Retaining Wall Contractor for Marin, San Francisco and the East Bay

Permanent Retaining Walls

& Earth Stabilization

Building Bay Area retaining walls since 1989 · CA License 527433 · 4.6 stars on Google

Have a wall that's leaning, cracking or needs to go in? Talk to an estimator: (415) 457-5658 · Weekdays 7 AM to 4 PM. Or request a free site visit.

Walls we build

Soldier beam walls. Steel or wood beams with timber lagging. They're the common choice on Bay Area hillsides.
Concrete walls. Cast-in-place concrete and shotcrete, including colored shotcrete that looks like natural stone or soil.
Tieback, soil nail and helical anchor walls. Anchored into the slope for tall walls and tight sites.
Gravity and block walls. Gabion, Versa-Lok, decorative and landscape walls, for lower walls and landslide repair.
Shoring and slope stabilization. Temporary and permanent shoring, plus rock catchment systems.
Wall repair. Leaning or failing walls are strengthened with tiebacks or rebuilt.

Why our walls last: most failed walls we replace failed because water had nowhere to go, or because the footings or piers didn't reach firm ground. Every wall we build includes drainage and is anchored deep enough to stay put.

What does a retaining wall cost?

Every wall we price depends on the site. These are the things that move the number most:

True height. Height runs from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. A wall that shows 3 feet above ground can be 5 or 6 feet in total, and anything over 4 feet needs engineered plans and a permit.
What the wall holds back. A driveway, a house or a sloping hill above the wall calls for a stronger design.
Soil and slope. Bay Area clay swells when wet. Steep lots often need drilled piers to reach firm ground.
Drainage. Drain rock, pipe and outlets belong in every quote.
Access. Narrow side yards and steep lots mean smaller equipment and more hand work.
Removing the old wall. Demolition and hauling add time.
Engineering and permits. Soil reports, stamped plans and city review add cost and time.

The fastest way to a real number: call (415) 457-5658. We'll ask a few questions and set up a free site visit.

What our customers say: 4.6 stars from 30 Google reviews

"RWR replaced a 36' retaining wall between our property and our neighbors. Our home is in San Francisco and therefore was extra challenging since there was no direct access to the backyard… They were very professional through the whole process of doing the planning, design, obtaining approvals from the city and providing very good communication all along the way." — Michael W., San Francisco

"We hired RWR for a 42' retaining wall between our neighbor's yard and ours… Permits were obtained from the city of SF in what seemed like record time… The job was completed faster than estimated, and fairly within the bid." — Jeff L., San Francisco

"RWR just completed a major retaining wall for our home… This was a very involved project with drainage going all around the house and down the driveway. This is a great company. Don't look any further." — Google reviewer

Common questions

Does my wall need repair or replacement? Warning signs include leaning more than 2 inches, large cracks, bulging, water seeping through, or sections pulling apart. When you see several of these, or the wall is 40+ years old, replacement often costs less over time. A site visit tells you which.

Why do retaining walls fail around here? Water, mostly. Without drainage, pressure builds behind the wall. Clay soils, steep lots, earthquakes, shallow footings and new loads above the wall, like a driveway, do the rest.

Do I need a permit? Almost always. Walls over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing, need one, and so does any wall holding back a driveway, building or slope. Replacing an unpermitted wall still requires a permit.

Should I hire an engineer before getting bids? Usually, yes. Stamped plans are required for walls over 4 feet in San Francisco, and a soil report finds the problems that change the price before work starts.

How long does it take? Plan on 4 to 8 months from first call to finished wall. Most of that time goes to engineering and permits. Construction itself runs about 3 to 8 weeks, depending on size and slope.

What if the wall sits on the property line? You may need your neighbor's consent, and written permission for any anchors that reach under their land. We handle the notices and coordinate with the city.