Retaining Walls That Actually Hold
A retaining wall has to do more than look good. We look at the slope, where water goes, and what the wall needs to hold before we recommend a solution.
- Starting at
- $45
- per face square foot
- Timeline
- Most residential walls are complete in 3–8 working days.
- Warranty
- 10-year structural workmanship warranty.
Included on every retaining walls project
- Grade and drainage assessment of the whole slope
- Compacted, leveling-pad base course below grade
- Clean #57 stone backfill behind every course
- Perforated drain tile daylighted to a safe outlet
- Geogrid soil reinforcement on walls over 4 feet
- Stamped engineering drawings when required by code
Transparent pricing
What this actually costs
Segmental block walls run $45–$75 per face square foot; natural stone runs higher.
| Material | Why homeowners pick it | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Segmental block (Belgard, Versa-Lok) Engineered interlocking units with a built-in setback for stability. | Engineered interlocking units with a built-in setback for stability. | $45 – $65 / sq ft |
| Natural stone Hand-fit fieldstone or boulder walls for a landscape-integrated look. | Hand-fit fieldstone or boulder walls for a landscape-integrated look. | $65 – $95 / sq ft |
| Poured concrete with veneer A strong choice for taller walls or walls supporting heavier loads. | A strong choice for taller walls or walls supporting heavier loads. | $70 – $110 / sq ft |
These ranges cover typical Montgomery and Howard County jobs. Materials, labor, permit filing, and haul-away are included where needed. Steep grade, rock, limited access, or custom details can change the price. We price your actual project after visiting the site.
FAQ
Retaining Walls questions we get weekly
When does a retaining wall need an engineer in Maryland?
Montgomery County generally requires engineered drawings and a permit for walls over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing, or for any wall carrying a surcharge such as a driveway. We coordinate the engineering.
Why is my existing wall leaning?
Bulging or leaning nearly always signals trapped water or a missing base. Repointing the face will not fix it — the wall needs to be rebuilt with proper backfill and drainage.
Next step
Get a fixed price for your retaining walls project
Tell us what you have in mind. We will look at the site, answer your questions, and send a written proposal.
Also from A-1
One crew for the whole yard
Reviews
Recent work
"A-1 replaced 180 feet of failing chain-link with cedar board-on-board. Cesar walked the property line with our neighbor before starting, which prevented a dispute we were dreading. Permits were handled and the crew finished in two days."
Jennifer M.
Silver Spring, MD
Cedar privacy fence · $8,400
"We got four quotes for a composite deck. A-1 was the only one that showed up with drawings and explained the footing inspection. Three years in, not a single popped fastener."
David R.
Bethesda, MD
Trex deck, 420 sq ft · $36,000
"Our Columbia village board rejected two previous submissions from another contractor. A-1 knew exactly what the committee wanted and got approval on the first try."
Priya S.
Columbia, MD
Aluminum fence + gates · $11,200
Get a free estimate for your project.
We will walk the property, talk through the work, and give you a clear price in writing.
Send the details and we will get back to you within one business day. We can also handle permit and HOA paperwork when it applies.