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Tyler, Texas

Retaining walls in Tyler

Block, stone and timber retaining walls for Tyler slopes, built on a real base with drainage behind them so they stay straight.

  • Smith County, Texas
  • Free written estimate within a day
  • Same crew every visit, never subcontracted
Timber wall lined up along the pad edge, White Oak, TX
Pictured: Timber wall lined up along the pad edge, White Oak, TX

Who builds retaining walls in Tyler, TX?

Yard Dog Landscapes, a family-owned, fully insured company based in Longview, builds retaining walls in Tyler and across Smith County. We've worked East Texas yards since 2017 and hold a 5.0 rating across 143 Google reviews. We build block, stone, boulder and timber walls on a compacted base with gravel backfill and a drain behind them. Most walls run $3,000 to $19,000, mostly set by height and length. Request a free walkthrough in Tyler online.

Retaining Walls for Tyler yards

Tyler lots with a drop toward the street or a back fence are where walls make the most sense, turning a slope you can't use into level yard. We build segmental block or natural stone on a compacted base set below grade, with gravel backfill, a drain to daylight and geogrid on taller walls. Most walls fall between $3,000 and $19,000, with height and length setting the number.

A retaining wall has one job: hold back dirt that wants to move. Done right, it turns a slope into flat, usable yard, stops erosion and keeps water off the foundation. Done wrong, it leans, bows and cracks within a few seasons. The difference is almost always in the parts you can't see.

What's included

  • Segmental block retaining walls
  • Natural stone, boulder and timber walls
  • Seating walls and short garden walls
  • Terraced walls that step down a steep grade
  • Rebuilds of leaning or failed walls
  • Compacted base and gravel backfill
  • Drain pipe and outlet behind every wall
  • Geogrid reinforcement on taller walls

How the job goes

We build walls year-round. A dry stretch is the best time to dig and compact, since wet clay won't pack down right. If a slope is already washing out or a wall is starting to lean, don't wait for the spring rains to make it worse.

  1. Read the slope

    We walk the site, measure the grade change, find where the water comes from, and figure out what the wall has to hold.

  2. Spec and price the wall

    You get a written, itemized estimate with the material, height, length and drainage. If the wall is tall enough to need a stamped engineering plan, we tell you at the walkthrough.

  3. Dig and set the base

    We excavate below grade, compact a crushed stone base and set the first course dead level.

  4. Build it up with drainage

    Each course goes up with gravel backfill behind it, a perforated drain at the bottom, and geogrid on taller walls.

  5. Finish and grade

    We finish the top of the wall, grade the ground above and below it so water moves off, and haul away the spoil.

Examples of our retaining walls work

Real jobs by our crew around East Texas. Each photo says where it was taken.

See all 174 photos
Finished boat and RV pad with timber wall and gravel, White Oak, TX
Finished boat and RV pad with timber wall and gravelWhite Oak, TX
Curved block wall stepping past the shop with a flagstone landing, Lake Cherokee, Longview, TX
Curved block wall stepping past the shop with a flagstone landingLake Cherokee, Longview, TX
Capped block retaining wall along a fence, East Texas
Capped block retaining wall along a fenceEast Texas
Level gravel pad ready for the boat and RV, White Oak, TX
Level gravel pad ready for the boat and RVWhite Oak, TX

Retaining Walls questions in Tyler

Do taller retaining walls in Tyler need an engineer?

Walls over about four feet usually need engineered design and reinforcement. We handle the base prep, geogrid and drainage those walls need, and if your project calls for a stamped engineering plan, we'll tell you during the walkthrough.

How much does a retaining wall cost in Tyler, TX?

Most walls we build run $3,000 to $19,000, and height and length move the number most. A short garden wall starts at a few thousand dollars. A tall structural wall with geogrid and drainage runs $20,000 or more. The material and how much digging the slope needs matter too. We walk the site and send a written, itemized estimate before any dirt moves.

What is the best retaining wall material for East Texas?

For most yards, segmental block from brands like Belgard and Pavestone. It locks together, flexes with the ground and goes up clean. Natural stone and boulder walls cost more but look great on the right property. Pressure-treated timber fits some jobs, like the timber wall we built for a raised boat and RV pad in White Oak.

Do retaining walls need drainage?

Yes, and in East Texas clay it's the most important part of the build. Water that collects behind a wall builds pressure and pushes it out over time. Every wall we build gets gravel backfill and a perforated drain that carries water to daylight or a pop-up emitter, so that pressure never gets a chance to build.

Get a free retaining walls quote in Tyler

Tell us what you need and where. We call within a day, walk the property with you and send a written, itemized estimate. No pressure and no surprise add-ons.

  • Free on-site walkthrough
  • Written estimate, usually within a day
  • Same crew every visit, never subcontracted
  • Fully insured, 5.0 on Google from 143 reviews

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