Engineered Retaining Walls Across RI & MA
Structural walls that hold back slopes and drain the water pressure that fails weaker walls.
Or call (401) 258-1789
Retaining Walls
A retaining wall is not decoration, it is structure holding tons of soil in place, and the walls that fail in Rhode Island and Massachusetts almost always fail for the same reason: water. Rain and snowmelt saturate the soil behind the wall, freeze, and generate hydrostatic pressure that bows and topples a wall that was never drained. Levi Construction builds retaining walls that manage that water from the start, with drainage gravel, filter fabric and weep or drain systems behind the face, set on a base below the frost line. Airton, the owner, is on site for the excavation and the build, because a retaining wall is one place where hidden shortcuts show up as a lean within a couple of seasons. We build in segmental block, natural stone and granite to hold slopes, create level yard, and terrace a hillside. With 6 years of structural work across RI and MA, we build walls to carry the load and shed the water.
A retaining wall holds back soil that would otherwise slide, and it works by combining mass, a stable base, and drainage. Behind the visible face sits a drainage zone of clean gravel wrapped in filter fabric, with a perforated drain pipe at the base that carries water away instead of letting it build up. The wall sits on a compacted, leveling base set deep enough to resist frost, and taller walls are stepped back or reinforced with geogrid so the mass of retained soil helps anchor the wall rather than push it over.
Signs You Need Retaining Walls
- A slope on your property is eroding, slumping or washing out in heavy rain
- An existing retaining wall is leaning, bulging or cracking
- You want to carve level, usable yard out of a hillside lot
- You need to terrace a grade into planting beds or seating areas
- Soil is washing down toward your foundation, driveway or patio
- You are managing a change in elevation between your yard and a neighbor or the street
Materials & Options
- Segmental retaining wall block (engineered, interlocking)
- Natural fieldstone and granite for structural stone walls
- Large boulders for boulder retaining walls
- Geogrid soil reinforcement for taller walls
- Clean drainage gravel and filter fabric
- Perforated drain pipe and weep outlets
- Compacted leveling base below the frost line
How We Do It
- 01
Assess the slope and water
We evaluate the grade, the soil, and where water travels, then give a free estimate with the wall type and height suited to the load.
- 02
Excavate and set the base
We dig the base trench below frost depth, compact a leveling pad, and set the first course dead level, since every course above depends on it.
- 03
Build with drainage behind
As we lay each course we backfill with drainage gravel, wrap it in filter fabric, and run a perforated pipe at the base so water never builds pressure on the wall.
- 04
Reinforce and step back
For taller walls we add geogrid into the backfill and step the wall so the retained soil helps hold it, then cap the top for a clean finish.
- 05
Grade and outlet
We grade the top and toe so surface water runs off, confirm the drain outlets daylight, and clean up the site.
Why Homeowners Choose Levi Construction
Drainage engineered in
Gravel, filter fabric and a drain pipe carry water out from behind the wall, so hydrostatic pressure never builds. Water is what topples walls, and we design against it first.
Built below the frost line
The base sits deep enough that RI and MA frost cannot heave it, and taller walls are reinforced so the retained soil anchors them.
Owner on the structural work
Airton oversees the excavation and every course, because this is load-bearing work where hidden shortcuts show up as a lean.
Retaining Walls Near You
Retaining Walls: Common Questions
The most common cause in New England is water pressure. When there is no drainage behind the wall, rain and snowmelt saturate the soil, freeze, and push the wall outward until it bows or topples. We prevent it with a gravel drainage zone, filter fabric and a drain pipe, plus a base below the frost line. Manage the water and the wall holds.
It depends on the height and the town. Many municipalities in RI and MA require engineering and a permit for walls above a certain height, often around four feet of exposed face. During the estimate we flag whether your wall likely falls into that range so it is handled correctly.
It depends on the height, the load and the look you want. Engineered segmental block is strong, consistent and cost-effective for structural walls, natural stone and granite give a timeless New England look, and boulders suit larger grade changes. We match the material to the job and your budget during the free estimate.
Cost typically ranges with the height and length of the wall, the material, and whether the wall needs geogrid reinforcement or extensive drainage. A tall structural wall costs more than a low garden wall because of the base, drainage and reinforcement it requires. We provide a free on-site estimate.
In many cases yes. We assess whether the wall can be corrected and rebuilt with proper drainage or whether it needs to be taken down and rebuilt. The fix almost always includes adding the drainage that was missing the first time, because that is usually why it moved.
Get Your Free Retaining Walls Estimate
Serving Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts. The owner is on every job.