Concrete retaining walls in Orange CA - built to hold your slope and drain the water
A slope slumping into your yard, or an old wall leaning and leaking? We build one designed to hold the ground behind it.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Fix the old wall or build a new one?
If the wall stands straight and the trouble is water or surface wear, a repair often holds. If it leans or the footing has moved, a new wall is usually the better money.
A repair is enough when:
- The wall stands plumb and straight
- Only the drain outlets are clogged
- Cracks are fine and not growing
- The face is chipping but solid
- The footing hasn't shifted
A new wall is better when:
- It leans or has moved forward
- The footing has cracked or shifted
- Leaks keep coming back
- There's no drainage behind it
- Soil is spilling over the top
How your wall gets built
Call or send a message
Call (714) 787-1676 or use the form, and mention any driveway planned near the wall, because I want it in the design from the start.
A visit set up
I come out and measure
I come out, measure the slope, look at what's there and where the water runs, then explain what I'd build and why.
A plan explained
You get it in writing
I send a written estimate that spells out what's included and what isn't, so the footing, steel and drainage are all down on paper.
A written quote
Permits and forms
Once you say yes, we take care of any permit steps, then set the forms and check every one before the concrete truck backs in.
Forms ready to pour
Cleanup and walkthrough
We clean up and go over the finished wall with you, including where the drain outlets are, since keeping them clear is your part.
A finished wall
What a concrete retaining wall job includes
Footing sized for the wall
A concrete footing sized for your wall, which keeps it from tipping forward or sliding under the soil's push.
Steel reinforcement
Rebar, the steel bars inside the concrete, placed where the design calls for it so the wall resists the soil's pressure.
The pour and finish
We place and finish the concrete in the checked forms, then let it gain strength before anything leans on it.
Drainage gravel and filter
Drainage gravel behind the wall with a filter layer that keeps fine soil from clogging the gravel over time.
Drain outlets and runoff
Perforated drain outlets that let trapped water out, with the ground on top shaped so rain runs away from the wall.
Backfill packed in layers
Soil goes back once the wall is strong enough, packed in layers so heavy equipment doesn't overload a young wall.
What drives the cost of a retaining wall?
I don't price a wall by its height alone, because height doesn't tell you how big the footing has to be, how much steel goes in or how much drainage the soil behind it needs. Those come from a design for your project or from the code, so when you compare bids, ask each contractor which one their numbers come from. A cheap bid usually saves its money on the parts that end up buried.
Access matters too, since a narrow side yard means more work by hand and tearing out an old wall adds labor. The schedule mostly turns on permits, because a lot in a flood hazard area or work near a sidewalk adds city review before we can start. Your written estimate lists what's in the price and what isn't.
Why Orange homeowners call us for retaining walls
I learned concrete from a foreman who ran a string down every form before he'd let a truck back in, and I still check ours the same way. I come out to every wall job myself, and our own crew builds it from the first form to the final cleanup. If an old wall isn't worth rebuilding, I'll tell you. Call (714) 787-1676 and I'll come take a look.
- Fully licensed and insured
- Estimates that list what's included
- Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
Get a written estimate for your retaining wall
Send photos of the slope, the wall's rough length and height and any driveway planned nearby. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site visit, with no obligation.
(714) 787-1676Retaining wall questions we get
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Orange County?
A poured concrete retaining wall in Orange County usually costs about $35 to $50 per square foot of wall face, which is the front of the wall you see. That's the going rate in the area, not our price, and the footing, steel, drainage and access on your lot push it one way or the other. I'll give you your own figure in writing after I see the slope.
Why does drainage behind a retaining wall matter?
Water trapped behind a wall can greatly increase the load on it and push through as leaks, so the drainage matters as much as the concrete. Changing the packed soil behind it or letting water collect there can undo the design even when the concrete is strong, which is why the outlets need to stay clear.
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall in Orange, CA?
You do if the wall sits in one of Orange's flood hazard areas, where the city's Public Works Department has to approve the work and issue a grading permit once the grading plans are reviewed. Work in the public right-of-way, which often takes in sidewalks and parkways, needs an encroachment permit from the city, and the state's mapped earthquake hazard zones trigger geologic and engineering studies before construction begins. For any other wall, ask Public Works, and when a permit is needed we pull it, schedule the inspections and tell you up front what the city will want to see.
How do I find out if my property in Orange is in a flood hazard area?
Ask the city, which can tell you whether your property sits inside one of the FEMA flood hazard areas. In Orange those lie near the Santa Ana River, Santiago Creek and Handy Creek, so if you're close to one, check before you plan the wall.
Which license covers concrete work in California?
In California, the C-8 Concrete Contractor classification covers forming, pouring, placing, finishing and installing concrete work. We're fully licensed and insured.
What causes a concrete retaining wall to lean or crack?
Usually trapped water, a footing that doesn't suit the soil it holds, or ground settling underneath. Walls held upright by their footing are among the least tolerant of settlement, which is the ground sinking under them, so firm ground beneath the footing matters as much as the concrete above it.
Areas we serve around Orange
We're based in Orange and build walls in Garden Grove, Tustin and the cities around them. Pick your city below, or call if yours isn't listed.
Ask Cornerstone Orange Concrete for a quote
Call (714) 787-1676 and I'll walk the slope with you before anything gets dug or poured.