Bay Area Retaining Wall Contractor — Walls Engineered to Hold
From hillside erosion to a leaning, failing wall, Cardona Construction builds and repairs concrete retaining walls with the drainage and reinforcement that keep them standing for decades.
40+ years in the Bay Area
Licensed
— Lic #1100158
Family-owned
and operated
5.0★ on Yelp
(22 reviews)
Backed by
30-yr warranty
On a Bay Area Slope, a Retaining Wall Is All That’s Holding Back the Hill
From the Berkeley and Oakland hills to Marin, Bay Area homes sit on slopes — and gravity never takes a day off. When a retaining wall starts to lean, bulge, or crack, the hillside behind it is already on the move.
Our expansive clay soils soak up winter rain and swell, piling enormous water pressure against any wall holding back the grade. Left alone, that pressure tilts walls, opens cracks, and eventually topples them — taking your patio, driveway, or yard with it.
A sound retaining wall protects your property, your landscaping, and the ground beneath your home. A failing one only gets more expensive to fix.
Why Bay Area Homeowners Choose Cardona Construction for Retaining Walls
For 40+ years, our family-owned team has built and repaired retaining walls across the Bay Area’s toughest hillside lots. The difference: we don’t just stack a wall — we engineer it and build the drainage system behind it, because that’s what makes a wall last.
What you get:
Walls engineered to hold
Proper footings, steel reinforcement, and stamped engineering on taller walls — built for the load, not just the look.
Drainage built into every wall
Weep holes, gravel backfill, and French drains relieve the water pressure that topples most retaining walls.
Built for hillsides & seismic soils
Decades working Bay Area clay and sloped lots means walls designed for how our ground actually moves.
Permits & engineering handled
We coordinate licensed engineers and pull city permits on walls that require them — one crew, start to finish.
Types of Retaining Walls We Build
The right wall depends on your slope, soil, height, and look. We design and build them all:
Concrete Retaining Walls
Poured, steel-reinforced concrete for maximum strength and the longest lifespan.
Block & Segmental Walls
Modular block systems for clean, modern, cost-effective walls.
Boulder & Rock Walls
Natural stone that blends into hillside landscapes and resists erosion.
Wood & Timber Walls
Classic timber walls for garden terraces and lighter grade changes.
Engineered & Tiered Walls
Geo-reinforced and tiered designs for tall, steep, or load-bearing slopes.
Drainage & Reinforcement
The gravel, weep, and French-drain systems that make any wall last.
Why Drainage Makes or Breaks a Retaining Wall
Most retaining walls don’t fail because of the wall — they fail because of water. Saturated soil behind a wall creates hydrostatic pressure that slowly pushes it over. It’s the single most overlooked part of a wall, and it’s where our drainage expertise sets us apart.
A wall built to last needs:
- Weep holes to let trapped water escape through the face of the wall
- Clean gravel backfill so water drains instead of pooling against the wall
- A perforated French drain at the base to carry water away from the footing
- Proper grading so runoff is directed away from the structure
Because we install full drainage systems too, we engineer the water management into your wall from day one — not as an afterthought.
What Bay Area Homeowners Say
Here’s how we do foundation repairs and replacement:
Our Process:
Three Steps to a wall that lasts
Free On-Site Assessment
We evaluate your slope, soil, and drainage and recommend the right wall type — no pressure.
Engineered Design & Quote
Clear scope, stamped engineering where required, and a transparent quote before any work begins.
Built to Last, Drainage Included
We build with proper reinforcement and full drainage, then stand behind the work.
Backed by 15-yr warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall in the Bay Area?
In California, retaining walls over about four feet tall — or any wall holding back a slope or surcharge — generally require a permit and stamped engineering. We handle the engineering coordination and city permitting for you, so your wall is fully code-compliant.
Why do retaining walls fail on Bay Area hillsides?
Almost always water. Our expansive clay soils hold winter rain and swell, building pressure behind the wall. Without proper drainage, even a well-built wall will eventually lean or crack — which is why we engineer drainage into every wall.
How much does a retaining wall cost in the Bay Area?
It depends on height, materials, drainage needs, and site access — a short garden wall is very different from an engineered hillside wall. We give you a transparent, itemized quote after a free on-site assessment, never a guess over the phone.
What type of retaining wall is best for my property?
It comes down to your slope, height, soil, look, and budget. Poured concrete offers the most strength and longevity, segmental block balances cost and looks, and boulder or timber walls suit lighter grades. We’ll recommend the right fit at your assessment.
Can you repair an existing retaining wall, or does it need to be replaced?
Sometimes a failing wall just needs better drainage and reinforcement; other times the structure is too far gone and a rebuild is safer. We’ll assess your wall honestly and tell you which makes sense — retaining wall repair isn’t always a full replacement.
Service Areas
Retaining Walls Across
the Bay Area
From the Berkeley and Oakland hills to Piedmont, Walnut Creek, and across Marin and the Peninsula, we build and repair retaining walls throughout the Bay Area.
Ready to Hold Back the Hill?
Don’t wait for a lean to become a collapse. Get a clear plan from a Bay Area team that’s been building walls that last for over four decades — drainage and all.
Serving Bay Area homeowners for 40+ years — licensed, family-owned, fully insured.
Related Foundation, Concrete & Drainage Services
In addition to our retaining wall expertise, we provide a full range of concrete, foundation, and drainage services to protect your entire property.
- Foundation Repair — Stabilize cracks and settling before they spread.
- Drainage Solutions — Complete water management for sloped lots.
- Concrete Driveways — Durable custom concrete that lifts curb appeal.
- Foundation Replacement — Full rebuilds when a foundation is beyond repair.
