Questions
Walls, permits, cost and the job itself
If your question isn't here, call or text. We answer plainly.
What does a retaining wall cost?
It depends on height, length, access, what is behind the wall and what the soil does when we open it. We don't quote over the phone. After a site visit you get a written estimate with each part on its own line.
Do I need a permit or an engineer?
Often for tall walls, and sometimes for short ones. A common line is about 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top, or any wall that holds up a driveway, a building or another wall. Cities set their own rules and mapped steep slopes carry more, so we check yours before we price.
How soon can you start, and how long does a wall take?
The written estimate gives a start window. A short wall can take days; a tall wall with drainage and an engineer's drawing takes longer, because the drawing and the permit come first.
Are you registered and insured?
Yes. The state contractor registration and our insurance are listed in the footer of every page, and a certificate of insurance goes to you on request.
What happens at the estimate?
We walk the slope from top to bottom, measure the wall line, look at what sits above it and where water collects, and check your city's rules. You don't need to be home for the measuring.
How do I pay?
A deposit to schedule the work, payments tied to stages, and the balance when the wall is finished. The written estimate lists the stages and the ways to pay.
Do you work in the rain?
Light rain doesn't stop us. We pause excavation on a saturated slope, because soft ground is unsafe to cut and a wall built on it won't sit right. We tell you when we have to move a day.
What should I do before you arrive?
Clear the wall line and the path a machine would take. Tell us where the downspouts, sprinkler lines and any tanks run, and whether a neighbor shares the bank. We call 811 to have public utilities marked.
Do you build timber walls?
No. In ground that stays wet most of the year, timber is usually the shortest-lived choice. We build block, rockery, dry-stack stone and gabion walls, and will tell you which fits the slope.
The wall is on the property line. What happens?
We ask for a survey or the corner pins before we set the wall line. A wall that holds a shared bank is a conversation with the neighbor first, and we can join it.
What about the trees on the slope?
Roots hold a bank together, so we work around healthy trees where the design allows. If a tree has to go, a city rule may apply, and we check it when we check the permit.
What areas do you serve?
Tacoma and the towns around it in Pierce County, plus Federal Way. The service area page lists them, and where we don't go.
Still have a question?
Call or text us. Or book a visit and ask it at the slope.