Retaining Walls & Concrete Masonry
Strong, properly built retaining walls that hold back soil, control erosion, and give your property better structure and usable space.
(605) 305-1070
When Your Yard Needs More Than a Fence
If your property has a slope, a low area that collects water, or soil that's slowly creeping into your driveway or neighbor's yard, you may need a retaining wall. Done right, a retaining wall solves an engineering problem and makes your property look more polished at the same time.
At Elite Sioux Falls Concrete Contractor, we build retaining walls using cast-in-place concrete, concrete block, and large-format masonry units. We pick the right material for your situation based on the height of the wall, the soil conditions, the load behind it, and the look you're going for.
We've built walls on residential properties, commercial sites, and along driveways and parking areas throughout Sioux Falls and the surrounding communities. Each project gets proper drainage design built in so the wall performs long after the job is done.
Types of Retaining Walls and Masonry We Install
There's no one-size-fits-all wall. The right system depends on how much soil you're holding back, how the property drains, and what the finished surface needs to look like. Here's what we commonly build in the Sioux Falls area.
- Cast-in-place concrete walls: Formed and poured reinforced concrete walls are the strongest option for taller walls or those holding back large amounts of soil. They're built to last decades with minimal maintenance.
- Concrete block retaining walls: Segmental block systems like Allan Block or Versa-Lok use interlocking concrete units that are fast to build, visually appealing, and well-suited for most residential applications under 4 feet.
- Large-format masonry walls: For commercial sites or walls that need serious mass, we install large concrete masonry units that provide structural weight and a natural-look finish without the maintenance of natural stone.
- Landscape and garden walls: Shorter decorative walls that define planting beds, add terracing to a sloped yard, or frame a patio area — built to look good and hold up to the elements.
- Drainage-integrated walls: Every wall we build includes a drainage plan. We install gravel backfill and drainage pipe behind the wall to prevent hydrostatic pressure from building up and pushing the wall forward.
Retaining walls often work alongside other concrete work on a property. See how we handle the broader scope on our commercial concrete services page.
Why Most Retaining Walls Fail (And How We Prevent It)
A retaining wall isn't just stacked blocks or poured concrete. It's a structure that fights soil pressure every single day. Here's what causes walls to lean, crack, or fall over — and what we do to make sure yours doesn't.
Poor Drainage Behind the Wall
Water is the number one enemy of retaining walls. When water can't drain away from behind the wall, it builds up pressure called hydrostatic pressure. Over time, that pressure pushes the wall forward. We always install a gravel drainage layer and perforated drain pipe behind the wall to carry water away before it can build up.
Inadequate Footing or Base
Walls that lean or tip forward almost always have an inadequate base. For cast-in-place walls, we pour a reinforced footing below the frost line — in South Dakota, that's typically 42 to 48 inches deep. For block walls, we bury the first course and use a compacted gravel base so the wall starts level and stays level.
Batter and Setback
Block retaining walls are designed with a slight backward lean called batter — usually 1 inch back for every foot of height. This lean uses the weight of the wall itself to resist soil pressure. Walls built perfectly vertical have no mechanical advantage against the soil behind them and are much more likely to tip.
Right Material for the Height
Segmental block systems are great up to about 4 feet for residential use. Above that, the engineering gets more complex — geogrid reinforcement, larger footing depths, and sometimes engineered drawings are required. We'll tell you upfront what your wall needs based on its height and the conditions on your property.
For properties that need a complete outdoor concrete upgrade, our sidewalks, walkways, and flatwork service handles all the horizontal surfaces to go with your new wall.
Ready to Solve Your Slope or Erosion Problem?
We serve Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, Tea, and communities throughout the surrounding area. Call us to schedule a free site visit and estimate. We'll look at your slope, talk through your options, and give you a clear plan. See everything we do on the Elite Sioux Falls Concrete Contractor home page.
(605) 305-1070Common Questions About Retaining Walls
In most cases, retaining walls under 4 feet tall in Sioux Falls do not require a building permit, but you should confirm with the city before starting any work. Walls taller than 4 feet typically require a permit and may need engineered drawings depending on the soil conditions and load behind the wall. We can help you understand what your project requires and point you in the right direction before we start.
A well-built concrete or masonry retaining wall can last 50 years or more. The two biggest factors in longevity are proper drainage and an adequate footing below the frost line. Walls that fail early almost always have one or both of those things wrong. When we build your wall, drainage and footing depth are the first two things we plan — not afterthoughts.
It depends on how much it's leaning and what caused the movement. Minor leaning on a block wall can sometimes be corrected by rebuilding the top portion and improving the drainage behind it. If the base has shifted significantly or the wall has moved more than a few inches, a full rebuild is usually the safer and more cost-effective long-term answer. We'll assess your wall, tell you what we find, and give you an honest recommendation either way.