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Reliable, professional concrete retaining wall in Conway, AR from Conway Concrete Company. Contact us today for a free on-site estimate.
Conway Concrete Company provides professional concrete retaining wall throughout Conway, AR, Arkansas and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (501) 358-5548 or request your free quote.
Concrete Retaining Walls Built for Conway Slopes and Soil
In Conway, a concrete retaining wall is more than a nice border. It is a structure that has to hold back heavy, shifting Arkansas soil through wet springs and hot, dry summers. At Conway Concrete Company, we build retaining walls that are sized and reinforced for the real conditions in this area, not just what looks good on paper.
A proper concrete retaining wall starts with understanding what it needs to hold. That means we look at slope, soil type, drainage patterns, and what sits above and below the wall. A short wall beside a driveway on Salem Road will be built differently than a taller wall behind a house off Dave Ward Drive with a steep backyard. We adjust thickness, footing size, and steel reinforcement so the wall can handle that specific load.
We install poured-in-place concrete retaining walls as well as concrete block (CMU) walls with steel and grout. Poured walls are good when you want a smooth face, curves, or higher strength in a thinner profile. Block walls are useful when access is tight or you want more options for textured finishes. In both cases, the concrete and steel are designed to work together to resist sliding, overturning, and cracking.
You will see a lot of segmented block walls around Conway that were put in with little to no base or drainage. Those may look fine at first, then bow or lean after a few years. Our approach is to treat every structural retaining wall like the small engineered structure that it is. We focus on the parts you do not see, such as the footing, the base rock, the drain system, and the reinforcement, because that is what decides whether the wall is still straight in 10 to 20 years.
How We Design and Engineer Your Concrete Retaining Wall
The planning stage is where many retaining walls succeed or fail. Conway Concrete Company starts with a site visit to measure slopes and see how water moves across your property. We check nearby structures, fences, driveways, and utility lines. In some parts of Conway, like near Tucker Creek, groundwater and runoff are a bigger concern than in higher, drier lots, so the wall design must handle that extra water.
For walls above a certain height or near structures, your project may need an engineered design to satisfy city or county requirements and to keep you covered with insurance and future resale. We coordinate with licensed Arkansas engineers when needed, especially for walls over about 4 feet in height, tiered systems, or walls that support parking areas, garages, or building foundations.
A clear design usually includes wall height and thickness, footing size and depth, steel rebar layout, control joint spacing, and drainage details. For block walls, we specify which cells get rebar and grout and where tie-backs or deadmen might be needed. For poured walls, we detail the formwork, bar spacing, and any keyways or shear keys in the footing.
Material options can include plain gray concrete, colored concrete, stamped or textured faces, and added stone or brick veneer. We will be honest with you about which upgrades are purely cosmetic and which actually improve performance. For example, an exposed aggregate finish will not hold the wall up any better, but a proper waterproofing membrane and drain board on the back of a wall beside a basement can make a big difference in moisture control.
We also talk through access and construction impacts. Some Conway subdivisions have narrow side yards or HOA limits on equipment and work hours. We plan how to get materials in and out with as little disturbance as possible, whether that means smaller equipment, hand work, or phased construction.
The Build Process: From Excavation to Finished Wall
A concrete retaining wall lives or dies in the first phase: excavation and base prep. We start by marking utilities and calling Arkansas 811 if excavation is deep enough to be a concern. Then we over-excavate to create a level, compacted base well below the frost line typically at least 6 to 12 inches of compacted gravel under the footing or first course, depending on the wall type.
Footings are formed and poured on this base for poured walls, with rebar tied in place according to the design. For block walls, we set the first course on a compacted gravel leveling pad, checking each block for level and alignment. A small error here will show up as a big lean or step later, so we take our time.
Drainage is installed as we build, not after the fact. We typically place a perforated drain pipe (French drain) behind the wall at the base, sloped to daylight on one or both ends. This pipe is wrapped in filter fabric and covered with clean washed gravel. The gravel extends up the back of the wall, often 12 to 24 inches thick, and is separated from native soil with fabric to keep fine particles from clogging the drainage layer.
For poured concrete retaining walls, we set steel forms, tie vertical and horizontal rebar, and pour concrete at the proper slump so it fills the forms and surrounds the steel without honeycombing. We use vibrators or tapping techniques to remove air pockets. Once the concrete is placed, we protect it from rapid drying with curing compound or coverings, especially in hot Conway summers when surface cracking is more likely.
For reinforced block walls, we stack blocks in running bond, install rebar in designated cells, and then fill those cells with grout. We also install control joints where needed to manage expected movement. Backfilling is done in lifts, compacting as we go, so the wall does not get pushed out by loose, un-compacted soil.
Cost, Permits, and What Affects Your Price in Conway
Concrete retaining wall pricing in Conway can vary widely, and we work to explain why before we start. Height is the biggest cost factor. A 3 foot garden wall that holds back a gentle slope is a very different project than an 8 foot wall that backs up a driveway or pool. Taller walls need deeper footings, more steel, more engineering, and often more drainage features.
Access also plays a big role. If we can back a truck close to the work area, move material with a skid steer, and pour directly, your price will be lower than a backyard that only has a narrow 4 foot gate where everything must be brought in by smaller machines or even by hand. Soil type matters too. Some Conway lots sit on fairly stable clay and shale, others have loose fill from previous work. Soft or filled ground often requires a wider footing or deeper excavation.
Finishes and extras will affect cost. A simple broom-finished gray concrete wall will be less expensive than a wall with architectural form liners, color, and stone veneer. Some customers in newer Conway subdivisions also choose integrated concrete steps, planters, or seating built into the retaining wall, which adds labor and materials.
In the Conway city limits, walls above certain heights or near property lines can trigger permit and inspection requirements. Rules can vary by neighborhood and zoning. We can help you determine when a permit, survey, or engineered plan is needed, and we can coordinate that paperwork if you prefer. If you are in an HOA, you may need to submit drawings or samples for approval before construction starts, especially if the wall is visible from the street.
Instead of guessing from a generic price per foot, Conway Concrete Company typically visits the site, listens to how you plan to use the space, and then gives a written estimate that lists the main elements: excavation, base, wall materials, drainage, reinforcement, finish, and cleanup.
Common Problems We Prevent and How to Get Started
Most of the retaining wall issues we repair in Conway come down to three things: no drainage, poor base preparation, and under-built walls. A solid concrete retaining wall should not be leaning badly after a few years. If it is, either water pressure is building up behind it, the base is failing, or it was not reinforced correctly for the load.
To prevent water pressure problems, we always include a drainage plan. That means pipe to daylight wherever possible. If daylighting is not an option, we look at other solutions, such as tying into existing yard drains. On steep lots, we often add surface drains or swales above the wall so roof runoff and yard water do not stack up behind it in the first place.
To avoid base and movement problems, we do not build directly on topsoil or loose fill. We remove soft material until we reach stable ground, then rebuild with compacted aggregate. On slopes, we sometimes key the footing into the slope or use a stepped footing to resist sliding.
If you already have a failing wall, we can assess whether repair is realistic or if replacement is the safer move. Sometimes we can add drainage and relieve pressure behind a wall that is only slightly leaning. Other times, especially with rotted timber walls or dry-stacked blocks that are bowing badly, full replacement with a reinforced concrete retaining wall is the only dependable option.
To get started, you can call Conway Concrete Company or send us photos and your address. We usually begin with a site visit where we measure grades, look at access, and talk through options and budget. From there, we provide a clear proposal and timeline. Our goal is to give you a concrete retaining wall that looks good, drains properly, and stays in place through Conway weather for the long term, without surprises after the concrete trucks are gone.
