Natural Stone Retaining Walls

-Large metal reinforced concrete base. 42-48in deep concrete posts or footings are needed as part of some bases.
-Metal runs from the base up through the wall.
-Backfilled with crushed stone and concrete.
-We build all of our natural stone retaining walls with mortar, but can appear as if dry stacked.
Boulder walls are also a viable option- best suited for large areas, or when boulders are readily available.

In Connecticut we are blessed with many different types of natural stone to use, and an abundance of field stone to work with. Natural stone walls are built using full-sized natural stones, or using either a full bed or thin natural stone veneer depending on the desired look and function of the wall.

A natural stone retaining wall system using full-size stones is the most durable and longest-lasting installation you can get for most residential applications when built using mortar, and a mixture of mortar and smaller stones inside the wall.

Stone veneer is primarily used to cover concrete or existing structures, or for stone columns, exterior siding, or interior masonry work. Stone veneer over new concrete or new cinder block is also a beautiful and durable retaining wall option- but can be cost-prohibitive in many cases. When natural stone veneer is used for a new project, typically a core-filled cement block or CMU wall is built, or a concrete wall is formed and poured- and the veneer then adheres to it.

Manufactured “imitation veneer”, made to look and feel like real stone, is also available. However, the vast majority of people prefer the aesthetics and feel of natural stone- if it’s possible to use. Imitation veneer possesses similar durability to natural stone but is lighter and easier to work with which makes it ideal for some projects.

The difference in pricing between new construction using natural stone, or using veneer, varies depending on material selection and other project factors. Generally speaking, stone veneer creates a more expensive retaining wall build unless it’s being used to create double-sided walls (non-retaining), or in a commercial or large-scale residential application.

Block Retaining Walls

Standard cement block, or “cinder block” walls are one of the most economical ways to retain land. These are best for commercial or industrial settings, or on residential properties where budget matters.

Cement block walls can also be redressed with a stone veneer at a later date to drastically improve their look. We complete many project where we first build a cement block wall to retain the land, and then come back at a later date to dress it with stone veneer. This is a budget friendly way to solve your retaining wall problem and still end up with a beautiful product. Cement block walls can also be painted to improve their appearance.

Cement block walls are versatile and extremely durable.

*All walls using a veneer material will either use a concrete wall or a cement block wall as a starting point.

-Metal reinforced concrete base. 42-48in deep concrete posts or footings are needed as part of some bases.

-Metal runs from the base up through the wall.

-Blocks are connected with mortar, and filled with concrete and crushed stone depending on the project.

-Backfilled with crushed stone and concrete.

*Block walls are economical and durable.

*Additional drainage is needed. Please ask your Contractor what their plans are to manage water.

Block System Retaining Walls

Block system walls are a wonderful balance of economy and aesthetics. There are many different wall block system manufacturers, we mainly use Techo Block wall systems and Cambridge wall systems primarily depending on the project location, budget, and client preferences. Most manufacturers create durable, long-lasting materials that look good- that is why they are still in business. But you should be careful, do your research, and find a trusted contractor or stone supply for advice. Photos and non-professional assessments can be deceiving, and we have experience laying tens of thousands of wall blocks and paver systems from many manufacturers.

We prefer to use these systems ONLY on SMALL retaining walls (5ft or less), or as garden walls where no real retaining function is needed. If a larger block system retaining wall is needed, we will tier the land and build multiple smaller retaining walls, move to a larger block system or suggest a different construction method depending on the project.

There are larger block systems or CMU (concrete masonry unit) systems that are better suited for very tall or large retaining walls. These are typically not aesthetically fit for residential use, but please contact us regarding options if you have a large (engineered) wall you need an affordable solution for.

-Compacted crushed stone base.

-Backfilled with crushed stone, tied into the land with geogrid in taller installations. -Blocks are adhered using masonry adhesive.

*Durable and good looking, but not at all a replacement for natural stone.

*May need additional drainage.

Concrete Retaining Walls

-Metal reinforced concrete base. 42-48in deep concrete posts or footings are needed as part of some bases.

-Metal runs from the base up through the wall in uniform lengths vertically and horizontally, and is tied together.

-Backfilled with crushed stone

*Concrete walls are economical and durable.

*Additional drainage is needed. Please ask your Contractor what their plans are to manage water.

Concrete retaining walls have many of the same qualities as cement block walls. However, cement block is usually less expensive for the same installation quality in most residential applications unless a large wall is needed. Concrete walls are economical when in their proper use cases, durable, and can typically be refaced with stone veneer at any time also.

Concrete often requires skilled carpentry work and lots of expensive wood to create the forms, incredible amounts of metal reinforcement, as well as many hands on the job to complete the pour correctly. These are a few main factors that can make quality concrete expensive for many residential projects. Keep this in mind when getting quotes.

It should be noted that concrete always does crack eventually. Often it is aesthetic, but in a climate like CT, those cracks tend to enlarge and erode further, causing worry and potentially a problem. Block walls can also crack, but almost exclusively along the joint lines, where two blocks are joined with mortar. This is typically easier to repair. and is less common than in concrete retaining walls.