Columbia Groundwork Inc. builds and repairs retaining walls across Cowlitz County. A good wall does two jobs at once: it holds back the ground behind it, and it moves water out from behind that ground so the wall is not fighting saturated soil every winter. We build both parts, so your wall stays where you put it.
Our Retaining Wall Services
New Retaining Wall Installation
Engineered-block and segmental walls for slopes, driveways, and building pads, set on a compacted base built to last.
Rock & Boulder Walls
Natural rock and boulder walls that hold a grade and look like they belong on the land, sourced and placed by our own crew.
Failing Wall Repair & Rebuilds
Leaning, bulging, or cracked walls corrected at the source, base and drainage first, then rebuilt to shed water.
Retaining Wall Drainage
Gravel backfill and perforated drain lines run to daylight, the difference between a wall that lasts and one that leans.
Why Retaining Walls Fail, and How We Build Them Not To
Most failed walls are not a block problem. They are a water problem. Soil behind a wall soaks up rain and holds it, especially the heavier clay ground common around here. Water that cannot drain builds up behind the wall as pressure, and through a wet winter that pressure works on the wall day after day until it leans, bows, or cracks.
Stacking the wall heavier does not fix that. Giving the water a way out does. Every wall we build starts with the parts you never see:
- A compacted base below frost depth, so the wall is not sitting on ground that heaves
- Clean gravel backfill against the wall, giving water a path down
- A perforated drain pipe at the base, run to daylight or a drain
- Backfill placed and compacted in lifts, not shoved in loose
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my retaining wall leaning or bulging?
Almost always water. Saturated soil behind the wall pushes hard, and if there is no drainage the pressure has nowhere to go but into the wall. A hard freeze that expands the wet ground makes it worse. The fix is behind the wall, not on the face.
Can a failing wall be fixed, or does it need a full rebuild?
It depends on how far it has moved. A wall just starting to lean is a smaller job than one that has come apart. We look at the base and the drainage first, then tell you honestly whether it can be corrected or should be rebuilt. You are not left guessing.
Do I need an engineer for my retaining wall?
Shorter walls usually do not. Taller walls, the kind holding back a real load of ground, often require an engineer's design under local code. On those we coordinate with the engineer rather than guess at it, because a wall holding back that much ground is not the place to cut corners.
What kind of wall is best for my slope?
It depends on the height, the soil, and the look you want. Segmental block, natural rock, and boulder walls each fit different jobs. We match the wall to your ground and what it has to hold, then explain why before we build.
Why Choose Columbia Groundwork?
- We build the drainage, not just the wall, so it lasts
- Local knowledge of Cowlitz County soil and how it holds water
- Our own excavation crew and equipment, base to backfill
- Honest assessment first, we tell you what the wall actually needs
Service Area
Castle Rock, Longview, Kelso, Woodland, and Kalama, all of Cowlitz County.
Get a Free Retaining Wall Estimate
Whether you are building a new wall or fixing one that is starting to lean, we will find out what the water is doing before we touch it. Call (360) 957-8847.
Get An Estimate