Retaining Walls

We build beautiful, functional, segmental block retaining walls

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We Build, Repair, and Replace Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are a key part of many landscapes across Greater Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula, where sloped lots, exposed bedrock, and aging walls are common. At Victoria Interlock, we design and build retaining walls that stabilize your property and create usable outdoor space, all while fitting naturally into the landscape.

In our experience, homeowners call us when they need to:

    • Replace old, rotting landscape tie walls
    • Rebuild failing or leaning block retaining walls
    • Stabilize sloped or eroding areas of their yard
    • Create level space for patios, gardens, or walkways
    • Improve drainage and manage soil movement

We’re an Allan Block certified contractor, fully licensed and insured, and an A+ rated, BBB accredited business. Whether you’re dealing with a small garden wall or a larger structural retaining wall, we build solutions that are designed for Island conditions and built to last.

New retaining wall construction

When we build a new retaining wall, the focus is on doing it right from the start. On Southern Vancouver Island, that means accounting for slope, drainage, soil conditions, and bedrock before a single block is placed.

Our new retaining wall construction process typically includes:

    • Evaluating slope, elevation change, and usable space
    • Designing wall height and layout based on site conditions
    • Planning for drainage behind the wall to manage Island rainfall
    • Building on a properly prepared base for long-term stability
    • Reinforcing walls when needed to support slopes, patios, or other loads

Many properties in Greater Victoria need retaining walls to create flat areas for patios, gardens, walkways, or access, not just to hold back soil. We design walls that work as part of the overall landscape, not isolated structures.

As an Allan Block certified contractor, we build segmental retaining walls using proven systems and engineering guidelines. Combined with our experience working on sloped and rocky properties, this ensures new retaining walls that are built to perform and built to last in Island conditions.

Retaining wall permits and local regulations

Retaining wall regulations can vary across Greater Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula depending on height, location, and what the wall is supporting. In general, walls over a certain height or walls supporting additional loads may require permits and, in some cases, engineered drawings.

In our experience, this is especially common when:

    • A wall exceeds typical garden wall heights
    • A wall supports a driveway, parking area, or structure
    • A wall is part of a multi-tiered or terraced design
    • A wall is built close to property lines or buildings

We help guide clients through this process and coordinate with engineers when required. The goal is to ensure your retaining wall meets local regulations and performs safely for the long term.

Proper drainage is critical for retaining walls on the Island

Poor drainage is one of the most common reasons retaining walls fail in this region. We’re often called to replace walls that are leaning, cracking, or collapsing because water was never managed properly behind them.

Retaining walls don’t just hold back soil, they also retain moisture. With our coastal rainfall and winter conditions, water buildup behind a wall can create significant pressure over time. Without proper drainage, that pressure can cause the wall to bow or fail completely.

To prevent these issues, drainage is built into every wall we construct. Depending on site conditions, this may include:

    • Perforated drain pipe at the base of the wall
    • Free-draining granular backfill behind the wall
    • Drainage outlets or daylighting where possible
    • Additional drainage strategies for taller or reinforced walls

These details aren’t always visible once the wall is complete, but they’re essential to long-term performance.

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Understanding surcharges and reinforced retaining walls

A surcharge is any additional load placed on or behind a retaining wall beyond the soil itself. This is common on Vancouver Island, especially on compact or sloped properties where space is limited.

Typical surcharges include:

    • Driveways or parking areas near the top of the wall
    • Fences, railings, or privacy screens
    • Tiered retaining walls or upper landscape levels
    • Structures, sheds, or patios close to the wall

When a surcharge is present, the wall must be reinforced to handle that extra load. As part of our Allan Block certification, we design and install reinforced retaining walls using geogrid, which anchors the wall into the slope behind it. Proper spacing, length, and installation of this reinforcement is critical to prevent movement or failure over time.

Retaining wall materials commonly used in Greater Victoria

Material choice often depends on site conditions, wall height, and the overall look you’re aiming for. Some of the most common retaining wall materials we work with in this area include:

Segmental block retaining walls
A popular choice for both structural and decorative walls, offering consistent strength, clean lines, and long-term durability.

Natural stone retaining walls
Often used where a more organic or coastal look is desired, especially when blending into existing rock features.

Large boulder retaining walls
Well suited for properties with exposed bedrock or a natural landscape style, and often used to stabilize slopes in a more informal way.

We’ll help you choose the right material based on your property, budget, and how the wall needs to function.

If you’re dealing with a sloped yard, a failing retaining wall, or a property that needs better soil stability, we’d be happy to help. Reach out to Victoria Interlock to book a consultation.

What Does It Cost To Build Retaining Walls?

Smaller Garden Walls

$3,000 - $10,000

This would be for a small garden wall (under 2 feet high) to surround a small garden or to surround a small landscaping bed.

Medium Sized Walls

$10,000 - $30,000

This would be for a medium sized wall up to 4 feet high.  Installed with drainage and geo-grid so it lasts.

Large Retaining Walls

$30,000 - $100,000+

This would be a ballpark cost for a very large or tiered retaining wall or multiple wall with courses that are 4 feet or higher

Retaining Wall Projects Can Include

Whether we're building a brand new retaining wall or replacing an existing retaining wall that has failed, there are a number of things we do.

Proper Excavation
Proper Base Materials
Drainage Installation
Integrated Lighting
Built-in Stairs
Geogrid (for stability)
Cap Stones (for looks)
Engineering

These prices do not include stairs.  If you need stairs built within your retaining wall there will be an additional cost.  These price ranges are for a typical wall built using readily available landscape block.

These prices are ball park figures to give you a rough idea as to what you should expect.  If you need a firm price please request a consultation so we can view your potential project, listen to your ideas, and determine the actual scope of work required to complete your project.

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Retaining wall replacement and rebuilds

Across Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Island, we’re often called out to look at retaining walls that are no longer doing their job. In many cases, these are older landscape tie walls that have rotted out, or early block walls that are leaning, bulging, or starting to collapse due to poor drainage and construction.

In our experience, retaining walls usually fail because of:

    • Rotting timber ties that were never meant to last long-term
    • Block walls built without proper drainage
    • Insufficient base preparation or compaction
    • Walls built too tall without reinforcement
    • Water pressure building up behind the wall over time

Because of this, we rarely recommend patching or spot-repairing a failed retaining wall. Once a wall has started to move, the underlying issues are already there, and repairs often end up being a temporary fix at best.

Rebuilding failed retaining walls the right way

When a retaining wall has failed, rebuilding it properly is usually the most cost-effective and reliable solution. This typically involves:

    • Removing and disposing of the existing wall materials
    • Re-excavating the area to proper depths
    • Installing a solid base and proper drainage
    • Reinforcing the wall where needed using geogrid
    • Rebuilding the wall to modern standards

As an Allan Block certified contractor, we rebuild retaining walls using proven systems designed for Island conditions. We’re fully licensed and insured, and an A+ rated, BBB accredited business, so you can feel confident that the new wall is built to last, not just look good for a season or two.

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