Excavation & sitework · Retaining walls
Retaining wall excavation & drainage.
A retaining wall is only as good as the cut, base & drainage behind it. GeothermalKC handles the excavation, the compacted base & the drainage, built to the drawings or specification.
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.
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
What comes next
After the base
The wall is often part of a larger change to the site. GeothermalKC handles the groundwork; patios, steps & outdoor living around the wall are designed & built by All Under One Roof, the design build firm under the same ownership.
Request Consultation- Drainage & rough regrading
- Backfill behind the wall as it rises
- Patios, steps & walks by All Under One Roof (opens in a new tab)
- Outdoor living spaces by All Under One Roof (opens in a new tab)
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
- Walls with drawings or a clear specification, including walls that create level ground for new buildings
- 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 & works 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.
Who builds the wall?
GeothermalKC digs & prepares the base & the drainage behind the wall. Whether setting the wall is part of the same job is agreed in the written scope. Walls that belong to a finished outdoor space, with patios, steps & landscaping, are designed & built by All Under One Roof, the design build firm under the same ownership.
Project consultations
Request a Consultation
Retaining walls across the Kansas City metro & surrounding counties. Consultation requests with the location & photos of the site are the quickest to schedule.