After finishing one recent project, we summed it up in six words: small retaining wall, big transition for the home. That is the whole case for retaining walls in one line. A wall takes a slope that was costing you space, holding water in the wrong place, or slowly sliding downhill, and turns it into a clean step in the landscape, level ground above, level ground below, and a solid face in between.
Sterling's Affordable Excavating builds block and timber retaining walls across Hendricks County, and we build them the way an excavating company should: from the ground down. Casey and Ashley Jones, the husband and wife behind the business, will tell you that a wall is really an earthwork project wearing a nice face. The cut, the base, and the drainage behind the wall decide whether it stands straight for decades or starts leaning in a few springs. We put our effort where it counts, in the parts you will never see.
What's Included
A retaining wall project with us is start to finish dirt work plus the wall itself:
- Block retaining walls for a clean, long lasting finished look
- Timber retaining walls where a natural, budget friendly face fits best
- Grade cuts that carve level, usable space out of a slope
- Excavated and compacted base preparation under every course
- Gravel backfill and drainage behind the wall so water never builds up
- Regrading and cleanup around the finished wall
Every wall we build gets real base prep and real drainage. Skipping either is how walls end up bulging, and we would rather lose a bid than build something we know will move.
When Do You Need a Retaining Wall?
Is a slope stealing usable yard from you?
A steep bank is ground you mow but never use. Cutting the grade and holding it with a wall can turn that bank into a flat play area, a garden terrace, or a wider back yard. Even a knee high wall can free up a surprising amount of space.
Is the grade pushing water or soil toward the house?
When a yard slopes at the home, every storm delivers runoff and sediment to your foundation. A wall paired with a regrade lets us reverse that, holding the high ground back and pitching the new level area away from the house. It solves a drainage problem and a landscape problem in one move.
Is an old wall leaning, bulging, or coming apart?
Timber walls rot and block walls without drainage get shoved out by wet soil. A leaning wall will not straighten itself, and it gets more expensive the longer the soil behind it keeps moving. We excavate the old wall, correct what caused the failure, and rebuild it right.
Are you cutting into a hill for a driveway, patio, or pad?
Any time you cut level space out of sloped ground, something has to hold the uphill side. We handle the cut and the wall as one job, so the excavation, the base, and the wall are all planned by the same people with the same end picture.
How We Work
Call or text (317) 503-6782 and tell us about your slope. Casey will come walk it with you, look at the height and length of wall the grade really calls for, check machine access, and talk honestly about block versus timber for your spot and budget. You get a free estimate with the approach spelled out plainly.
Build week runs in a set order: cut the grade, excavate the base trench, compact the base, lay the courses true, then place gravel backfill and drainage behind the wall as it climbs. We finish by regrading the ground above and below, cleaning up spoil, and walking the finished wall with you.
What Affects the Cost
Wall estimates ride on a few variables. Height and length come first, since taller and longer means more material, more excavation, and more backfill. The face material matters, as block and timber carry different costs and lifespans. Site conditions play a part too: how much grade cutting the slope needs, what the soil behind the wall is like, and how close a machine can get to the work. Hauling spoil off site and bringing gravel in round out the picture.
The honest way to price a wall is to stand in front of the slope, and we do that for free. Call and we will come look.
Why Sterling's
We are a family owned outfit, husband and wife, Casey and Ashley Jones. Wall projects put equipment close to homes, landscaping, and things people love, which is where our reputation helps you sleep. A reviewer said it best: "Casey and his team worked quickly, taking pride in respecting our request and property." Small wall or big cut, that pride shows up on every site.
Common Questions
Should I choose block or timber?
Block generally lasts longer and gives a more finished look, while timber costs less up front and suits natural or wooded settings. The right answer depends on the site, the height, and your budget, and we will give you a straight recommendation on the walk through.
Why does a wall need drainage behind it?
Because most walls that fail are pushed over by water, not soil. Gravel backfill and a drain path relieve that pressure so the wall only has to hold earth, which is the job it was built for.
Why is there so much digging for a small wall?
The base is the wall. A compacted, properly excavated base keeps the courses level and the wall straight for the long haul, and there is no shortcut to it that we are willing to take.
Can you replace a wall that is already failing?
Yes. We remove the old wall, dig back to sound ground, fix the base and drainage problems that caused the failure, and rebuild. Rebuilds are a regular part of our wall work.
Small retaining wall, big transition for the home. If your slope is ready for that transition, call or text and we will walk the grade together and get you a free estimate.
Free Estimate: (317) 503-6782