McKinney/Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls in McKinney
Block, stone, and engineered retaining walls for McKinney's sloped, clay-soil lots. Built with the drainage that keeps them standing.
Serving McKinney since 2004· Licensed & insured · Free on-site estimates
Most calls for retaining walls in McKinney start with a slope that will not behave. A backyard that drops away too fast to use, a flower bed that washes out every storm, or a new patio that needs a level pad cut into a grade. A retaining wall holds the high side and gives you flat ground to work with.
McKinney sits on clay soil that swells when it takes on water and shrinks back hard in a dry summer, and that movement is what pushes on a wall season after season. We build to account for it so the wall stands.
Segmental block is our workhorse and goes up clean for garden and yard walls. Natural stone reads heavier and suits larger lots where the wall is meant to be seen. Poured concrete is the pick for a tall wall, a real load, or a driveway.
Height changes the job. Anything under about four feet is usually straightforward yard work. Once a wall passes roughly four feet measured from the footing, the City of McKinney wants it engineered and permitted. We tell you up front which side of that line your wall falls on and handle the engineering when it needs it.
Drainage is what keeps a wall standing. We backfill with gravel, run a perforated drain pipe along the base to carry water out, and wrap it in filter fabric so the clay does not silt it shut.
A lot of McKinney backyards want a seat wall around a patio, a raised planter, or a low wall to define a fire pit area. On a steeper lot we often terrace the slope into two or three shorter walls, which holds the grade and gives you planting steps.
We build retaining walls across McKinney, Prosper, and Celina. Fill out the form for a free on-site estimate. We measure it, we quote it. See everything we do in McKinney, our broader stonework, or pair a wall with a new outdoor kitchen.
Trusted by DFW
What our clients say
“Lalo is super knowledgeable and helpful. He's always answered all my questions and been my go-to guy for anything pool related. Can't recommend him enough.”
Homeowner, Dallas TX
“These guys did our whole pool retile in four days. Showed up on time every morning, cleaned up every evening. The pool looks better than when it was new.”
Homeowner, Plano TX
“We've used Lalo's on three builds now. They just get it done. No drama, no excuses. That's hard to find with subs.”
Pool Builder, DFW
“Lalo came out himself to look at our coping. Didn't try to upsell us on stuff we didn't need. Just told us what needed fixing and gave us a fair price.”
Homeowner, Fort Worth TX
“Had another company do our tile and it started falling off after one summer. Lalo's crew came in, tore it out, and redid the whole thing. Should have called them first.”
Homeowner, Garland TX
“Honest people, quality work. That's it. That's the review.”
Homeowner, Irving TX
FAQ
Retaining Walls in McKinney, answered
It depends on length, height, and material. Segmental block walls cost less to install than natural stone or engineered concrete. A short garden wall is a smaller project than a tall engineered wall holding a real grade. We measure the site and give you a fixed number.
Once a wall passes about four feet measured from the footing, the City of McKinney requires it to be engineered and permitted. Under that height it is usually straightforward yard work with no permit. We tell you which side of the line your wall is on and handle the engineering and permit when it is needed.
There is no hard cap, but height drives the engineering. Anything over roughly four feet has to be designed for the load behind it, and on a steep lot we often terrace the slope into two or three shorter walls. That holds the grade and usually looks better than a single high wall.
Segmental block is the common pick for yard and garden walls, clean and durable. Natural stone suits larger lots where the wall is on display. Poured concrete is for tall walls or anything holding a driveway or heavy load. McKinney's clay soil matters more than the material, since all of them need proper drainage to hold.
Almost always water and movement. A wall with no gravel backfill and no drain pipe traps water behind it, and the pressure builds until the wall leans or cracks. McKinney's clay soil makes it worse because it swells when wet. We build with gravel, a perforated drain pipe, and filter fabric so water has a way out, which is what keeps the wall standing.
What we do
More we can do for your McKinney backyard
Retaining Walls is one piece. Here's the rest of what our crew handles in McKinney.
Fire Pits
Pool Tile
Pool Tile Installation
Pool Coping
Pool Renovation
Pool Repair
Outdoor Kitchens
Patios
Outdoor Fireplaces
Outdoor Fountains
Spa and Water Features
Pool Deck Resurfacing
Stone Veneers
Service area
Serving McKinney and nearby
Based in Dallas, we build and remodel across the whole metro. Here's who we serve closest to McKinney.
McKinney
Ready to start your retaining walls project?
Free estimates for McKinney homeowners and builders. We'll come out, look at your project, and give you an honest, fixed price.
10546 Luna Rd, Dallas, TX 75220 · lalostileandcoping@gmail.com
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