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Serving Concord, CA and surrounding areas. (925) 536-0971
Soil sliding down your slope, a leaning wall, or a backyard you cannot use - we build retaining walls that hold ground, handle Concord clay soil, and last for decades.
Retaining wall construction in Concord holds back soil on sloped or uneven properties, stopping erosion, creating usable yard space, and protecting foundations from water and ground movement - most residential walls take one to three days to build once permits are in place.
Concord's hillside neighborhoods and lots with significant grade changes are where we see the most retaining wall work. The city's expansive clay soil swells every wet season and shrinks every summer, which accelerates slope erosion and puts pressure on any existing wall that was not built with proper drainage. If you already have a wall that is leaning or cracking, the wet season will make it worse - not better. We also build concrete block walls for homeowners who want a durable, cost-effective material on new construction.
Beyond erosion control, a well-designed retaining wall can convert a steep, unusable slope into a flat terrace for a patio, garden, or play area - which is one of the few improvements that adds both usable space and measurable property value.
If you notice soil, mulch, or gravel collecting at the bottom of a slope after a winter storm, your hillside is eroding. Concord's rainy season delivers enough runoff to move surprising amounts of soil, and once erosion starts it tends to accelerate year over year. A retaining wall stops that cycle before it reaches your foundation or a neighbor's yard.
A wall that has started to tilt forward, develop cracks, or show gaps between blocks is telling you it is under stress it was not designed to handle. This is especially common in Concord's older neighborhoods where walls were built before modern drainage standards. A leaning wall will not fix itself - the longer you wait, the more soil movement and damage you will deal with.
If standing water appears near your foundation after a rainstorm, the slope of your yard may be directing water toward your home rather than away from it. A retaining wall combined with proper grading can redirect that water and protect your foundation from long-term moisture damage - a particularly common issue on Concord's clay-heavy lots.
If a significant portion of your backyard is too steep to use - for a patio, a garden, or a play area - a retaining wall can create a flat, level terrace. Many Concord homeowners in hillside neighborhoods have done exactly this to make their yards functional. It is one of the few improvements that adds both usability and property value at the same time.
We build retaining walls from concrete block, poured concrete, natural stone, and brick - the right material depends on your yard's slope, soil conditions, and how the wall will look alongside your home. On every job, we dig the footing to the appropriate depth, install gravel backfill and drainage pipe behind the wall to manage water pressure, and backfill and compact when the structure is complete. For properties where the slope is steep enough to require a tiered approach, we design multiple walls at different heights rather than one tall structure. A tiered system is more stable under Concord's seismic and clay-soil conditions and handles the load more safely. If a scope change during planning leads you toward masonry restoration of an existing structure rather than new construction, we handle that too.
Walls over four feet in Concord require a building permit from the City of Concord's Building Division - we handle the permit application and coordinate the inspection so you do not have to. We are also familiar with the HOA approval processes in Concord's planned communities near Clayton Road and Willow Pass Road, where association rules sometimes specify materials, heights, or finishes. The National Concrete Masonry Association publishes the design standards our walls are built to.
The most common choice for Concord projects - durable, cost-effective, and well-suited to the area's clay soil and seasonal conditions.
For homeowners who want a wall that blends with natural landscaping or complements a premium yard design.
Best for walls requiring significant structural strength, such as those supporting driveways or structures above them.
Used on steep slopes where a single tall wall would require engineering - multiple shorter walls are more stable and often less expensive.
Every wall we build includes gravel backfill and a perforated drain pipe - without this, even a well-built wall fails prematurely in Concord's wet winters.
We submit permit applications to the City of Concord and help with HOA documentation for neighborhoods that require architectural review.
Concord sits on expansive clay soils - especially in neighborhoods toward the Diablo foothills - that swell when wet and shrink when dry. That seasonal cycle is the main reason retaining walls fail here faster than in areas with sandier soil. Water that builds up behind a wall with no drainage outlet creates pressure that eventually pushes the wall forward. We account for this on every job by sizing the drainage layer for Concord's winter rainfall patterns, not a national average. The city's proximity to the Concord Fault also means taller walls near structures should be designed with lateral seismic forces in mind - something we factor into our recommendations for each project.
We work on properties across the city, including hillside homes near Antioch and older residential lots near Martinez where the same clay soil and slope conditions apply. Late spring through early fall is the best window for retaining wall work in this area - the ground is dry and stable, which makes excavation more accurate and gives the wall time to settle before the rainy season begins.
We respond within 1 business day. We ask about your slope, what is there now, and any specific concerns - water near the house, a failing existing wall, or a yard you want to flatten out. Then we schedule a free on-site visit.
We visit your property to look at the slope, soil, and access. We walk you through material options and give you a written estimate that itemizes materials, labor, drainage, and any permit fees - not a single total number.
For walls over four feet, we submit the permit application to the City of Concord Building Division on your behalf. Permit review typically adds one to three weeks before work can begin. We track that timeline and keep you updated.
Most residential walls take one to three days to build. If a permit was required, a city inspector signs off before the backfill is covered. We finish with cleanup, a walkthrough of the finished wall, and a review of care instructions.
No obligation. We visit your property, assess the slope and soil, and give you a written quote you can compare.
(925) 536-0971We install gravel backfill and a perforated drainage pipe behind every wall we build. In Concord's clay-heavy soil and concentrated winter rainfall, that drainage layer is not optional - it is the difference between a wall that holds for 50 years and one that starts leaning after the first wet season.
Walls over four feet in Concord require a city permit, and navigating that process can add unexpected delays if you have not done it before. We submit the application, coordinate with the City of Concord Building Division, and schedule the required inspection so you do not have to make a single call to the city.
CDM Concord Masonry has built retaining walls across all 12 service areas in Contra Costa County and the East Bay. That breadth of work in the same regional soil conditions means we have seen and solved the same drainage, seismic, and HOA challenges your property is likely to present.
California law requires a valid state license for retaining wall work over $500. You can look up any contractor on the Contractors State License Board website in about 30 seconds. We carry active general liability insurance and workers compensation on every job.
A retaining wall that is properly drained, correctly permitted, and built for Concord's specific soil and seismic conditions will hold its ground for decades. One that is not will give you visible signs of failure within a few wet seasons - and fixing a failing wall costs significantly more than building it right the first time.
When an existing retaining wall or masonry structure needs repair rather than full replacement, we restore it to structurally sound condition.
Learn moreConcrete block is one of the most durable and cost-effective materials for retaining walls - we build freestanding and structural block walls throughout Concord.
Learn moreSpring and summer slots fill fast - contact us now and we will schedule a free on-site assessment within the week.