Poured Concrete Walls
A solid wall formed and poured in place, with steel inside. It is the strong choice for a steep bank or a wall next to a driveway.
Pittsburgh Retaining Wall Contractor
New Walls · Repairs · Replacements · Drainage
Have a slope that needs holding back, or a wall that has started to lean? Tell us about it and get a free estimate from a local Pittsburgh contractor.
- Free estimates
- Poured concrete and block walls
- All of Allegheny County
Get a Free Estimate
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One or two local concrete contractors will call or email you. We never text.
- Free Estimates Getting a price for your project costs nothing.
- Local to Pittsburgh The city and all of Allegheny County.
- Every Home Concrete Job New, replacement and repair work.
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Retaining Wall Services
New walls, repairs and replacements for sloped yards across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
Block Walls
Stacked concrete blocks that lock together. They come in many colors and faces and suit garden beds and lower slopes.
Wall Repair
Is your wall cracked, bulging or starting to lean? Caught early, many walls can be fixed.
See Concrete RepairWall Replacement
Old timber or failing stone walls taken out and rebuilt in concrete.
Drainage Fixes
Water trapped behind a wall is what pushes it over, so new drain stone and pipe often come first.
Steps Through the Slope
Concrete steps built into the wall make a hillside yard easy to walk.
See Concrete StepsHow Your Free Estimate Works
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Tell Us About Your Project
Pick the job, add your ZIP code and a few details. Photos help.
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Get a Call Back
One or two local concrete contractors call or email you to talk it through and set up a visit.
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Get Your Estimate
They look at the job and give you a price. Then you decide.
Retaining Walls for Pittsburgh Hillsides
Pittsburgh is full of steep yards, and a wall holding back a wet hillside is under a lot of pressure. When a wall leans or cracks, water trapped behind it or a weak footing is usually the reason.
Inside the City of Pittsburgh, taller walls need a permit, and other towns set their own rules. Your contractor can tell you what your wall needs.
What keeps a hillside wall standing
- A footing set below the frost line
- Clean drain stone behind the wall
- A drain pipe that carries water away
- Backfill packed down in layers
- An engineered design for taller walls
Retaining Wall Rules in Pittsburgh
Thousands of landslides have been mapped in Allegheny and Washington Counties. The first two answers apply inside the City of Pittsburgh, and other towns set their own rules.
When Does a Wall Need a Permit?
Low walls are exempt, but taller walls and walls that hold up a driveway or other load need one. The City measures a wall's height from the bottom of its footing, not from the ground.
What If My Lot Is in a Landslide-Prone Area?
Then a permit application for a retaining wall needs a report from a certified geotechnical professional. Your contractor can check whether your lot is in one.
Will Insurance Cover Damage From a Slide?
Usually not. Damage from earth movement is typically left out of homeowners policies unless that coverage was bought separately, so it is worth checking yours.
Other Concrete Services
Serving Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
Free estimates for homes in Pittsburgh and every town in Allegheny County.
Retaining Wall Questions
How much does a retaining wall cost?
Across the US, a retaining wall typically runs $35 to $65 per square foot of wall, materials and labor included. Your price depends on the height and length of the wall, the material, the drainage it needs and how easy the site is to reach. Your free estimate gives you a real price for your wall.
What is the cheapest kind of retaining wall?
For low garden walls, block usually costs less than poured concrete. Taller walls and walls holding up a driveway often need poured concrete with steel inside.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
Inside the City of Pittsburgh, taller walls and walls that hold up a driveway or other load need a permit. Other towns set their own rules, and your contractor can tell you what your wall needs.
Why is my retaining wall leaning?
Most often, water is building up behind it. A wall without good drain stone and a drain pipe takes on more pressure than it was built for, so have it looked at soon. See concrete repair.
Does a retaining wall need a footing?
Yes, every wall needs a solid base. A poured concrete wall sits on a footing set below the frost line so it does not heave in winter, and a block wall sits on a compacted gravel pad. Your contractor sizes it for your wall.
Can steps be built into a retaining wall?
Yes. Concrete steps can be built into the slope as part of the job, which makes a hillside yard easier to use.
Need a Retaining Wall?
Tell us about your slope or your old wall and get a free estimate from a local contractor.