How Much Do Retaining Walls Cost in The Fraser Valley?

Failing retaining walls or areas where retaining walls would solve drainage, erosion, and landscaping concerns dot the Fraser Valley. These unsightly areas can pose a serious risk to your property, patio, or even your home's foundation. If you’re searching for information on retaining wall costs, retaining wall construction costs, or Allan Block retaining wall costs, you’re in the right place.

Back 40 Landscaping builds durable, long-lasting retaining walls. With Allan Block-trained and certified staff, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality hardscape solutions that add utility, beauty, and value to your property. But how much does a retaining wall cost? The truth is the price of a retaining wall depends on several factors, including materials, site conditions, and scope of work. Let's break down everything you need to know about retaining wall costs and the factors that influence pricing so you can plan a retaining wall project that fits your budget. 

How Can Retaining Walls Improve Your Property?

Investing in a retaining wall isn’t just about solving a functional issue like erosion or drainage—it’s also about improving your property's overall usability, aesthetics, and value. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Managing Slopes and Uneven Land: Retaining walls allow you to create level spaces on sloped or hilly properties, giving you more usable outdoor areas for patios, gardens, or lawns.
• Improved Drainage: Properly constructed retaining walls effectively handle water flow, reducing the risk of soil erosion and water damage. Gravel backfill and drainage systems ensure water moves away from the wall and your property.
• Curb Appeal: Retaining walls add structure, style, and beauty to your yard, with options like Allan Block providing a clean, modern look. Add features like lighting or landscaping to elevate the visual appeal.
• Enhanced Property Value: A well-built retaining wall is an investment that increases both functionality and resale value, particularly in areas where slopes make yard space difficult to use.
• Durability and Longevity: When constructed correctly, retaining walls can last for decades, giving you long-term peace of mind.

What Influences the Cost of a Retaining Wall?

When considering a retaining wall project, it’s important to establish a clear budget and have a solid idea of what you want the finished product to look like. Retaining walls come in all shapes, sizes, and price points, so planning ahead can help avoid surprises.

Why is it hard to provide an exact retaining wall cost upfront? Aside from the obvious, such as materials and size, retaining wall projects are influenced by unique variables, including:

• Site access: Can equipment and materials easily reach your yard?
• Soil conditions: Does your property have compact, water-permeable soil or challenging clay-like ground?
• Existing walls: Do you need old retaining walls demolished and removed?
• Drainage and foundations: Proper excavation, gravel, and drainage systems are critical for a wall’s longevity.

As a homeowner, understanding these factors ensures you can plan for unexpected challenges while staying on track with your budget. At Back 40 Landscaping, our mission is to educate homeowners about retaining wall construction costs, even if that means choosing a different path for your project.

How Much Does an Allan Block Retaining Wall Cost in 2025?

The cost of a retaining wall depends largely on its size, complexity, and site conditions. At Back 40 Landscaping, we specialize in Allan Block retaining walls, which are known for their durability, aesthetic appeal, and ability to handle drainage effectively.

While these price ranges provide a solid starting point, it’s important to note that every retaining wall project is unique. Here’s a breakdown of retaining wall costs for different sizes of projects:

• Small Wall: 25 ft long x 4 ft high → Starting at $15,000
• Medium Wall: 80 ft long x 4 ft high → Starting at $40,000
• Large Wall: 100 ft long x 4 ft high → Starting at $80,000

What’s Included in a Basic Retaining Wall Install?

Our Allan Block-certified team ensures your wall is functional and built to last. While some contractors cut corners to save time or costs, we follow industry best practices to prevent wall failure, shifting, or drainage problems.

• Demolition and disposal of the existing retaining wall (if applicable).
• A new retaining wall built to Allan Block specifications for stability and longevity.
• Rough cleanup of your yard, driveway, and road after construction.
• Rough regrading of the area around the retaining wall.

The 5 Biggest Factors That Influence Retaining Wall Costs

Several critical factors play into the final cost of a retaining wall project. 

1. Excavation and Soil Disposal

Excavation is one of the most labour-intensive and expensive parts of building a retaining wall. To build a wall that will last, enough soil needs to be removed from beneath and behind it to allow for a proper foundation and drainage system.

• Why is this important?
  Failing to excavate enough soil compromises the wall's integrity, causing shifting, bowing, and eventual failure. This is a common issue with older retaining walls in the Fraser Valley that were poorly built to cut costs.
• What makes it costly?
  • Soil expands 1.3x in size once it’s excavated, making removal a larger task than it appears.
  • Disposal costs are significant—proper soil removal requires equipment like track dumpers, excavators, and dump trucks to haul the material away.
  • In areas where hand-digging is the only option, costs increase due to the sheer amount of labour involved.

Pro Tip: If a contractor tries to cut costs by limiting excavation or leaving old soil behind the wall, this is a red flag. Proper excavation ensures the wall will last for decades—not just a few years.

2. The Amount of Gravel Behind the Retaining Wall

A retaining wall’s longevity depends on the proper use of gravel for drainage. Allan Block specifications require a minimum of 12-24 inches of gravel behind the wall to allow water to pass through and prevent hydrostatic pressure (water buildup).

Why is gravel critical?

If your builder skimps on gravel and uses soil instead, water will become trapped behind the wall. This will increase pressure on the wall, causing bulging, shifting, and, ultimately, failure.

The Cost Factor

• Gravel itself is a significant expense, especially in the volumes required for retaining walls.
• Transporting gravel to your yard can also add costs, especially if site access is limited, requiring smaller equipment or additional labour to move the material into place.

