Retaining Wall Construction & Design In Calgary, AB

Retaining Wall Projects in Calgary, AB

We design and build retaining walls for residential landscapes across Calgary, transforming sloped or unusable yards into functional outdoor spaces.

From small garden walls to large structural builds, our projects focus on durability, drainage, and clean design.

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Yard with a paved sitting area

Retaining Walls Gallery

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Types of Retaining Walls We Build In Calgary

Our team constructs a wide range of retaining wall styles to suit different landscapes:

  • Structural retaining walls for slope support
  • Decorative garden and planter walls
  • Tiered (terraced) retaining walls
  • Boulder, wood, and block retaining walls

Each solution is designed to balance function, stability, and visual appeal.

Retaining Walls  Materials & Design Options

We offer a variety of materials to match your property and budget:

  • Concrete blocks and Allan block systems
  • Natural stone and boulder walls
  • Wood retaining walls
  • Stackstone and decorative finishes

Material selection is based on style, durability, and how it complements your home.

Natural Stone Retaining Walls Calgary

Boulder walls are built from large, naturally shaped stones stacked into a solid barrier. We work with Ironstone, Rundle stone, sandstone and Armourstone; the Ironstone for our Sage Hill walls, steps and fireplace was trucked in from close to Cranbrook. Boulder walls handle heavy water flow, hold steep slopes and suit hillside properties and significant grade changes, and if your home has masonry features, an Ironstone or Rundle stacked boulder wall picks up that natural stone element. Placement takes planning: heavy machinery and precise stacking and levelling are what make the wall safe and long-lasting, and once built, maintenance is low. Natural stone also makes handsome raised beds. In Tuscany we tiered a sloping backyard with large sandstone boulders, regraded the yard and finished it with low-maintenance beds, trees and sod, and in Panorama Hills all the walls and steps were built in Ironstone boulders around a charcoal Rocky Mountain paver patio.

Brick & Block Retaining Walls Calgary

For a clean, structured look, and for walls carrying real load, we build with engineered concrete block systems: Allan Block, Roman Pisa and Pisa II, Cornerstone and Capstone. Blocks stack in straight runs or gentle curves, work for terraces and planters as well as tall structural walls, and pair naturally with paving stone patios and steps. Brick and block walls can be built with weep holes and gravel backfill so water drains through the wall. In Strathcona we built a Roman Pisa wall almost 6 feet tall where it meets the house foundation, topped with aluminum and glass railing and a paving stone patio; in Patterson a Pisa and Capstone wall tiered the backyard, anchored by a set of steps and a double Holland paving stone patio; in Varsity Roman Pisa walls and steps frame a raised Roman Euro patio; and in Mount Royal tiered walls carry one of the largest sets of poured residential steps we have seen in Calgary.

Stackstone is a decorative wall product, right for raised garden beds and borders up to 18 inches high, like the curved charcoal Stackstone bed we built under a bay window in Douglasdale. Walls that support significant mass, such as mounded beds or patios, are built in block, boulder or timber.

Timber and Pressure-Treated Wood Walls

Wood retaining walls are built from pressure-treated lumber, which resists decay and insects. They suit gentle slopes, garden beds and terraces, follow the contours of a yard more easily than block, blend with decks, pergolas and fences, and cost less up front than stone or block. In Rocky Ridge we tamed a large hill with pressure-treated walls and a crushed limestone walkway along the flat, and in Scenic Acres we replaced old rotting retaining walls with new pressure-treated ones and a paving stone landing.

When You Need a Retaining Wall

A wall is the answer when a slope needs to become flat, usable, structurally sound ground. The signs are familiar: soil washing out of sloped beds during rain or snowmelt, water pooling near slopes, patios or beds, patios, driveways or walkways cracking or shifting because the soil under them is moving, and parts of the yard too steep to use. Tiered or terraced walls tame an unusable hillside, control erosion and give the slope an attractive transition, creating several functional spaces from one. Walls also work as design elements: a raised garden bed, built-in bench seating, planters, or an integrated outdoor fireplace like the Ironstone walls, steps and fireplace in Sage Hill.

