Concrete retaining walls in Tustin CA - holds your slope and lets the water out
Soil sliding into your yard, or an old wall starting to lean? We build a poured concrete wall that holds the slope and drains.
Priced from the design
We work from the footing, steel and drainage design.
Drainage behind the wall
Drainage placed behind the wall the way the design shows.
Help with permits
We help with the application and work with the city.
A neat finished job
A clean wall face and a tidy yard when we're done.
What goes into a concrete retaining wall in Tustin?
A concrete retaining wall in Tustin is a poured, steel-reinforced wall on a footing, the concrete base buried under it. It holds back the sideways push of the soil behind it, so your slope stays put and the yard below stays usable.
We don't price a wall from its height alone, because height can't tell you how wide the footing should be, how much steel goes in or how the water will get out. Those come from the project design or the code that applies. We build to that design, with the drainage placed behind the wall where the design shows it.
The price moves with the wall's length and height, what the design calls for in footing, steel and drainage, the shape of the layout and how easily we can get forms and concrete to the spot. The schedule depends mostly on the design, the permit and the city's inspections. After I visit, my written estimate lays out what's included.
- A wall built to its design
- Drainage placed behind the wall
- Drain outlets you can keep clear
- Each choice explained before you decide
How do you know your slope needs a retaining wall?
Look into a wall when soil starts moving toward your yard or house, or when an old wall shows any of these signs of trouble.
The wall leans or bows
A wall that tips forward or bulges in the middle can mean the drainage behind it has failed and water is pushing on it.
White chalky staining
That white mineral staining on the face is called efflorescence. It shows water is getting through the wall and can mean the drainage has failed.
Wet spots at the base
Damp ground or seepage along the foot of the wall means water is sitting behind it instead of draining away.
Sideways or stair-step cracks
Horizontal cracks, or cracks that step along the joints of a block wall, can point to a drainage failure behind it.
Soil sliding onto the yard
Dirt washing onto your patio or walkway after a rain usually means the slope needs something to hold it back.
Making room for a project
Cutting into a slope for a new patio or concrete pool deck usually needs a wall to hold the soil back.
Ask for your wall estimate
Send the wall's rough height and length, nearby cars or buildings and any HOA rules. We reply within one business day to set a free, no-obligation site visit.
What I look at before pricing a retaining wall
Before I suggest anything, I walk the slope, look at where the water goes and ask what sits near the top, because those decide what the wall needs.
The slope and its height
I measure how tall and long the wall needs to be and how much ground it holds back, which sets the size of the job.
Where the water runs
I watch how rain moves across the yard and where the drain outlets can empty, away from your house and your neighbor's.
Weight near the top
Cars, a driveway or a building close to the wall add to its load, so I note how close they sit for the design.
Access to the spot
Gates, side yards and steep ground decide how we bring in forms, steel and concrete, and how much hand work the job needs.
How a retaining wall job runs with us
I plan each wall around your yard, your access and the city's inspections, and we keep in touch throughout so you know what comes next.
Your call
Thank you for calling. We set a time for me to come out, see the slope and hear what you have in mind.
The site visit
I measure, look over the ground, the drainage and the access, and ask about anything heavy that sits near the top.
Your written estimate
I send a written estimate that spells out what's included, so you can weigh it against other quotes and decide in your own time.
Permit, forms and pour
Once you're ready, we handle the permit steps, dig the footing, set the steel and pour, with city inspections along the way.
Backfill and walk-through
We place the drainage and backfill, putting the soil back behind the wall, then walk the finished job with you and point out the outlets.
Why Tustin homeowners call Custom Tustin Concrete Company for retaining walls
From the first call to the last, you'll get plain explanations and a courteous crew, and the decision stays with you. Satisfaction guaranteed.
I come out myself
I look at every job myself and write the estimate, and I check in with our finishers and laborers while the work is underway.
In business since 2020
Six years in, we still put the most care into the parts nobody sees once the wall is up, the footing, the steel and the drainage.
Licensed for concrete work
We're fully licensed and insured. The state licensing board says a concrete contractor forms, pours, places and finishes concrete, which is the work your wall needs.
Plan the whole project
If the wall is part of a bigger job, like concrete floor installation for a new room, I'll price it all together. Call (714) 361-0137 to set a visit.
Building a concrete retaining wall in Tustin
In Tustin, the city's retaining wall guide calls for a building permit when a wall stands over 2 feet from the finished ground to the top, or carries extra weight like a driveway above it. We help with the application and ask the city first when we're unsure. Homes in unincorporated Orange County go through the county's Building and Safety instead.
The city inspects after the footing is dug and the steel is set but before any concrete goes in, again before the soil goes back behind the wall, and a final time at the end, and we schedule around those visits. Many calls here are for sloped back yards that need a flat, usable spot, and we do the same work in Irvine and North Tustin.
Have a slope in Tustin that needs a retaining wall?
(714) 361-0137Retaining wall questions we hear
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Tustin?
You do if the wall stands over 2 feet tall or carries extra weight above it, under the city rule described above. The city's guide also asks for the wall's location, height, design and materials, plus HOA approval if you have an HOA, and the city notes that many projects need plans from a licensed architect or engineer. For current answers, a Building Technician takes calls at 714-573-3130 during business hours.
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost in Orange County?
A poured concrete retaining wall in Orange County usually costs about $35 to $50 per square foot of wall face, the side you see. That's the area's usual price, not a quote, and where yours lands depends on the footing, steel and drainage the design calls for, the layout and the access. I measure on site and send a written estimate that spells out what's included.
What causes a concrete retaining wall to leak or lean?
Trapped water is a common cause, because water that can't drain pushes on the wall and can greatly increase the load on it and cause leaks. That's why a wall needs the drainage its design calls for, such as drain gravel, filter fabric, perforated drain pipe and weeps, small openings that let water out. It's also why owners need to keep the outlets clear.
Is block or poured concrete better for a curved retaining wall?
For tight curves, block is usually the easier choice, because segmental blocks follow a curve readily while poured concrete needs custom forms that cost more. If your layout curves sharply, it's worth comparing both systems. I'll tell you plainly at the visit which one suits your layout.
How do I find out if my Tustin property is in an earthquake zone?
You can look up your address with California's EQ Zapp tool, which shows whether a property sits in an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone, a Seismic Hazard Zone or both. A retaining wall may face earthquake shaking on top of soil pressure, so ask how a wall's design handles that and any groundwater.
How do I compare quotes for a retaining wall?
Ask each contractor what the price is based on, because a quote built only on wall height leaves out the footing, steel and drainage that decide how the wall is built. Tell each one about cars or buildings near the wall, since their weight adds to the load. Our estimate works from the design and lists what's included.
Ask Custom Tustin Concrete Company for an estimate
Our hours run into the evening every day, weekends included, so call (714) 361-0137 or use the form whenever it suits you.