Retaining Walls in Southern Oregon

Engineered excavation, footing prep, and backfill for retaining walls that hold the line — on slopes, driveways, terraces, and yards.

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Retaining Walls That Last Decades — Not Just Seasons

A French drain is a gravel-and-pipe drainage system that captures groundwater and redirects it away from foundations, basements, driveways, and saturated areas of your property.

You probably need one if:

Water pools near your home after a storm

Your basement or crawlspace feels damp or smells musty

A slope above your house is sending water toward the foundation

Your yard stays soggy long after the rain stops

Trenching, more broadly, is the foundation of nearly every excavation job — utility lines, drainage runs, septic laterals, and irrigation. Blake Excavation handles both with clean lines, accurate depth, and proper backfill.

When You Need a Retaining Wall

Slope stabilization — Hold back hillsides and prevent erosion
Driveway and grade transitions — Cut into a slope without losing usable yard
Terraced yards — Turn a steep yard into usable level zones
Garden walls and raised beds — Functional plus aesthetic
Property line grade changes — Maintain elevation differences cleanly

Our Retaining Wall Process

Site Assessment & Design — Wall height, soil type, drainage, and engineering needs.
Permit & Engineering — Walls over a certain height typically require engineering and a permit (we’ll let you know).
Excavate the Footing — Dig back into the slope for the wall base and drainage zone.
Compact the Base — Crushed gravel base, properly compacted.
Build the Wall — Block, boulder, or timber, laid level and tied in correctly.
Backfill With Drainage — Drain rock and perforated pipe behind the wall, then clean fill.
Restore the Grade Above — Compact and finish-grade the area above the wall.

Tools We Use for Retaining Walls

Excavator — Footing excavation and moving boulders or block pallets
Plate Compactor — Critical for base prep and lift-by-lift backfill compaction
Laser Level — Keeps the base perfectly level — the foundation of a straight wall
Block Grabber Attachment — Speeds heavy block placement
Gravel Backfill Equipment — Clean, controlled drain rock behind the wall

Why Choose Blake Excavation

Why Our Walls Hold Up When Others Don't

We don’t skip the drainage step — every wall gets proper drain rock and perforated pipe behind it
Compacted base in lifts means no settling
Owner-operated build means tight tolerances on every course
Equipment owned = we can stage block, boulders, and fill efficiently

Reviews From Real Southern Oregon Clients

Retaining Wall FAQs

How tall can a retaining wall be?

In Oregon, walls over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing) generally require engineering and a permit. We can build taller walls — they just need engineered drawings.

Do I need engineering for my wall?

Anything over 4 feet, retaining a surcharge load (like a driveway), or on a steep slope generally yes. Smaller decorative walls usually don't. We'll tell you up front based on your site.

What materials do you use?

We work with modular concrete block (Keystone, Allan Block, Belgard, etc.), boulder/rock walls, and treated timber. Each has trade-offs in cost, life expectancy, and aesthetics.

How long does a retaining wall last?

A properly built concrete block or boulder wall with good drainage can last 50+ years. Timber walls typically last 15-25 years depending on treatment and exposure.

Do you handle the drainage behind the wall?

Yes — every wall we build includes drain rock and a perforated pipe behind it, daylighting to a safe discharge point. This is the single biggest factor in long-term wall life.