Retaining wall construction in Torrance, CA - walls that drain and stay put
Slope creeping toward the patio or an old wall leaning out? We build retaining walls sized for the job, with drains you can clean out.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What goes into building a retaining wall in Torrance?
Retaining wall construction in Torrance means building a wall that holds back soil, which masons call backfill, so a sloped yard turns into level ground you can use and the dirt stays where you put it. A low wall can go up fairly quickly, while a taller one waits on plans and city review before we dig.
Most people call because a slope is sliding onto the patio, the yard is too steep to use, or an old wall is leaning out and dropping dirt on the walkway. The price moves mostly with how tall and how long the wall is, how much soil we dig out and haul away, how tight the access is, and whether the height means engineered plans. The schedule turns mostly on whether the wall needs a permit, because then the city reviews the plans before we start. My written estimate spells out the scope, so you can see what's driving your number.
How we handle retaining wall construction
We mark the line, dig out for the footing, pack a gravel base so the first course sits level, and build the wall up course by course. Drainage behind the wall gets as much thought as the wall itself, because water is what usually brings these down, so we lay drain rock and pipe behind the block and give it cleanouts you can flush instead of counting on weep holes that clog. Then we backfill in layers, pack each one and cap the wall. I'd also rather size the wall to what your slope needs than build it bigger than it has to be, because an oversized wall costs you more and brings its own problems.
Retaining walls often come up alongside other work in the yard. If you've got an older brick or stone wall with worn-out joints that's still standing straight, masonry restoration can often save it, and once a new wall gives you flat ground, fireplace installation on that level spot is a common next project.
Segmental block wall
A segmental wall stacks concrete block without mortar and holds the soil back with its own weight, which suits most yard walls. No mortar means no mortar joints, so for once there's no bad mix for me to complain about later.
Reinforced block wall for more height
For a taller wall, we can add layers of soil reinforcement that reach back into the backfill, which makes the wall act wider and heavier than the block alone. It means more digging behind the wall and more cost, so I suggest it only when the height calls for it.
Retaining wall construction in Torrance starts with the city's permit line
The City of Torrance issues building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet, measured from the top of the wall to the bottom of the footing, or for walls that support a surcharge, so a wall that looks short above ground can still cross that line. For a wall between 4 and 5 feet, the permit needs zoning clearance, engineered plans and structural calculations, plus a soils report in some zoning areas. The state also maps areas where the ground may liquefy in a strong earthquake, and if your lot sits in one, permitting may call for studying that hazard and reducing it. I work out which side of these lines your wall falls on before any paperwork starts, and you can check the details on the City of Torrance engineering and grading permits page.
On jobs around here we mostly see backyards that step down toward the back fence and old low walls somebody stacked years ago that have started to lean. We build the same walls in Lomita, Redondo Beach and many of the other cities around Torrance, and we check with the office that covers each address before we plan anything.
Why Torrance homeowners call AJ Torrance Concrete and Masonry for retaining walls
I look at your slope myself
I come out to see the job in person and tell you what I see. Our own crew does the building, with a lead mason running the site and me stopping by to check, so the person who priced your wall is the one looking at it.
In business since 2013
Before I laid block, I spent years selling brick, block and stone at a supply yard and hearing how jobs went after the trucks left. That's where I learned that most wall trouble starts with shortcuts nobody sees until the wall moves.
Licensed and insured on every job
We're licensed and insured, which matters when a wall is holding back soil right next to your house or your neighbor's. Torrance schedules inspections for retaining wall work, and we'd like the inspector to leave with nothing to write down.
Get the size and the drainage right, and the rest is stacking block. Send us the details or call (424) 318-3093, and I'll come out and take a look.
Request a quoteGet a free written estimate for your retaining wall
We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your property. The estimate is free, and there's no obligation. After I've looked at the slope, you get it in writing with the scope spelled out.
What happens after you call about a retaining wall?
Call or send a request
Call (424) 318-3093 or use the form, and we set a time for me to come out. If you can be home, we'll walk the slope together.
I look and write it up
I tell you what I see and send a written estimate that spells out the wall height, the drainage and whether a permit is likely. With the scope in writing, you can compare our bid with anyone else's line for line.
We handle the permit steps
If your wall needs a permit, we handle the application with the office that covers your address and tell you what we learn before any work starts. Torrance's grading guidance gives 3 to 4 weeks to review a first residential submittal and 2 to 3 weeks for a resubmittal, so build that into your plans.
Our crew builds, I check
Our crew builds the wall, with any city inspections fitting in along the way. I look it over before we call it done.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a short retaining wall in Torrance?
A wall under the city's 4-foot line that doesn't support a surcharge still has to be called out on any grading or building permit for your project. If you aren't sure whether your wall carries a surcharge, ask the city or ask me when I come out, because that alone can put a low wall into permit territory.
How tall can a retaining wall be in Torrance?
One retaining wall in Torrance can be up to 5 feet tall, under the city's planning rules. If your slope needs more than that, the city wants stepped walls set 2 feet apart, each up to 5 feet, which often looks better than one tall wall anyway.
How much does a retaining wall cost in the Los Angeles area?
Building a retaining wall in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $2,700 to $11,800 per project. Where yours lands depends mostly on how tall and long it is and whether it needs engineered plans. Your own figure comes in my written estimate, which is free.
What causes retaining walls to fail?
Poor drainage is by far the most common reason retaining walls perform badly, and left alone it can end in outright failure. When you compare bids, look hard at how each design gets water out from behind the wall and ask how those drains get cleaned out over the years.
What is the best way to terrace a steep backyard in Torrance?
Plan on planting beds between a set of stepped walls, because the city keeps the space between them for landscaping unless it's part of a lower terrace. That strip won't be a patio, so we lay out the walls with the beds in mind from the start.
Is a block retaining wall cheaper than poured concrete?
Usually, yes. The concrete block industry's trade group says block walls typically have a 25 to 40 percent cost advantage over poured, cast-in-place concrete walls. That's the industry's number, and your yard decides the rest.
Other masonry work around the yard
Masonry restoration
Old brick or stone in the yard with crumbling joints or loose units can often be brought back, which is usually less work than tearing it out and starting over.
Fireplace installation
If you want a fireplace indoors or out on new level ground, we build the firebox, surround and chimney in brick or stone to suit your house.
Torrance, CA
Tell us about your slope today
Have the height of soil you need held back, a few photos of the slope and any plans or soils report handy, and the first visit goes a lot further.