Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are a structure that is designed to uphold the soil behind it. Many factors are considered to build the proper retaining walls for your property. Any residential property owner may have to determine properties of the soil, elevation, slope of the ground and the height of the retaining wall. These factors determine the type of wall which is needed and how it should be designed for your home. Our licensed and experienced Civil Engineers can help in designing and engineering quality retaining walls for your residential property. We also determine whether your retaining wall needs a building permit or not. If a home permit is necessary for the retaining wall, we will help you get one. Retaining walls require a permit when the retaining wall retains earth, and is over 4 feet in height, as defined in the 2010 California Building Code Sect. 105.2(4).

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Design Everest’s licensed and highly-skilled engineers can help you ensure your retaining wall is properly permitted and safely constructed. Ready to get started?

Concrete Retaining Walls

Poured concrete retaining walls are customizable and have optimal strength if designed precisely. Also, a concrete block retaining wall can be made with pre-cast concrete blocks. These walls will require an engineer to design the wall’s layout and the amount of rebar used for reinforcement.

Timber Retaining Walls

Composite timber is a good material choice for a retaining wall. Timber retaining walls offer a sustainable option for a straight retaining wall. A guiding line should be used to lay out a timber wall before digging the trench.

Brick Retaining Walls

Brick retaining walls have two specific design methods. One wall is called a cavity wall, which includes a steel piece running from the foundation to the top along with the spaces in the brick. The other type is a block wall, where the brick is laid outside the structural core.

How to Determine if You Need an Engineer for Your Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is a concrete structure that holds soil at two different heights (made by cutting and filling) while resisting lateral earth pressure

Do I Need a Soils Report to Legalize my Retaining Wall?

Top view of a house surrounded by large trees at the far opposite corner, lined by a well maintained lawn at the front Do you have an unpermitted retaining

Is it Mandatory to get a Permit for Retaining Wall?

What is a Retaining Wall? A retaining wall is a structure designed to uphold the soil behind it. This allows for changes in the grade of a plot and flat

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