Concrete retaining walls in Lowell MA - a wall that drains and holds your yard
A bank washing onto the driveway, or an old wall leaning and cracking? We build concrete walls that let water out and hold the ground.
Concrete retaining walls are mostly about water
A concrete retaining wall holds back the soil behind it, called backfill, and gives you flat ground where there was a slope. Most calls start with a bank washing onto the driveway or an old wall leaning and leaking mud at its base, and usually the cause is water trapped behind it.
At Solid Form Lowell Concrete we plan drainage first, because trapped water is what pushes a wall over. Height, length, the wall's design and access move the price, and the schedule turns on any permit and on letting the wall gain strength before backfill. Your written estimate shows your own price and what it includes. We're based in Lowell and work in Dracut, Nashua and the cities around them.
- Drainage planned before the forms go up
- Drain stone and filter fabric behind the wall
- Outlets you can reach and clear later
- Backfill packed in layers, not dumped in
Which kind of wall fits your slope
The design decides how much concrete goes in and how much planning the build takes, so it helps to know which kind of wall a quote is based on.
Regrade, no wall
- When it fits
- A gentle slope that only needs reshaping so water runs away.
- The trade-off
- There's nothing to pour, but you won't gain much flat ground.
Reinforced wall
- When it fits
- Most yard walls, where you want a slimmer wall and more usable ground.
- The trade-off
- It uses much less concrete but needs more design work and careful building.
Solid gravity wall
- When it fits
- Shorter walls where there's room for a thick, heavy wall.
- The trade-off
- Its own weight does the holding, so it takes much more concrete.
How we build a wall that drains
A look at the slope
After you call or write, I come out myself, walk the slope with you, look at where the water runs and answer your questions.
A written estimate
You get a written estimate that names the wall design it's based on and what's included, so you can compare it fairly with other quotes.
Permit and layout
If you go ahead, we apply for any permit the job needs as the contractor, tell you which office is involved and get underground lines marked.
Drainage and the pour
Our crew lead and finishers dig, set the forms and rebar, the steel that carries the load, and pour with drain outlets you can reach later.
Backfill and walkthrough
Once the wall has gained strength, we place the drain stone and pack the backfill in layers, then walk the finished job with you before calling it done.
What to settle before we dig
These points decide which wall fits your yard, what goes into the estimate and how water leaves your property once the wall is in.
Where your water goes
Downspouts and yard drains usually work best emptying away from a wall rather than beside it, so I look at your roof water too, not just the slope.
Outlets you can reach
Ice can block the weep holes, the small drain openings in a wall, so drainage guides suggest clearing them and the outlets in late fall.
Comparing quotes fairly
Ask which wall design each quote is based on and whether drainage is included, and get it in a signed contract, which the state requires for work estimated at $1,000 or more.
Who you're hiring
A contractor working on an existing owner-occupied home of one to four units must be registered with the state as a Home Improvement Contractor. We're licensed and fully insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Work planned nearby
If the wall is making room for concrete pool decks or a shed on a new concrete floor, plan them together so the drainage and grades work as one.
Retaining walls up close
Look for drain outlets near the base, a face that stands straight up and ground that slopes away from the top. Open any example for a closer look.
Tell us about your wall
Send the wall's planned height and whether your lot sits near wetlands or a floodplain. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free, no-obligation estimate.
To talk now, call
(978) 441-3345Retaining wall questions we hear
Another question? Call (978) 441-3345
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Massachusetts?
A retaining wall in Massachusetts usually costs about $40 to $50 per square foot, a statewide figure and not a Lowell price or ours. Height, the wall's design, the drainage and how easily we can reach the spot move it. Your written estimate shows your own price and what it covers.
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall in Lowell?
Massachusetts requires a permit and a licensed construction supervisor for walls greater than 4 feet in height, and Lowell's Division of Development Services handles building permit applications. For a shorter wall, ask the city what your job needs. When a permit is needed, we apply for it as the contractor and tell you which office is involved.
Does a retaining wall near wetlands need extra approval in Lowell?
It can, because Lowell projects in a resource area such as a floodplain, or within a certain distance of one such as 100 feet of wetlands, can be subject to Conservation Commission review. Tell me at the estimate if your lot sits near wetlands or a floodplain, and we'll check with the city before planning the dig.
Why does a retaining wall need drainage behind it?
Water trapped behind a wall can greatly increase the strain on it and lead to leaks and freeze damage. That's why we plan the drain stone, filter fabric and perforated drain outlets first, shape the ground to shed water, and set the outlets where you can reach them for years of clearing.
What has to happen before digging a retaining wall in Massachusetts?
The state requires contacting Dig Safe at least 72 business hours before digging, not counting weekends or holidays, so underground lines get marked first. City water and sewer lines and private electric lines may not be marked that way, so tell us about any lines you know run through the yard.