Excavation & sitework · Retaining walls
Retaining walls, from the dig to the finished wall.
A retaining wall is only as good as the cut, base & drainage behind it. GeothermalKC handles the excavation, base & drainage, & GeothermalKC builds the wall & the finish work around it.
Groundwork that keeps a wall standing
Walls fail when the base settles or water builds up behind them. The excavation, compacted base & drainage aggregate are the parts that do not show once the wall is finished, & they are the parts that decide how long it lasts.
Taller walls, walls near structures & walls holding back driveways or slopes often need an engineered design. GeothermalKC builds to the drawings or specification & asks for engineering where it is needed rather than guessing.
One company from the first dig to the finished build, with compact excavation equipment suited to tight residential access, for projects across the Kansas City metro & surrounding counties.
What the work includes
- Excavating the cut for the wall & its base
- Placing & compacting base material
- Drainage aggregate & drain pipe behind the wall where specified
- Backfilling & compacting behind the wall as it rises
- Moving block & material on site with the mini track loader
- Final grading around the finished wall
Excavation & build
From the base to the finished landscape
The wall is often part of a larger change to the site. The work around it can be built on the same job.
Request Consultation- The retaining wall itself
- Steps & walks
- Patios & outdoor living areas above or below the wall
- Drainage & regrading
- Final landscaping
How a retaining wall project runs
Consultation request
Send photos, the wall length & height, & any drawings.
Site walk
Access, what the wall is holding back, drainage & utilities are checked.
Written scope
Excavation, base, drainage, backfill & who supplies the wall system are agreed.
Excavation & base
The cut is dug & the base is placed & compacted to the specification.
Backfill & grade
Drainage & backfill go in as the wall rises, then the area is graded.
Typical projects & exclusions
Typical projects
- Landscape & yard walls with drawings or a clear specification
- Sites with tight access for larger equipment
- Projects where drainage behind the wall matters
Not included
- Wall designs that need an engineer, until the engineered design is in hand
- Very tall walls that need larger equipment
Common questions
Do I need an engineer for my retaining wall?
It depends on the height, what the wall holds back & local rules. Taller walls & walls near buildings or driveways often do. GeothermalKC asks for the engineered design where it is needed & builds to it.
Why does drainage behind a retaining wall matter?
Water trapped behind a wall adds pressure & can push it over time. Drainage aggregate & a drain pipe behind the wall relieve that pressure, so they are part of the scope unless the design says otherwise.
Can GeothermalKC build the wall too?
Yes. GeothermalKC excavates & prepares the base, then builds the wall, the drainage behind it & the grading around it. The wall system is agreed in the written scope.
Project consultations
Request a Consultation
Retaining walls & the build that follows, across the Kansas City metro & surrounding counties. Consultation requests with the location & photos of the site are the quickest to schedule.