Our Process and Calgary Permit Notes

Every wall starts with a site assessment: the height and what the wall has to retain, structural integrity, drainage, the space available and the character of the property. We build drainage into all major walls, because water trapped behind a wall is what causes heaving through Calgary’s freeze-thaw cycles; any downspout or hose that discharges behind the wall has to be relocated by project completion or the warranty is void. In Calgary, a retaining wall or planter under 1.2 metres (4 feet) does not need a permit. Walls 1.2 metres or higher generally require permits and may require professional engineering, and requirements can also apply to several walls positioned close together or to walls near City property. The property owner is responsible for any permit or easement the project needs, and we help with the process; ask your estimator or Project Manager. The estimate, booking and walkthrough steps are on our getting started page.

What Affects the Cost

Price depends on the height and length of the wall, site access, excavation, drainage, whether engineering is required, and the material. A small decorative garden wall costs considerably less than a large structural or engineered wall, and pressure-treated wood is the lowest up-front cost, with block and natural stone above it. Estimates are itemized, free and valid for 30 days, and a 50% deposit is required on jobs that need materials purchased.

Retaining Wall Projects Around Calgary

The gallery above shows our walls up close. For whole yards, see the walls in context on our north Calgary projects page (Sage Hill, Tuscany, Rocky Ridge, Scenic Acres, Panorama Hills), the inner city projects page (Varsity, Mount Royal), the west Calgary projects page (Discovery Ridge, Strathcona, Patterson) and the south Calgary projects page (Lake Sundance, Douglasdale).

Further Reading

Retaining Wall FAQs

The cost of a retaining wall in Calgary depends on the size and height of the wall, site access, excavation requirements, drainage, engineering needs and the material you choose. A small decorative garden wall will typically cost considerably less than a large structural or engineered retaining wall.

At Assiniboine Lawns & Landscapes, we provide a custom estimate after assessing your property, the purpose of the wall and the conditions of the site. This allows us to recommend a retaining wall solution that works for both your landscape and your budget.

It depends on the height, location and design of the retaining wall. In Calgary, retaining walls 1.2 metres (4 feet) or higher generally require permits, and certain walls may require professional engineering. Requirements can also apply to multiple retaining walls positioned close together or walls located near City property.

Before construction begins, it’s important to determine what permits, approvals or engineering may be required for your specific project.

The best retaining wall depends on what the wall needs to accomplish, the slope and soil conditions of your property, your preferred appearance and your budget.

Common options include concrete or Allan block retaining walls for durability and structural applications, natural stone or boulder walls for a more natural appearance, wood retaining walls for a warm and traditional look, and decorative stackstone for smaller landscape features.

For sloped properties or walls supporting significant weight, the structural requirements and drainage should be considered before choosing a material based on appearance alone.

A retaining wall may be a good solution if your property has a steep or uneven slope, soil erosion, drainage problems or areas of the yard that are difficult to use.

Retaining walls can hold back soil, help manage changes in elevation and turn sloped areas into more functional spaces for lawns, gardens, patios or other landscaping. They can also be used to create raised garden beds, terraces and other landscape features even when structural support isn’t the primary concern.

A professional site assessment can determine whether a retaining wall is necessary and what type of wall will work best for your property.

The lifespan of a retaining wall depends on the material, construction methods, drainage, soil conditions and ongoing exposure to water. Proper base preparation and drainage are particularly important in Calgary’s climate because freeze-thaw cycles and excess water behind a wall can contribute to shifting, heaving or sinking.

Assiniboine Lawns & Landscapes provides a 2-year warranty against major heaving or sinking on retaining walls. We also build drainage into major retaining walls to help manage water and protect the structure. Specific warranty conditions apply, including requirements related to sources of excessive water behind the wall.

Yes. Built-in bench seating, raised garden planters and an integrated outdoor fireplace can all be worked into a wall, and terraced walls create several usable levels from one slope. In Sage Hill the Ironstone retaining walls carry the steps and the fireplace, and in Lake Sundance a stackstone raised bed holds a single sandstone boulder with the house number drilled into it.

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