Retaining walls built for Tri-Cities slopes and rain
We design and build block, poured concrete, boulder and timber retaining walls across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. Every wall gets proper drainage behind it, because water pressure, not the block, is what pushes most walls over.
Hillside lots on Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau and Heritage Mountain often need terracing to make a usable yard. Older walls in Maillardville and Moody Centre were often built with little or no drainage and start to lean after a few wet winters. We handle both: new walls that create flat ground, and replacement walls where an old one is bowing, cracking or shedding soil.
In Coquitlam, walls under 1.2 m (about 4 ft) don't need a building permit. Anything taller needs a permit and an engineered design, and no single wall can exceed 2.4 m. A wall over 0.6 m should also have a guard or fence along the top. We plan the layout around those rules from the first site visit, so you know early whether your project needs an engineer and how terracing can keep each tier under the threshold.
What we build
- Segmental block walls (Allan Block style, Versa-Lok style and similar systems)
- Poured and formed concrete walls
- Natural boulder and rock walls
- Terraced garden walls and raised planters
- Wall replacement and failing-wall repair
- Walls combined with stairs, patios and fences
How the job runs
Site visit
We walk the slope, check where water goes in a rainstorm and measure heights to see what permit and engineering rules apply.
Design and estimate
You get a written scope: wall type, height, drainage, base depth and a written price. If the wall needs an engineer, we coordinate it.
Excavate and base
We dig to firm native soil and build a compacted crushed-gravel base. This is the part nobody sees and the part that decides how long the wall lasts.
Build with drainage
Perforated drain pipe at the footing, clean drain rock behind the wall and filter cloth to keep fines out. Geogrid where the design calls for it.
Backfill and finish
Compacted backfill in lifts, caps installed, and the area graded so surface water runs away from the wall.
Our retaining walls work
What clients say
They transformed my backyard with new artificial grass, a retaining wall, and modern landscaping that turned out even better than I expected! Gareth and the crew showed up on time every day, communicated clearly throughout the project, and left the site clean and tidy at the end of each day. Highly recommend them if you're looking for quality landscape construction done right.
I cannot recommend Premier Grounds Contracting Ltd enough! From start to finish, the entire team was professional, reliable, and incredibly skilled. They transformed my backyard into a stunning modern oasis with new grass, a beautiful patio, and a retaining wall with built in planters that exceeded my expectations. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality were evident every step of the way.
Me & my demolition company worked with Premier Grounds Contracting on a large outdoor project and were extremely impressed. They handled excavation, grading, drainage, concrete work, retaining walls, fencing, and premium artificial turf installation, all completed to a very high standard. The team was professional, well organized, and clearly experienced in landscape construction and contracting, not just basic landscaping.
Questions we get asked
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Coquitlam?
Walls under 1.2 m (about 4 ft) don't need a building permit, but they still have to meet City bylaws and the BC Building Code. Walls over 1.2 m need a building permit and must be designed by a professional engineer. No wall can be taller than 2.4 m.
Why do retaining walls fail?
Most failures come from water. Saturated soil behind a wall is far heavier than dry soil, and without drain rock and a drain pipe that pressure builds every rainy season until the wall leans or cracks.
Which is better, block or concrete?
Segmental block suits most residential walls and is easy to repair. Poured concrete fits tight spaces, tall engineered walls and modern designs. We'll recommend one based on height, access and the look you want.
Can you replace an old wood retaining wall?
Yes. We remove the old timber wall, deal with any rot-softened soil behind it and rebuild in block or concrete with proper drainage.
Can you repair a leaning retaining wall?
Sometimes. Retaining wall repair works when the problem is local, like a few displaced blocks or a blocked drain. If the wall is leaning because the base or drainage has failed, rebuilding that section properly is the fix that lasts. We'll tell you which at the site visit.