Retaining walls in Rochester Hills, MI: That bank is a level bed waiting for a wall.
A low block wall from HD Landscape turns a Rochester Hills slope into a level bed or more usable lawn. A good one rises from a firm base with drainage behind the block, and the city's slope rules come before the first shovel.
- Low block walls
- Raised bed borders
- Level beds on sloped lots
Walls in Rochester Hills
A low wall helps here, if the slope allows it.
Rochester Hills lives up to its name, and plenty of yards here run out of flat ground before they run out of lot. A low wall can win some of that ground back. Many banks never touch the city's steep slope rules, but the sharp ones and the ones near a creek can, so the first thing we look at is which kind you have.
Low walls that make flat ground
A short wall at the bottom of a bank can give you a level bed or a wider lawn above it. Low block walls are what we build. Walls over about 4 feet, or walls holding up a driveway, usually need an engineer first.
The banks with rules attached
City code covers slopes of 25 percent and steeper, a foot of rise in every 4 feet, with 10 feet or more of drop. Within 200 feet of the Clinton River, Paint Creek, Sargent Creek, Stony Creek and their tributaries, it starts at 20 percent. A new wall or grading on ground like that can take a Steep Slope Permit, so confirm yours with the city.
Room at the top
A wall near the top of a bank can get caught too. On a regulated slope the setback runs 15, 25 or 50 feet back from the crest, depending on how steep it is, so the flat part may not be as free as it looks. Ask the city about the top of the bank as well as the bottom.
One foot up, three feet over
The city's guidebook for sheds and garages caps a graded slope at 1 foot of rise for every 3 feet of run, and says anything steeper calls for a retaining wall with construction details. It is not written for every yard, but it makes a fair test: a bank steeper than that may need a wall for more than looks.
Pipes the city does not own
A sump line belongs to the owner of the lot, and many other shared pipes belong to the development or association. Buried lines get marked before digging, but private ones are easy to miss, so tell us about anything you know is down there.
What you get
Most of a good wall ends up out of sight.
A low block wall or raised bed border should include all of this. Your estimate is itemized, so you can go through it line by line.
- Layout
Line set, grade checked and buried lines marked before digging.
- Trench and base
Trench cut and checked, gravel packed down and the first row set level.
- Block and cap
Rows stacked with staggered joints and finished with clean caps.
- Drainage and backfill
Gravel behind the block, with soil packed in as the wall rises.
- Finish
Bed filled with plants, mulch or stone, and the lawn edge left clean.
- Taller or loaded walls
Many cities require an engineer's design over 4 feet, and a wall holding up a driveway or steep bank can need one too.
In Rochester Hills
A wall starts with the base you never see.
Jake starts with the slope itself: how high it is, what it holds and which way the rain runs. If the wall would sit near a creek or on a steep bank, he will point you to the city before anything gets dug.
A wall that lasts goes up in order: a trench, a firm packed base, a level first row, then block rising with gravel behind it and soil packed in along the way. On a slope the rain runs straight at the back of the wall, so that gravel matters as much as the block. Most of what decides how long it stays straight ends up buried.
- We build
- Low block walls and raised bed borders
- Over about 4 feet
- Usually needs an engineer
- Estimate
- Free and itemized
- Before digging
- Buried lines marked, slope rules read
Jake and his team were awesome! I had my yard completely gutted, leveled, new sod, pea gravel behind the garage and new plants. I was impressed with how clean they left the job and how efficient they were. What would’ve taken me a week was done in one day. …
Rob E.Full yard redo with sod
I recently had the pleasure of working with HD Landscape to completely revamp my outdoor space, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. From start to finish, the experience was seamless and exceeded my expectations in every way.
Billy W.Outdoor space revamp
Questions
What people ask about retaining wall in Rochester Hills.
If yours is not here, call or text (586) 718-8762.
Do you build retaining walls in Rochester Hills?
Yes. HD Landscape builds low block retaining walls and raised bed borders in Rochester Hills, one of the towns we work in most. Walls over about 4 feet usually need an engineer, and if a slope needs more than a low wall, yard grading or a series of shorter walls may be the better answer.
Can a low wall give me a flat spot for a patio set?
Often, yes, if the bank is a gentle one. A low retaining wall near the bottom lets the ground behind it fill in level, which can open up room for a table and chairs. The steeper the bank, the less flat a low wall buys you, so measure the set with the chairs pulled out and show Jake the spot. The flat ground can finish in sod or stone.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in Rochester Hills?
That turns on the height, what the wall holds up and where it sits. New work on a regulated steep slope can take a Steep Slope Permit, and taller walls or walls carrying extra load are where permits and engineering usually come in. Rules change, so call the city's Building Department before the first block goes in. We will tell you what we see on the walk, and the city has the final word.
Does fixing an old retaining wall on a slope take a permit in Rochester Hills?
A repair usually does not need a Steep Slope Permit. The steep slope rules allow upkeep and repair of an existing wall without one, but a new wall is treated differently. If yours has failed and needs rebuilding, ask the city which side of that line it falls on. Jake can look at it first and tell you what he sees.
Can a retaining wall go near a creek in Rochester Hills?
Sometimes, but expect a conversation with the city first. There is generally a 25 foot setback from natural features, where filling, grading and moving materials are barred unless the city reduces it. If your yard runs down to a creek, find that line first, because it decides where a wall can go.
More for Rochester Hills
Retaining walls in other towns
Background: a finished job, relit for evening
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Tell us about the yard and where in Rochester Hills it is. Jake will take a look and give you an itemized estimate.