Concrete retaining walls in Holland MI - a wall built for the water and weight behind it
Wall leaning, bulging or holding water? We'll find the cause, then repair it or pour a new one built for what it holds back.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Should you repair your wall or rebuild it?
It usually comes down to how much of the wall has moved and whether it was built to drain. If only part is failing, I'll tell you honestly whether repair makes more sense.
A repair is enough when:
- Only one section has bulged
- The rest of the wall stands straight
- Water drains out at the base
- It sits on a proper footing
- Cracks are small and not spreading
A new wall is better when:
- Most of the wall leans or bulges
- There's no drainage behind it
- It was built without a designed footing
- You're adding a driveway or patio above
- Earlier patches keep failing
How a retaining wall job goes
Call and site visit
When you call, I come out myself, look at the wall and the slope with you and listen to what you have in mind. Please point out anything that sits above it.
A visit with me
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out what's included in the job, so you know exactly what you're paying for and can compare it fairly with other bids.
A written estimate
Permits, then a date
We check on permits with your local office before we set a start date, since Holland may take 2 to 4 weeks to review submitted plans.
A start date
Ground first, then the pour
We prepare the ground and the drainage before any concrete goes down, and our own crew forms and pours the wall with me on site.
A finished wall
Walk-through and clean-up
When the wall is done, we clean up, walk it with you and explain how to look after it, including keeping the drain outlets clear.
Care instructions
What our retaining wall work includes
Site and load check
We look at the slope, the ground and whatever sits above the wall before deciding how it should be built.
Removing the old wall
If a failed wall is coming out, we break it up and haul it away so the new one starts clean.
Digging out and packing
We dig down past loose dirt and pack the base firm, so the wall doesn't settle as the soil does.
Forms and rebar
We set the forms and the rebar, the steel bars inside that help the wall hold together under the soil's push.
The pour and curing
We pour the wall and give it time to cure, the slow hardening that has to happen before soil goes against it.
Drainage and backfill
Gravel backfill and a drain pipe along the base give water a way out instead of letting it press on the wall.
What sets the price of a retaining wall?
The wall's height and length come first, because together they decide how much concrete, steel and forming the job takes. After that, it's what the wall has to hold back. A wall below a driveway or a steep slope has to be built heavier than one beside a flower bed, and the drainage, the digging and the gravel behind it all add to the work.
Access matters too, since a tight side yard can mean more digging by hand, and tearing out an old wall adds its own work. If the wall is part of a bigger project, like concrete floor installation in a walkout basement or a concrete pool deck on the level ground above, we can plan both in one estimate.
Why Holland homeowners call us for retaining walls
I care most about the part of a wall nobody sees once it's backfilled, the packed base and the drainage behind it. We pay close attention to the water behind a wall and to what sits above it, like a driveway or a slope. If a budget gets tight, I'd rather keep those right and leave the face plain than the other way around.
In Michigan, anyone building a residential structure must hold a residential builder license from the state, and a maintenance and alteration contractor's license lists the trades it covers, such as concrete and excavation. It's fair to ask any contractor which one they hold. We're licensed and insured. Please call (616) 801-4861 or use the form below to get started.
- I write your estimate myself
- Our own crew, with me on site
- Your satisfaction, guaranteed
Get a free estimate for your retaining wall
Please send photos of the wall and note what sits above it, like a driveway. We'll reply within one business day to set a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
(616) 801-4861Retaining wall questions from Holland
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Holland, MI?
Poured concrete retaining walls in the Grand Rapids area usually cost about $30 to $40 per square foot of wall face, the side you see, measured by height and length. That's the going rate in the area, not our price, and your written estimate spells out what's included for your wall.
Should I repair or rebuild my leaning retaining wall?
A wall that leans or bulges across most of its length, has no drainage or was built without a designed footing usually needs rebuilding, while a single bulge in an otherwise sound, well-drained wall can usually be repaired. That's one landscape contractor's general guidance. Once I've seen yours, I'll tell you honestly which makes more sense.
What causes a retaining wall to fail?
Most retaining walls fail because water builds up behind them, not because the concrete was weak. One West Michigan supplier notes that water sitting behind a wall through winter freezes and expands against it, which is why the drainage plan is the main thing to compare between bids.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Holland, MI?
The city's permit list doesn't settle it, so it's worth asking before any work starts. The list names flat concrete work as needing a permit and landscaping as not, says it isn't complete, and the city asks owners to email permits@cityofholland.com with questions first. On a lot in a Critical Dune Area, the state's dune program lists retaining walls among work that typically needs a permit application, and we can file the application for you or help you with it.
Is a leaning retaining wall dangerous?
It can be, when the wall is still moving and holds back a slope near your driveway, patio or house. One contractor advises having it looked at before summer rains or the next freeze-thaw cycle add more pressure, so please call if yours has started to tip.
How do I make sure a new retaining wall can handle a driveway above it?
Tell your contractor at the estimate about every load the wall will carry, such as a driveway, a pool, a slope above or a truck that parks nearby, because that weight changes what the wall has to be. Owners who name those loads up front get a wall planned for their own site.
Where we work around Holland
We're based in Holland and work in Zeeland, Grand Rapids and many of the cities nearby. Please choose your area below, or call if yours isn't listed.
Get a wall quote from Holland Concrete Company
Call (616) 801-4861 any day, early morning to late evening, or send photos through the form.