Retaining Wall Builder in Central PA
UDA Services designs and builds retaining walls for homes across Central PA. Drainage stone and a drain pipe go behind every wall our crews build. A typical retaining wall takes one to two weeks to build.
This curved block wall holds back a sloped yard.
PA Home Improvement Contractor registration PA144609Fully insuredWorkmanship covered for one yearServing Central Pennsylvania since 2018
What Is a Retaining Wall?
A retaining wall is a wall built to hold back soil where the ground changes height. It turns a slope into level ground you can use for a patio, a lawn or a driveway. UDA Services builds retaining walls as part of the hardscapes and outdoor spaces we design. The soil behind a wall pushes on it, and water in that soil pushes harder. A wall fails when it leans, bulges or cracks under that load. A wall is one of many projects a Central PA general contractor builds around a home.
Which Types of Retaining Walls Does UDA Services Build?
Retaining walls are named by what they are built from. We build segmental block walls and timber walls. Each type has its own build and look.
- Segmental block walls stack interlocking concrete units without mortar, each course set back from the one below.
- Capped block walls finish with a flat stone cap that can double as a seat.
- Timber walls stack pressure-treated timbers against the slope.
We install or work with Techo-Bloc, Cambridge and Unilock wall block. Large concrete wall blocks suit taller walls on the same principle. Our page on retaining wall blocks and materials compares the options.
How Do You Build a Retaining Wall?
Building a retaining wall means setting a level base below ground and stacking the wall on it with drainage behind. Our crews build each wall in six steps.
- Dig a trench below the finished grade along the wall line.
- Lay filter fabric and a compacted gravel base in the trench.
- Set the first course level, partly buried, as the base course.
- Stack the courses, filling behind each one with drainage stone.
- Run a drain pipe behind the bottom course to carry water away.
- Cap the top and backfill the soil behind the stone.
Taller walls get layers of geogrid reaching back into the soil.
Why Does a Retaining Wall Need Drainage?
Drainage lets rain water escape from behind a wall instead of building pressure against it. UDA Services puts drainage stone and a drain pipe behind every wall it builds. Wet soil weighs more and pushes harder than dry soil. Water that freezes behind a wall in a Central PA winter expands and can push blocks out of line. The drain pipe carries water to a lower spot or out at the ends of the wall. Read how each part works on our retaining wall drainage page.
When Does a Retaining Wall Need an Engineer?
A retaining wall needs an engineer when it holds back over 48 inches of unbraced soil, under the International Residential Code. An engineered wall is one designed and stamped by a licensed engineer for its height and load. A wall over 24 inches tall that holds up a load, such as a driveway above it, needs that design too. UDA Services brings in an engineer for the design when a wall requires one. Taller walls get geogrid as part of that design.
Can a Retaining Wall Make Room for a Patio?
Yes, a retaining wall can cut into a slope to make a level patio beside it. A wall around a patio can also rise into a seat wall at sitting height. The same wall can carry steps down to the yard. One reviewer had us build a deck and a retaining wall for the same home. Walls level a front yard beside a driveway or a walk as well. Pair a wall with our paver patio installation for a level space to sit.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Retaining Wall?
A typical UDA Services retaining wall takes one to two weeks to build. Build time runs from digging the trench to setting the last cap. A wall with a patio or steps on top adds time. An engineered wall waits for its design before work starts. These times run from the start of work to the finished wall.
What Sets the Price of a Retaining Wall?
A retaining wall is priced mainly by its face area, which is its length times its height. You get a written estimate for the wall after a free site visit. Four factors move that price.
- The face area sets how much block or stone the wall needs.
- Block or timber changes the cost of the material.
- Access for equipment and the digging the slope needs change the ground work.
- Geogrid and an engineer design add to the cost of taller walls.
Typical ranges per square foot are on our retaining wall cost page.
Which Retaining Wall Contractor Should You Hire in Central PA?
You should hire a wall contractor that builds the drainage and the base as carefully as the face. UDA Services builds every wall with drainage stone and a drain pipe, and taller walls with geogrid. Four reasons support that choice.
- Our crew handles the ground, the drainage and the heavy equipment on every wall.
- UDA Services is a registered PA Home Improvement Contractor, number PA144609, with full insurance.
- Our workmanship is covered for one year.
- Customers rate UDA Services 4.9 out of 5 from 43 Google reviews.
Had a retaining wall installed. Easy company to deal with. Very happy with there work. Would recommend them highly. 5 star
Working with UDA was a pleasure from the start. Phenomenal communication throughout the entire process. They are very clean on the work site and you can tell they truly care about their craftsmanship. Each crew member that was on site was super professional and polite. Jake delivered on everything that was proposed during the design of deck and retaining wall. I cannot wait to complete future projects with this same company. 10/10 would highly recommend.
Jake and Team can make it happen! I met with Jake to build a "custom" garage. From the initial visit to completion, his team never failed. He took my vision and worked with me every step of the way. His knowledge was very helpful in making suggestions to improve design. This project involved quite a bit of earth moving and Jake eased the stress of that, his crew knew exactly what they had to do. I can't say enough about Jake and his team, they are the hardest, sincere professionals I've seen. Daniel, Nate and crew are hard working talented workers. I have no problem recommending UDA services for any project you may have. If you want an honest, reliable, experienced, personal contractor, UDA services won't let you down. Would definitely use them for any future projects.
What Else Do Homeowners Ask About Retaining Walls?
Homeowners also ask about steps, permits, plantings and the site visit. Short answers to those come next.
Can Steps Be Built Into a Retaining Wall?
Yes, steps can be built into a block retaining wall to reach the upper level. We set the steps from the same block as the wall, with a cap on each tread.
Do You Need a Permit for a Retaining Wall?
Yes, for a wall over 4 feet tall or one holding up a load, under 34 Pa. Code 403.62. Whether a retaining wall needs a permit depends on its height and on your township. UDA Services applies for the permit when one is required.
Does UDA Services Plant the Beds Behind a Wall?
No, UDA Services builds the wall and backfills it but does not offer planting. A landscaper of your choice can plant the beds once the wall is finished.
What Happens at a Retaining Wall Site Visit?
At the free site visit we look at the slope, the height the wall must hold and where water runs. From that, you get a written estimate with the wall type and the payment terms.
- PA Home Improvement Contractor registration PA144609
- Fully insured
- Workmanship covered for one year
- Serving Central Pennsylvania since 2018