Concrete retaining walls in Sidney, OH - a wall that drains and stays in line
Soil washing down a slope or an old wall starting to lean? We build poured and block walls that drain and hold the ground.
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What does a concrete retaining wall job in Sidney involve?
A concrete retaining wall in Sidney is a poured or block wall that holds back soil, so a slope stops creeping onto your yard, patio or driveway, and it only does that job well when the water behind it has a way out.
Most calls start with a bank that sheds dirt after every rain or an old wall that has begun to tip forward. The price turns on the size of the wall, where your site is and how easy it is to reach, how involved the design is and how much of the work you want us to take on, while the schedule turns mostly on the permit side and the weather. When I come out for the estimate, I put in writing what your wall includes and what it doesn't, so you have your own figure instead of a guess.
Is a concrete retaining wall right for your yard?
Dirt washing onto the patio
A slope that sheds dirt onto your patio or driveway after every rain needs something holding it back.
An old wall leaning out
Leaning, fresh cracks or seams pulling apart can mean water pressure is building up behind it.
A sloped backyard
Cutting a level spot into a hillside for a patio or garden leaves a bank that needs holding.
A drop near the lot line
A change in grade right beside your property line needs a wall built to fit a narrow strip.
How we build concrete retaining walls
Water building up behind a wall is what pushes it out of line, so I plan the drainage first, looking at where your rain comes from and where it can safely go. Then we dig out and pour the footing, which is the concrete base the wall stands on, build the wall either poured or in block, and lay a drain behind it before we backfill. Backfill is the material that goes back in behind the wall, and we use one that lets water run down to the drain instead of soaking the soil pressed against it. We cover the lawn where we work and keep the site tidy as we go, so the wall is the only change you notice when we leave.
A wall often makes room for something else. When it carves out a level spot for a pool, we can plan the concrete pool deck along with it so the deck and the wall shed water the same way, and when it opens up flat ground for a shed or a shop, our concrete floor installation work covers the slab inside.
Poured concrete wall
This suits a wall close to the property line, because one comparison guide notes a poured wall can hold the soil with a cantilever design or tiebacks, so it doesn't need reinforcing mesh running back into a neighbor's yard. It's a rigid wall, though, and the same guide says its footing can crack on ground that settles.
Concrete block wall
This suits ground that may settle unevenly, because the same guide says stacked blocks tolerate minor settling where a rigid poured footing would crack. Block walls usually rely on reinforcing mesh laid back into the soil behind them, so they need room on your side of the line.
What happens when you call about a retaining wall in Sidney?
Call or send a message
Call (937) 658-9414 or use the form and tell us where the wall would go and what it's holding back. We'll set a time for me to come take a look.
I walk the spot with you
I come out myself, look at the slope and where your water runs, and ask how you plan to use the ground above and below the wall. You get a written list of what the job includes and what it doesn't, so you can compare it line by line with any other quote.
We check permits and schedule
Once you're ready, we look into the permit side for your address, which the Sidney section below explains. Then we schedule the pour with the weather in mind, because concrete poured in hard heat, cold or rain doesn't set up the way it should.
We walk the finished wall
Before we call it done, we walk the wall with you, show you where the water comes out and clean up the site. If anything doesn't look right to you, please tell us then.
Where to spend on a retaining wall
Put the money behind the wall first.
The face of the wall is what you'll see every day, so it's tempting to spend there and save on the digging, the footing and the drain behind it. I'd ask you to do the opposite. Nobody sees the footing or the backfill once the wall is up, but those are what keep it standing straight.
A plain face on a wall that drains well stays in line, while a fancy face on a wall holding water starts to lean. If the numbers come in higher than you hoped, I'll show you where we can simplify the look without touching what's underground, and I'd much rather have that talk at the estimate than after a wall moves.
Examples of concrete work
Take a look through these examples of concrete work, from walls and steps to patios and driveways, to get a feel for the shapes and finishes you might like.
Get a written estimate for your retaining wall
Tell us where the wall goes and roughly how long and tall it needs to be. We reply within one business day to set a time for a free on-site estimate, and there's no obligation.
Why Sidney homeowners call Sidney Concrete for retaining walls
The owner walks every job
I come out to look at every job myself, and I work alongside our crew on the forming, pouring and finishing. The person who planned your drainage is the one standing there when it goes in.
Building carefully since 2023
I started Sidney Concrete in 2023 after learning the trade pouring footings and slabs for new houses. We bring that same careful work to homes where families already live, with a yard and a daily routine around the job.
Fully licensed and insured
Sidney Concrete is fully licensed and insured. Please ask about it at the estimate, because you should know that about anyone you let work on your property.
Based in Sidney, working nearby
We're based in Sidney and work across Shelby County and the cities around it, and if you don't see your city listed, please ask us. When you're ready, call (937) 658-9414 or send us a message.
Retaining wall questions we hear
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Ohio?
Retaining wall construction in Ohio usually costs about $30 to $40 per square foot, which is the going rate around the state and not a quote from us. Your wall can land above or below that for the reasons covered at the top of this page, and I'll put what your job includes in writing at the estimate.
What causes a retaining wall to fail?
Poor drainage is by far the most common reason retaining walls perform badly, and if nobody deals with it, the trouble can go all the way to a wall that fails. When you're comparing quotes, ask each contractor exactly how their wall will drain water, and you'll find our answer laid out on your estimate.
Why do weep holes in a retaining wall stop working?
Weep holes, the small openings in the face that let water out, often stop doing their job because they clog from the wrong backfill, plants growing into them or animals moving in. We backfill with material that lets water through, and on the final walk we show you where the water comes out so you can keep it clear.
How deep does a retaining wall footing need to go?
One guide says a poured wall's footing must go below the undisturbed soil line and below the local frost depth, so freezing ground can't heave it. We check what the office covering your address asks for and settle the depth for your spot before we dig.
How do I get ready for a retaining wall estimate in Sidney?
Have a rough idea of the wall's length and height, and find a drawing of your property if you can. Most Sidney permits ask for at least construction plans and a site plan drawn to scale, which is a drawing of your lot showing where everything sits, so gathering it early saves time later.
How long does it take to build a concrete retaining wall?
A big part of the timeline is the wait while poured concrete cures, hardening and gaining strength, before we load soil against it, and we don't cut that wait short. The rest turns on the permit side and the weather, and I'll tell you what to expect for your wall once I've seen the spot.
Have a slope that needs holding back?
Ask for an estimate and I'll come out, walk the spot with you and put in writing what the wall includes.
Other work that goes with a wall
Building a concrete retaining wall in Sidney
Sidney's Building Inspection issues permits for homes and accessory structures, and the city's list of work that needs a permit names fences, decks and site improvements but doesn't mention retaining walls, so whether your wall needs one isn't settled. The city asks anyone who isn't sure to call 937-498-8130, and Shelby County sends residential questions to its office in Sidney at 937-658-6220. Before we schedule, we check which office covers your address and what it asks for, and when a permit is needed we take care of the application or help you with the parts that need your signature. One more rule matters when you pick who builds the wall. The city's ordinance says an owner can't let a contractor work on their property in Sidney unless that contractor has registered with the Building Inspector, so it's worth asking anyone you're comparing.
On older lots around here we often find a wall that was stacked with no drain behind it, and the fix starts with giving the water a way out. We see the same kind of tired walls on jobs in Piqua and Troy.