Burnaby Masonry Co. provides expert masonry retaining walls in Richmond, BC. Natural stone, segmental block, and concrete block retaining walls engineered to hold slopes and drain properly. Call us for a free quote — we're based in Burnaby and serve Richmond regularly.
Masonry Retaining Walls in Richmond: what to know
Richmond's flat terrain means most retaining walls here are for raised planters, terracing, or property edge definition rather than slope retention — but the drainage requirements are even more important given the high water table.
Masonry retaining walls hold back soil on a sloped lot and turn an unusable hillside into flat, usable yard. We build every type of masonry retaining wall across Metro Vancouver: natural stone retaining walls, segmental and interlocking block walls, poured and concrete block walls, brick retaining walls, and armour-stone (boulder) walls. Whatever the material, the two things that keep a masonry retaining wall standing are the same: drainage behind the wall and a properly compacted base. Most failed walls in the Lower Mainland skip one or both. We build for our wet climate, with gravel backfill, drainage pipe, and a real footing, so your wall holds the hill for good.
What's included in our masonry retaining walls service
- Site assessment for slope, soil, and water flow
- Natural stone retaining walls (full-bed and veneered)
- Segmental and interlocking block retaining walls
- Concrete block and poured masonry retaining walls
- Brick and armour-stone (boulder) retaining walls
- Excavation and a compacted, level base under every wall
- Gravel backfill, perforated drain pipe, and geogrid where required
- Permitting and engineering coordination on walls over 1.2 m
- Caps, steps, and tiered walls for sloped lots
When Richmond homeowners call us for masonry retaining walls
A sloped or eroding yard
If soil is washing down your slope or you can't use part of the yard, a masonry retaining wall levels it and stops the erosion.
An existing wall that's bulging or leaning
A wall pushing outward is failing, usually from water pressure behind it. Whether it's stone, block, or brick, it needs rebuilding before it lets go.
A new driveway, patio, or garden bed on a slope
Most hillside hardscaping needs a wall to create the flat area first. We build the wall and the space together.
Burke Mountain and other steep lots
Newer subdivisions on steep ground almost always need engineered masonry walls. We handle the height, the material, and the permitting.
Richmond properties: what we see
Richmond sits near sea level on a river delta, which fundamentally changes the engineering requirements for any masonry structure. The water table is high, the soil compresses under load, and drainage doesn't happen the way it does on sloped lots. Steveston has heritage brick and some of the oldest commercial masonry in the region. The City Centre and Brighouse areas have dense residential and commercial development where stone veneer and block work are common. Terra Nova's newer houses have original stone veneer installations that are now 15–20 years old.
We work throughout Richmond — including Steveston, Brighouse, Terra Nova, City Centre — and we know how the terrain, housing stock, and climate vary across the city. Every quote reflects what we actually see on site.
How we do masonry retaining walls in Richmond
- 1
Assess the site and pick the wall type
We look at the slope, soil, and water, then recommend the right masonry wall, natural stone, segmental block, concrete block, brick, or armour stone, for the load and the look.
- 2
Excavate and base
We dig the trench and build a compacted gravel base. This is the foundation that decides whether any retaining wall lasts.
- 3
Build and reinforce
The wall goes up level and plumb in your chosen material, with geogrid reinforcement tied back into the soil on taller walls.
- 4
Drain it
Gravel backfill and a drain pipe relieve the water pressure that destroys walls. This step is non-negotiable on our jobs.
- 5
Cap and finish
We set the caps, backfill, grade the area, and clean up so the wall is ready to use.
Why choose Burnaby Masonry for masonry retaining walls in Richmond
Every type of masonry wall
Natural stone, segmental block, concrete block, brick, or armour stone, we build them all and help you choose the right one.
Drainage built in
We never backfill a wall with dirt against the units. Gravel and pipe go in every time, because water is what kills masonry walls here.
Engineering when it counts
On walls over 1.2 m we coordinate the engineering and permits so your wall is legal and sound.
Base prep we don't rush
The base is invisible and it's everything. We compact it properly so your wall doesn't settle or lean.
