The Guide to Retaining Wall Materials: Best Stone and Cost
Key Takeaways
Retaining walls are made of several components, including the batter, drainage stones, filter fabric, footing, footing drain, weep holes, and wall face.
Common retaining wall materials include poured concrete, concrete blocks, natural stone, brick, and timber.
Finishes like exposed aggregate, stamped concrete, stain, and veneer can be used to improve or update the look of a retaining wall.
The right material depends on your desired look, the structural needs of the job, and your budget.
When built well, a retaining wall can transform your property, adding curb appeal to your landscape while turning a steep slope into a usable yard. Choosing the right retaining wall materials for your project is just as important as hiring the right professionals to do the job.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through your options, including the types of materials available, the finishes you can choose from, and how to pick the right option for your property. If you need retaining wall work in the Wasatch Front, we can help you. We serve the entire area, from Provo to Herriman and Ogden.
The Parts of a Retaining Wall
While it may just look like a stack of blocks, a retaining wall is actually a complex structure that requires some engineering to build. Every well-built retaining wall requires these key components:
Batter: The intentional backward tilt of the wall toward the soil it holds back. It typically comes in a ratio of 1 inch backward to 1 foot of height.
Drainage stones: The gravel and soil placed behind the wall. Free-draining material relieves pressure and keeps moisture from pooling.
Filter fabric: Keeps the soil out of the drainage stones so moisture can drain.
Footing: A level foundation of reinforced concrete that spreads the wall’s weight and keeps it from settling unevenly. Some retaining wall materials can sit on a footing of crushed stone.
Footing drain: A drain in the footing that carries water away.
Weep holes: Holes spaced every 6 to 8 feet that drains water away from the wall’s base.
Wall face: The visible surface you see, made up of blocks, stone, timber, or concrete.
What Are the Types of Retaining Wall Materials?
Retaining walls can be made from a variety of materials, each with unique features. The most common retaining wall materials include:
Poured concrete: Retaining walls made of poured concrete are among the strongest and most durable. They’re cast on-site and reinforced with steel rebar, which means they can be built taller than other materials. Poured concrete walls are extremely strong and can be formed into almost any shape. They can be stamped, textured, or covered with veneer to look like other materials, but some people enjoy the modern look of concrete on its own. Poured concrete typically requires a professional to install.
Interlocking concrete blocks: Of all the retaining wall materials, concrete blocks are usually the most DIY friendly. They are precast blocks that lock together without mortar, which makes them quick to install and easy to work with. Plus, they come in a huge range of colors and textures. Concrete block retaining walls usually rest on a footing of crushed stone rather than concrete. Some types of concrete blocks require heavy-duty mesh anchors to keep them in place.
Natural stone: Fieldstone, flagstone, or cut stone can create beautiful retaining walls that last for a long time. The timeless look blends with almost any landscape, but building natural stone retaining walls is labor-intensive and comes at a premium. Hiring a professional mason will typically provide the best result.
Brick: Brick retaining walls provide a classic and uniform look. Brick works well for shorter, decorative walls and matches brick homes. However, it’s not ideal for tall or heavily loaded walls unless reinforced.
Timber: Timber is the cheapest retaining wall material, but it’s also the least durable. Timber retaining walls can last up to 40 years, but 10 to 15 years is more typical. Wood is susceptible to rot, even when pressure-treated. Timber walls are DIY friendly and offer a natural, rustic look. They rest on a crushed stone footing and are held together with screws or rebar.
Finishes for Retaining Walls
Retaining wall materials are the building blocks of your wall, but the finish changes its appearance. While you can always just leave the wall as is, these common finishes can be used to further customize a retaining wall:
Exposed aggregate: Pebbles and stone revealed in the concrete surface add a textured look to poured concrete.
Stamped concrete: Patterns pressed into wet concrete can mimic stone, brick, or slate at a lower cost than the real thing.
Stains: Stains change the color of concrete blocks, brick, or stone. You can add color to match your color palette, create a uniform appearance, and protect against UV exposure.
