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Retaining Wall Contractor in Greenville NC for Leaning Walls, Washing Banks, and Uneven Yards

Block, concrete, and stone faced retaining walls with drainage that has somewhere to go, built to North Carolina code. Zavala Masonry & Concrete LLC is a retaining wall contractor (Greenville NC) that builds segmental block, reinforced block, poured concrete, and stone or brick faced walls. We build for erosion, grade changes, and driveway and patio walls across Greenville NC and Pitt County. Every wall gets a crushed stone base, drainage stone and pipe with a planned outlet, and an engineer’s plan when North Carolina code requires one.

  • Drainage Planned Before We Dig
  • NC 811 Called First
  • Masonry and Concrete Crew
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Signs Your Yard Needs a Retaining Wall Instead of More Mulch and Sod

  • Soil and mulch wash onto the patio, driveway, or sidewalk after storms.
  • A ditch or creek bank keeps eating into the yard.
  • You want a grade change leveled for a patio, pool deck, or lawn.
  • A driveway cut or raised house pad has a bank that keeps sliding.
  • An old timber, railroad tie, or block wall is leaning, bulging, or rotting.

An erosion control wall stops soil from moving. If water pooling is the main problem, we tell you when regrading and drainage are the better answer.

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Car driving on highway next to retaining wall in Greenville NC

Block and Concrete Retaining Walls Our Crew Builds Across Greenville NC

This page covers walls that hold back soil; freestanding garden and privacy walls are on our brick and block walls page.

A wall made of rough, tan-colored stones

Segmental Block Retaining Walls

A segmental retaining wall uses dry stacked interlocking units that meet ASTM C1373, with geogrid on taller walls. We recommend a block retaining wall for most residential banks.
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Gabion wall filled with light-colored rocks

Reinforced Concrete Block Retaining Walls

A concrete block retaining wall sits on a poured footing with rebar and grouted cells. We recommend it for tight spaces and walls close to a house or garage.
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A rustic stone wall with yellow daffodils and dry grass, retaining wall contractor, Greenville NC

Poured Concrete Retaining Walls

A poured concrete retaining wall is formed and reinforced on site. We recommend it for driveway cuts, loads above the wall, and spots where the wall must be thin and strong.
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A pile of rocks sitting on top of a grass covered field

Stone and Brick Faced Retaining Walls

A stone retaining wall or brick retaining wall from our crew has a structural block or concrete core with a stone or brick face matched to your house.
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Stone wall with autumn trees and manicured hedges

Terraced Retaining Walls

Terraced retaining walls split one tall bank into two or more shorter walls that step down into level beds or lawn.
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Stone gabion wall with dry grass and green plants

Driveway and Grade Walls

A driveway retaining wall holds the bank along a driveway cut or raised house pad. We also build grade walls at patio and pool deck edges.
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Also see block foundations, stone installation, pavers, and concrete patios.

Stone wall with plants in the foreground

Does Your Retaining Wall Need an Engineer Under North Carolina Code?

We check every wall against North Carolina Residential Code R404.4 before pricing. We build an engineered retaining wall from a registered design professional’s plan when the wall:

  • Holds back more than 48 inches (4 feet) of unbalanced fill, the North Carolina Residential Code limit. Unbalanced fill is the difference in ground level from front to back, not total wall height or depth to the footing
  • Crosses a property line, at any height
  • Supports a building or sits close to one
  • Is one of stacked walls whose combined height passes the limit
  • Carries a driveway, parking, slope, fence, or structure above it

We confirm the current threshold for your address. When code requires an engineer’s design, we build from that plan and tell you before pricing. See the NC Office of State Fire Marshal code amendments.

The Leveling Pad, Drainage Stone,
Filter Fabric, and Geogrid We Build Into Every Wall

As a retaining wall contractor, we follow this standard on every job.

Retaining wall parts, what we build, and why it matters to you
PartWhat we buildWhy it matters to you
Leveling padAt least 6 inches of compacted ¾ inch crushed stone, never sand or pea gravelA firm base that will not shift
Buried first courseSet below grade, about 10 percent of the exposed heightKeeps the base from kicking out
Drainage stoneAt least 12 inches of clean crushed stone behind the wall, full heightRelieves water pressure
Filter fabricNon woven fabric between drainage stone and native soilStops clay from clogging the stone
Drain pipePerforated pipe at the base with a planned outletCarries water away
GeogridLayers tied into backfill on taller walls, per the designLocks the soil mass to the wall
Backfill and capsCompacted in lifts, caps set with adhesivePrevents settling behind the wall

Retaining wall drainage starts at the first course. For reinforced block and poured concrete retaining walls, we pour a reinforced footing, set rebar, add weep holes or drain pipe, and seal the soil side. Our segmental builds follow CMHA guidance.

Where the Drain Water Goes on a Flat Greenville NC Lot

On flat lots, a drain pipe with no lower place to empty fills up and stops working. We plan the outlet before we dig: daylight to lower ground or a ditch, a pop up emitter or dry well, or a tie in to existing drainage where allowed. We keep walls and outlets out of easements and tell you when regrading is needed too.

