Retaining Wall Replacement in Burnsville

Old retaining walls don't just look bad, they fail. And when they're right along the foundation of your house, a failing wall means soil movement, water problems, and potential structural headaches. That's exactly the situation we were dealing with on this job in Burnsville.

The existing wall was pulled out entirely, which meant excavating down to bare soil before anything new could go in. That deep trench you see along the foundation isn't just for looks, it's the whole point. We laid geotextile reinforcement fabric first, then came in with 8 inches of 3/4-inch clear crushed limestone as the base. A solid base is what separates a wall that lasts from one that shifts and tips after a few Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles.

Drainage was built into every layer. We ran 4-inch drain tile at the base of the wall and packed in 3 feet of 3/4-inch clear limestone as a drainage layer behind the wall. The backfill above that is the same clean limestone, keeping water moving away from the foundation instead of pooling against it. Most wall failures we see come down to drainage that was either skipped or done wrong the first time.

For the wall itself, we used Belgard Diamond Standard block in grey. It's a clean, consistent look and the block system interlocks well - which matters when the wall is running tight along a house. We stepped the wall height down as the grade changes, keeping it level and structurally sound from one end to the other. Salvaged topsoil was placed back at the top to set the homeowner up for replanting when they're ready.

This kind of work isn't glamorous mid-build, but the end result is a wall that's built to actually hold. Clean material choices, proper drainage at every layer, and a base that won't shift on you. That's the standard we hold ourselves to on every job like this in the Burnsville area.