3. Contractor Education and Certification

The experience and education of the contractor you choose can have a significant impact on both the cost and quality of your retaining wall. Retaining walls require precision, knowledge of best practices, and a deep understanding of drainage and engineering principles. While an untrained builder might provide a lower estimate, the long-term risks, including wall failure and costly repairs, make it a poor investment.

Why does certification matter?

Building a retaining wall to proper specifications is far more complex than it looks. Allan Block offers three levels of certification to train contractors on best practices. To achieve certification, contractors must complete a course, pass a test, and commit to ongoing education.

The Risk of Hiring Untrained Builders

Contractors who lack training may take shortcuts, such as:

• • Skipping proper excavation and drainage.
  • Using soil instead of gravel to save on costs.
  • “Eyeballing” wall alignment instead of using tools like laser levels or string lines.

4. Basing the Retaining Wall

Creating a solid, level base is one of the most critical steps in building a retaining wall. If the first row of blocks isn’t perfectly straight and level, the entire wall will be compromised, leading to curves, uneven blocks, and structural instability. Precision tools like string lines and laser levels ensure perfect alignment and accuracy.

Why do some contractors skip this step?

Proper basing is labour-intensive and time-consuming. String lines take careful setup and attention to detail, while laser levels require investment in equipment and training to use properly. To cut costs and save time, some builders skip these steps and rely on “eyeballing” alignment instead.

5. Protecting Your Space During Construction

Building a retaining wall can be a messy process, especially when heavy machinery is involved. Without proper precautions, machinery can tear up lawns, driveways, or garden areas, leaving homeowners with additional repairs once the project is complete.

Protective Measures That Add Value During Hardscape Construction

• Building plywood roads to protect lawns and surfaces from machinery tracks.
• Daily site cleanup to minimize dust and debris and keep your property tidy.
• Taking care to prevent damage to surrounding landscaping and hardscapes.
• Minimal disruption to your property and keeps nearby neighbours happy.

What Could Drive the Cost of a Retaining Wall Down?

While retaining walls are an investment, certain factors can reduce your investment due to the convenience they present, eliminating more costly steps and labour. 

• Wide-open site access: Allows for larger, more efficient equipment to be used.
• No existing wall to demolish: Avoids demolition and disposal costs.
• Minimal landscaping nearby: Reduces the need for surface protection and cleanup.
• Favourable soil conditions: Water-permeable soils reduce the need for additional gravel or geogrid.
• Proper drainage systems nearby: Existing drainage infrastructure can simplify the installation process.

Financial Considerations When Hiring a Contractor to Build a Retaining Wall

Choosing the right contractor for your retaining wall project is about more than just price. It’s about understanding the value behind that price. Financially stable, experienced contractors ensure your project is completed as promised, on time, and to the highest quality standards. Here’s what to consider:

Financial Stability and Reliability

Working with a financially stable company protects you from unnecessary stress and risk. Why does this matter?

• Trust and reliability: A financially sound contractor will have the resources to pay for materials upfront, keep your project on schedule, and complete it as agreed.
• No material delays: At Back 40 Landscaping, your deposit directly pays for materials, trucking, and other project essentials. We operate as a debt-free company, meaning we don’t rely on credit or loans to fund your project.
• Smooth payment schedules: Our simple, transparent payment structure ensures that work progresses seamlessly as you make scheduled payments.

The Hidden Value Beyond Price

In the service industry, it’s impossible to compare contractors like commodities. There’s no “apples-to-apples” comparison when it comes to expertise, equipment, and quality. While it’s tempting to focus solely on retaining wall costs, the true value lies in the overall experience.

Here are key factors that influence value:

• Communication: Clear, honest updates throughout the project.
• Time onsite: How quickly your contractor completes the project while maintaining quality.
• Installer expertise: The skills, training, and experience of the crew on your property.
• Equipment and tools: Does the contractor own or have access to the necessary tools to complete the job efficiently?
• Training and certification: Allan Block certification ensures your wall is built to industry-leading standards.
• Customer feedback: Check Google Reviews to see real experiences from other homeowners.

Tools and Equipment Ownership

A professional retaining wall contractor invests in the right tools and equipment to ensure efficiency and quality. Why is this important?

• Owning specialized equipment means no delays waiting for rentals.
• Contractors familiar with their own tools work more efficiently and produce higher-quality results.
• Ownership reflects a company’s commitment to its craft.

What Can Add Value (and Cost) to Your Retaining Wall?

If you want to enhance your retaining wall’s appearance and functionality, consider the following add-ons. Of course, details, features, and engineering requirements will contribute to the cost of your retaining wall project.

• Stairs integrated into the wall design.
• Curved walls for a more dynamic look.
• Lighting to improve visibility and aesthetics at night.
• Plants and landscaping for added beauty.
• Lawn remediation and cleanup after construction.
• Mulch or gravel between tiered walls for added texture.
• Permits and engineering for large or complex walls.

How to Get the Best Value for Your Retaining Wall Investment

1. Plan Ahead: Define your budget and ideal project scope before starting.
2. Hire the Right Contractor: Choose a company, like Back 40 Landscaping, with Allan Block certification, financial stability, and a proven track record of success.
3. Prioritize Quality: Investing in a properly built wall upfront prevents costly issues down the road.
4. Consider Long-Term Value: Add-ons like stairs, lighting, or landscaping can elevate the wall’s functionality and aesthetics.

Back 40 Creates High-Quality Retaining Walls in Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley

Ready to transform your yard with a professionally built retaining wall? Contact us today for a consultation and personalized quote. Whether you need a small garden wall or a large-scale retaining solution, we’ll help you design and build a wall that meets your needs, looks beautiful, and stands the test of time. We can’t wait to meet you!