Concrete retaining walls in White Plains NY - a wall that drains and holds the slope
Slope creeping into your yard or an old wall starting to lean? We build poured walls with the drainage behind them to hold it back.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What a concrete retaining wall does
A concrete retaining wall holds back soil that pushes sideways, so a slope turns into usable yard instead of creeping toward your house. Its footing, steel and drainage should come from a design for your site, not height alone, and changing the backfill, the soil packed behind it, or adding a driveway nearby can undo that design even when the concrete's strong.
The price moves with the wall's height and length, how deep the footing goes, how much drainage it needs, how tricky the design is and how easy it is to get equipment in. The schedule mostly turns on any permit paperwork and on picking a good pour day, and after I measure, the written estimate spells out your price and what's included.
Holds back soil
Takes the sideways push of a slope so the ground above stays put.
Drains from behind
Gravel and a drain pipe let water out before it builds pressure on the wall.
Steel inside
Rebar, steel bars set in the concrete, helps the wall resist bending and cracking.
Formed to your layout
We set forms on site, so a poured wall can follow curves and grade changes.
Which concrete job do you need?
Some jobs are flat slabs you walk or park on, others hold up soil or a building, so start with what's going wrong.
- Concrete driveway buildingThis pageA good fit when your driveway is cracked, sinking or ready to be replaced outright.
- Concrete patio constructionThis pageChoose this when you want a flat, plain slab out back for chairs and a grill.
- Stamped concrete servicesThis pageWorth a look if you want concrete pressed with a stone, brick or tile pattern.
- Concrete sidewalk buildingThis pageRight for a front walk or side path that's heaved, cracked or tripping people up.
- Garage floor concreteThis pageMakes sense when the garage slab is pitted, cracked or holding water near the door.
- Decorative concreteThis pageFor when plain gray won't do and you want color, texture or a custom finish.
- Concrete retaining wallsThis pageThe one to pick when a slope is pushing into your yard, drive or house.
- Concrete floor installationThis pageSuits a basement, shed or addition that needs a solid, level concrete floor inside.
- Concrete pool decksThis pageA good match when the area around your pool needs a slab that sheds water.
- Concrete steps constructionThis pagePick this when the front or back steps are crumbling, loose or uneven underfoot.
- Slab foundation buildingThis pageFits a new garage, addition or outbuilding that will sit on a single poured slab.
- Foundation installationThis pageThe right call when a new build or addition needs foundation walls poured from scratch.
- Concrete parking lot buildingThis pageFor a business or building that needs a larger paved lot laid out and poured.
- Concrete footingsThis pageNeeded when a deck, porch, wall or addition needs solid concrete bases under it.
- Foundation raisingThis pageWorth asking about when part of a foundation has settled and needs lifting back up.
- Concrete cuttingThis pageHandy when you need an opening, a trench or a section of old slab cut out.
Retaining wall ideas
Press any photo to see it larger, and ask us about a style you like.
Why White Plains homeowners call Benchmark
I see every job first
I come out to every job and write the estimate myself, and a small crew I trust builds it, with me usually on site for the pour.
Licensed, insured, easy to check
We're fully licensed and insured, and I'm glad to go over that before anyone digs into your slope, the same way I'd want it checked at my house.
The hidden work comes first
Once the truck shows up you can't send the order back, so if a budget gets tight I'd trim the face finish before skimping on footing or drains.
How a wall job runs, start to finish
I explain every step in plain words as we go and answer every question you've got.
Call or send the form
Call (914) 259-5254 or use the form and tell us about the slope and the wall.
I walk the slope with you
I look at the ground, measure the wall and check where the water runs now.
You get it in writing
The estimate spells out what's included, so you can compare it line by line with other bids.
Prep, then the pour
Once you sign, we sort paperwork, pick a pour date, dig, set forms and drains, then pour and finish.
Clean-up and a final walk
We clean up, and I show you the drain outlets to check after a heavy rain.
Retaining wall questions, answered
Read through the answers on cost, drainage and permits, and ask me about anything they don't cover.
Still wondering about something?
Call (914) 259-5254 or send the form with your question, and I'll give you a straight answer.
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Westchester County?
A retaining wall in Westchester County usually costs about $52 to $57 per square foot, and that's the going rate around here, not our quote. Where yours lands depends on the design, the site and how much work it takes, and I'll put your own price in writing after I walk the job.
Is a block retaining wall cheaper than a poured concrete wall?
A stacked block wall usually costs less to build than a poured one, according to one concrete block trade group's design manual. We build to the design for your site, and if build cost is what matters most, I'll price a block wall right next to a poured one so you can compare.
Why does drainage matter behind a retaining wall?
Water trapped behind a wall can greatly increase the load on it, and that's what leads to leaks, freeze damage and walls that lean. So drainage gets as much attention as the concrete does: gravel, filter fabric, a drain pipe with clear outlets, weep holes where the plans show them, and ground graded to shed water.
How deep does the footing for a retaining wall need to go?
One concrete guide says the bottom of the wall's base should sit at least two feet down and always below the frost line, the depth where the ground freezes in winter. In northern climates that line is often much deeper, which can mean more digging, so we dig to what the design for your site calls for.
Who handles building permits for a retaining wall in White Plains?
The city's Department of Building runs the permit process for building, altering, repairing or removing structures in White Plains. We handle the permit paperwork when a job calls for it and tell you up front which office we'll deal with, since we also work across Westchester and over the line in Stamford, CT.
Do I need an engineer for a retaining wall in White Plains?
A soils engineer is worth bringing in for taller walls and walls with a load above them, going by one block maker's guide. The guide puts walls 4 feet and taller, terraced walls, wet or weak soil, slopes and a driveway above the wall in that group and calls for reinforced building methods there. Specific engineering questions about your property go to the city's Building Department.
How do I check that a contractor is licensed in Westchester County?
Look the contractor up on the list of licensed contractors kept by the county's Department of Consumer Protection, since Westchester law requires home improvement contractors to hold a county license. Licensed contractors also have to display a green sticker on their vehicle's rear bumper showing when the license expires.
Tell us about your wall and slope
Send rough height and length, slope photos and any driveway or building nearby. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, no pressure to book.
White Plains, NY 10601