Veneer: Veneer uses thin slices of brick or stone to update a retaining wall without the need to rebuild it. It can also be used on poured concrete to create the look of natural stone or brick.
Best Materials for Retaining Walls
There’s no single best material for a retaining wall, as each offers unique strengths. The best material depends on the wall’s height, load, budget, and your style.
Poured concrete has the longest lifespan but usually costs the most.
Interlocking blocks offer a balance of durability and more moderate cost.
Natural stone is often considered the most attractive, but it comes at a higher cost.
Brick offers a classic look and decent durability but typically requires professional installation.
Timber is usually the cheapest retaining wall material but also breaks down faster than the others.
How to Choose the Best Materials for Your Property
When designing a retaining wall for your property, ask yourself these questions before choosing the material:
How tall will the wall be? This is usually the biggest factor. Walls that are 3 to 4 feet are mostly decorative and can handle just about any material. Anything over 4 feet carries a structural load and needs engineered materials like masonry or poured concrete. If your wall will support a driveway, patio, or other structure, treat it as a structural project and choose accordingly.
What will look best with your home and landscaping? Your wall doesn’t need to match your home exactly, but it should complement the colors, material, style, and landscaping. Natural stone, for example, looks great with rustic and traditional homes, while brick often works best with a brick exterior.
What’s your budget? How long do you want the wall to last? Timber is cheapest, but it usually lasts between 10 to 15 years. Stone can last a century but costs the most upfront. Would you rather spend less now and replace it later, or make one big investment and never touch it again?
How Much Do Retaining Wall Materials Cost?
Retaining wall material costs depend on the region you’re in, the height of the wall, and local labor rates. Typical ranges include:
Timber: $15 to $25 per square foot of wall face installed by a professional, or $5 to $10 per square foot if you do it yourself.
Interlocking bricks: $18 to $35 per square foot installed, or $3 to $6 per square foot to DIY.
Natural stone: $20 to $75 per square foot installed. Not recommended to DIY.
Brick: $15 to $55 per square foot installed. Not DIY friendly.
Poured concrete: $30 to $60 per square foot installed. Not DIY friendly.
Customize Your Retaining Wall with S&R Custom Masonry
A retaining wall is an investment in your property, one that protects your landscape, prevents erosion, and adds curb appeal for decades. The right retaining wall material will balance structural needs, aesthetics, and your budget. Hiring the right professional will ensure the wall lasts for years.
At S&R Custom Masonry, we can help you match the right material to your home and budget. We take pride in offering high-quality work that stands the test of time. Ready to discover the beauty that a custom retaining wall can add to your landscape? Contact us today to see what our expert masons can do for you.
FAQs
What is the best material for a retaining wall?
The best retaining wall material depends on your situation and what aesthetic you’re after. Poured concrete provides strength and a modern look, while natural stone is best when you’re trying to balance beauty and durability. Interlocking concrete blocks or timber are often the most affordable.
How much does a 30 to 50 foot retaining wall cost in Utah?
In Utah, a standard 30 to 50 foot retaining wall made of concrete blocks costs between $3,500 to $9,000 installed. However, costs go up with poured concrete or masonry. Other factors that can affect the cost include wall height, soil conditions, drainage needs, site access, and labor rates in your city.
Do retaining walls increase property value?
Yes, when done well. A properly built retaining wall adds usable yard space, prevents erosion, and boosts curb appeal. Well-constructed masonry walls can offer a strong return on investment, especially on sloped lots where they unlock otherwise unusable land. However, a poorly built or failing wall can become a costly liability, which is why quality construction matters so much.
Is a poured concrete retaining wall cheaper than blocks?
Usually no. Poured concrete is more expensive than interlocking blocks for the same wall. Poured concrete requires formwork, rebar, and more labor, which drives up the cost. Concrete blocks go in faster with less specialized labor. However, for very tall or heavily loaded walls, concrete’s strength can make it the more cost-effective, structural choice.
What is the cheapest retaining wall to build?
Timber is the cheapest of all the retaining wall materials, usually running between $15 to $25 per square foot installed. It’s a good budget option for low garden beds and decorative walls, but it lacks the durability of other materials.
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