Retaining walls · San Diego County
Concrete Retaining Walls in San Diego
CA License #1130763Veteran-OwnedFully InsuredFamily-Run
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Licensed
CA License #1130763
Veteran-Owned
Veteran-Owned
Insured
Fully Insured
In-House
In-House Crew
Overview
What we do for retaining walls
A retaining wall has one job: hold back tons of saturated soil during a winter storm without bulging, leaning, or failing. Done right, it's a 50-year wall. Done wrong, it'll start tipping the first wet season and become someone else's problem.
We build engineered concrete retaining walls — proper footings, vertical rebar, drainage system behind the wall, and weep holes where they need to be. For walls over 4 feet (or any wall holding a sloped surcharge), we work with a licensed engineer for the design.
What's included
Every job, every time
No surprise add-ons after we shake hands.
- Site survey and engineering coordination if needed
- Permit pulled if wall exceeds height threshold
- Excavation and footing prep
- Continuous rebar grid (vertical + horizontal)
- French drain and gravel backfill behind the wall
- Weep holes for water relief
- Choice of finish: smooth, board-form, stained, or veneer-ready
- Workmanship warranty in writing
Our process
From first call to final walk-through
- 1
Survey and design
Ronnie walks the site, measures the grade, and pulls in an engineer if the wall needs one.
- 2
Permit and prep
Permits pulled, locate calls submitted, then excavation and footing forms set.
- 3
Rebar and pour
Continuous vertical and horizontal rebar tied, forms set, concrete poured in a single lift if possible.
- 4
Drainage and backfill
French drain installed behind the wall, gravel backfill placed, then native soil compacted on top.
Why Rose Concrete
Why hire us
Most retaining-wall failures come from skipped drainage. We never skip it. Every wall gets a french drain behind it and weep holes through it — that's what keeps water from building hydrostatic pressure and pushing the wall over.
CA License #1130763Veteran-OwnedFully InsuredIn-House Crew
Cost · Honest ranges
What does a concrete retaining wall cost?
Concrete retaining walls run $50–$120 per linear foot of wall, scaling with height and engineering needs. Walls over 4 feet (or with sloped soil above) need an engineer and add design cost.
A typical 30-linear-foot wall at 3 feet tall lands between $1,800 and $2,700. A 30-linear-foot engineered wall at 6 feet tall runs $4,500–$7,500 including drainage.
What affects cost:
- Wall height (drives engineering + footing depth)
- Linear footage
- Whether engineering is required (height + surcharge)
- Drainage system (french drain + weep holes — never skip)
- Excavation depth and access
- Finish (smooth, board-form, veneer-ready)
- Permit fees if applicable
Quotes are fixed-price. No change orders unless the scope changes.
★★★★★ 4.9 Average · Google Reviews
What retaining walls customers say
Real reviews from San Diego County homeowners — replace with your own when you call.
- ★★★★★
“Ronnie poured our 600-square-foot driveway in two days and didn't leave a speck of mud on the grass. Quoted exactly what he charged. Crew that showed up was the same crew Ronnie said would show up.”
Sarah M. · Clairemont · Mar 2026
- ★★★★★
“We hired three contractors before Rose. Only one who actually walked the yard, talked through drainage, and showed up the day he said he would. Patio looks like the listing photos.”
Mike R. · Bonita · Feb 2026
- ★★★★★
“Got a Safe Sidewalks Program notice in January, panicked. Ronnie walked us through the whole program, handled the paperwork, and our city contribution was honored. Done in 5 weeks.”
Jennifer L. · North Park · Mar 2026
Recent work · 2025–2026
Recent retaining walls work
Real retaining walls work poured by Ronnie's crew across San Diego County.
Photos coming — gradient placeholders until Ronnie uploads project photos via the dashboard. The marketing site will swap automatically.
Driveway Replacement
Driveway tear-out and replace
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Clairemont
Driveway tear-out and replace
Cracked 1960s slab demoed and re-poured with a doweled apron tie-in. Two-day job.
Stamped Concrete Patio
Stamped slate patio
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La Mesa
Stamped slate patio
650 sq ft of slate-pattern stamped patio with integral charcoal color.
Safe Sidewalks
Safe Sidewalks Program repair
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North Park
Safe Sidewalks Program repair
Three-panel city-spec sidewalk replacement with permit + inspection sign-off.
Pool Deck
Exposed-aggregate pool deck
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Point Loma
Exposed-aggregate pool deck
Slip-resistant pool deck with light tan aggregate. Drains away from the coping.
RV Pad
Reinforced RV pad
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El Cajon
Reinforced RV pad
6-inch slab with doubled rebar — Class A motorhome lives here without a flicker.
Driveway Extension
Driveway extension for second car
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Bonita
Driveway extension for second car
Widened by 8 ft with doweled tie-in to the existing slab. Matches the original broom finish.
We pour retaining walls across San Diego County
Same crew, same warranty, no matter the city.
Free · No obligation · 60 seconds
Get Your Free Retaining Walls Quote
Tell us about the job. We text you a confirmation immediately. Ronnie calls back as soon as he can.
FAQ
Retaining Walls questions, answered
How tall can a wall be without a permit?
City of San Diego: typically 3 feet exposed height without a permit, as long as there's no surcharge (sloped soil) above it. Anything taller or with a surcharge needs a permit and engineered design — we handle both.
How long do concrete retaining walls last?
Built right — engineered, drained, properly reinforced — 50+ years. We've fixed walls poured in the 1960s that failed because they had no drainage. Drainage is what kills them, not the concrete.
Can the wall double as a planter or a seat?
Yes — we can design a thicker top for seating, or build a planter box on top with weep holes so it drains properly without rotting the wall.
Will the wall match my house?
Smooth, board-form (looks like wood-grain), or veneer-ready (we leave it smooth so you can apply stone or stucco veneer) — your call. We'll match your house's look during the quote.
What about my neighbor's property?
We'll need to know exactly where the property line is (we'll pull the survey or coordinate with your neighbor) and whether the wall is fully on your property or shared. Most walls go fully on the high-side property to keep things clean.
Other concrete services we offer
Driveways
Tear-out and replace, extensions, and new aprons. Built for SUVs, RVs, and the next 30 years.
Patios
Backyard hangouts, fire-pit pads, and outdoor kitchens. Stamped, broomed, or smooth — your call.
Walkways & Sidewalks
Front walks, side paths, and city-spec sidewalk repairs. Poured in a day, walkable the next.
Ready to start? Let's talk.
Most quotes done same-week. Most jobs scheduled within two weeks of acceptance.