-mounted drilling equipment represents millions in investment—and the only way to reach Bay Area's most challenging sites:

• Navigate 45+ degree slopes without road construction

• Work in 6-foot wide corridors between existing structures

• Cross soft soils that would mire wheeled equipment

• Minimize site disturbance preserving mature landscaping

• Operate year-round even in wet conditions

This equipment advantage means we're often the only contractor capable of reaching emergency sites or installing permanent solutions on "impossible" lots.

Emergency Landslide Response

When Hours Matter: Immediate Stabilization

Landslides accelerate exponentially. When possible, our emergency response team deploys within hours with:

Immediate Interventions:

• Shotcrete application to prevent further raveling

• Emergency shoring of threatened structures

• Temporary drainage to reduce driving forces

• K-rail and barrier placement for safety

• Tarp and sandbag deployment

Rapid Permanent Solutions:

• While others wait for dry season, our track equipment works in any weather

• Engineers on-call for immediate design solutions

• Permitting assistance and expedited approvals

• Insurance claim documentation and support

Recent Urgent Responses:

• Mill Valley mudslide -  property saved

• Sausalito bluff failure - Immediate stabilization of $4M home

• Tiburon storm damage - homes protected

Project Portfolio: Proven Performance Across the Bay Area Challenging Projects Others Wouldn't Touch

Belvedere Estate Stabilization

• Challenge: 60-foot vertical cut with active slide plane

• Solution: 45 soil nails, 3,000 sq ft shotcrete, integrated drainage

• Result: Zero movement in 5 years of monitoring

San Francisco Zero-Lot-Line Foundation

• Challenge: Install new foundation between existing buildings

• Solution: Micropiles drilled through basement, no vibration

• Result: New 4-story structure on "unbuildable" lot

Public Works including Marin County And Local Cities

• Example Projects: $2.3M in retaining walls and slope repairs

• Specialty: Emergency response contractor for landslides

• Record: 100% on-time completion, zero failures

Why Bay Area Engineers Suggest RWR

Technical Capabilities That Set Us Apart

• Load testing protocols verifying design assumptions

• Inclinometer monitoring tracking movement during construction

• Laboratory soil testing through certified partners

• As-built documentation for permanent records

• PE-stamped submittals meeting strictest requirements

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Our Engineering Friends Include:

• Miller Pacific Engineering

• Cleary Consultants

• Zavattero & Associates

• IEC Engineering

• Cotton, Shires & Associates

• and many more

Investment Protection: The True Cost of Waiting Early Intervention vs. Emergency Repair

Preventive Stabilization Is The Lowest Cost Option:

• Soil nail walls. 

• Drainage systems. 

• Retaining walls.

• Timeline: 2-6 weeks planned work

Emergency Response:

• Immediate mobilization premium: 50-100% additional

• Expedited permitting costs: $10,000-50,000

• Temporary housing during repairs: $5,000-15,000/month

• Property value impact: 20-40% reduction until resolved

Start Your Hillside Protection Today

Free Professional Evaluation Includes:

• Comprehensive site evaluation by senior personnel

• Preliminary engineering recommendations

• Detailed cost estimates with options

• Permitting requirement analysis

• Timeline for recommended interventions

Don't wait for visible failure. Schedule your evaluation today.