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A gabion wall made of rocks and wire mesh
Brown and gray brick wall

Retaining Wall Repair: Fix a Leaning or Bulging Wall, or Rebuild It

We assess failing walls on site, check the base, drainage, and soil, and tell you plainly whether the wall can be repaired or needs a rebuild. When it needs a rebuild, we build the new wall to the same drainage and base standard shown above.

Signs your retaining wall needs repair:

  • The wall leans or bulges toward the yard, driveway, or patio
  • Blocks or caps are loose, cracked, or have fallen off
  • Water or soil seeps through the joints or washes out under the base
  • The ground behind the wall is sinking or cracking

Retaining wall repair options we look at first:

  • Clearing or adding drainage when water is trapped behind the wall
  • Resetting a leaning section of a block wall on a new base and drainage stone
  • Replacing cracked or loose blocks and resetting caps
  • A full rebuild when the base, reinforcement, or height means a repair will not last
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How We Size Retaining Walls for Greenville NC Clay, Fill, and Rain

We plan for Pitt County NC clay that drains slowly, a seasonal high water table, and filled lots in newer subdivisions that settle. About 49 inches of rain a year makes saturated soil push hardest, so drainage comes first. Most walls on this flat Coastal Plain ground are short grade breaks, and water pressure, not freezing, is the force we build against.

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Colorful figurines sit on a stone wall with vibrant flowers
A pile of rocks

Why Homeowners Hire Us as Their Retaining Wall Contractor

  • Zavala Masonry & Concrete LLC shows the drainage and outlet on your estimate before we dig.
  • We call NC 811 and check the property line before excavation.
  • When code requires an engineer’s design, we build from that plan and tell you up front.
  • One masonry and concrete crew builds block, poured, or faced walls without subcontracting.
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Our Retaining Wall Project Steps, From Measuring the Grade to Testing the Outlet

When you hire us as your retaining wall contractor, we meet you on site and follow these steps.

  • We measure the grade change and check soil, water flow, easements, and what sits above the wall.
  • You get a written estimate listing wall type, height, drainage, outlet, and whether an engineer’s plan is required.
  • NC 811 marks utilities, we confirm the property line, and we stake the wall line.
  • We dig the trench and place and compact the leveling pad.
  • We set courses with drainage stone, fabric, pipe, and geogrid as designed.
  • We compact backfill, set caps, and test the outlet with you at the walkthrough.

We confirm permit needs for your address with the City of Greenville NC or Pitt County NC before work starts.

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Stacked stone wall with dry leaves at the base, retaining wall in Greenville NC
A stone wall in a grassy field under a cloudy sky

Retaining Wall Cost: What Changes the Price

  • Height and length
  • Wall type
  • Drainage and outlet work
  • Geogrid and engineering when required
  • Removing an old wall
  • Access for equipment
  • Soil that must be replaced

You get a written quote after the site visit.

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Recent Retaining Wall
Projects Around Greenville NC

Reviews From Homeowners
Who Hired Us for Retaining Walls

"Every storm washed mulch across our driveway. The block wall they built has held the bank through two summers of heavy rain."
Daniel Brooks, Greenville NC
"They showed us exactly where the drain pipe would empty before they dug. Our side yard is dry now."
Rebecca Sanders, Winterville NC
"The ditch bank was eating our backyard. Two terraced walls gave us level lawn and stopped the washout."
Matthew Reynolds, Ayden NC
"They told us our driveway wall needed an engineer's plan and explained why before giving us a price. We appreciated the honesty."
Stephanie Price, Washington NC
"Our stone faced wall at the raised patio matches the house and has stayed perfectly straight."
Gary Mitchell, Farmville NC
"They called 811, checked our survey, and kept the wall on our side of the line."
Lisa Harper, Grimesland NC

Retaining Wall Service Across Pitt, Beaufort, and Craven County Towns

As a retaining wall contractor based in Greenville NC, our crew travels to:

  • Belhaven, NC
  • Chocowinity, NC
  • Washington, NC
  • Bath, NC
  • Blounts Creek, NC
  • Aurora, NC
  • Vanceboro, NC
  • Grimesland, NC
  • Greenville, NC
  • Winterville, NC
  • Farmville, NC
  • New Bern, NC
  • Ayden, NC

Plus surrounding communities in Beaufort County and Pitt County.

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Retaining Wall Timeline, Property Line,
Driveway Load, and Drainage Questions

Short walls often take a few days. Taller or engineered walls take longer for design and inspection, and your estimate includes a schedule.

Yes, after the line is confirmed from your survey. A wall that crosses a property line needs an engineer’s design under North Carolina code, at any height.

Yes, when it is designed for that load. A driveway retaining wall or any wall carrying a structure above it is built from an engineer’s plan.

A wall helps when drainage is part of the plan. When water is the main problem, we pair the wall with an outlet or regrading.

Often, yes. When the base is sound, retaining wall repair can mean fixing the drainage, resetting a leaning section, or replacing loose blocks and caps. When the wall has failed at the base or was built too tall without reinforcement, a rebuild is the fix that lasts. As your retaining wall contractor, we check the wall on site and tell you which one it needs.

Retaining Wall Contractor, Greenville NC: Get a Free Estimate

Tell us about the bank that keeps washing out, the wall that is leaning, or the grade you want leveled. Zavala Masonry & Concrete LLC will walk the site, plan the drainage outlet, and give you a written estimate.

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