Retaining Walls
Structural and decorative walls
Retaining Wall Construction
Retaining walls do the invisible work of holding back earth—and when they fail, they fail dramatically. Bulging, cracking, leaning, even total collapse happen when walls lack proper drainage, adequate foundations, or engineering for the loads they face. Whether you need a low garden wall, tiered terracing for a sloped lot, or a serious structural wall holding back thousands of pounds of soil, the construction approach determines whether your wall lasts 5 years or 50.
We build retaining walls with compacted crushed stone bases, perforated drain pipes wrapped in filter fabric, and gravel backfill that relieves hydrostatic pressure rather than letting it build behind the wall. For walls over 2 feet, we engage structural engineering to ensure proper design. Materials range from interlocking segmental blocks (Allan Block, Unilock) for efficient installation to natural stone for artisan character—each selected for your site conditions and aesthetic goals.
Your finished wall manages grade transitions invisibly, creating flat usable space where slopes existed before. We handle the full build from permit through final inspection, delivering walls that drain properly, resist Chicago's freeze-thaw cycles, and become permanent features of your landscape rather than maintenance liabilities.
Your Project
Team
Erik Pederson
“Erik graduated from Michigan State University with a Degree in Landscape Architecture. As a Registered Landscape Architect, he has a great eye for design and an impressive problem-solving mindset. He finds satisfaction in refining design specifics and collaborating with skilled craftspeople to bring projects to completion on-site.”
Kevin Wojtas
“Kevin is a skilled Production Coordinator with extensive experience in the architecture and planning industry. He demonstrates competency across AutoCAD, landscaping, InDesign, public speaking, and sustainable design. He also serves as a media and communications specialist and holds a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.”
David Petlicki
“David is a Chicago native who earned both his BS and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He brings over 10 years of structural engineering experience across a wide variety of residential, educational, commercial, medical, industrial, and military projects, including both adaptive reuse and new construction. He demonstrates a strong commitment to client collaboration and takes satisfaction in developing optimal structural solutions for his projects.”