Metairie is flat, so retaining walls here are low and practical instead of tall hillside structures. Typical jobs are a short wall to hold a raised planting bed, a curb wall along a driveway where two lots sit at different heights, or a wall that holds fill around a raised patio or pool deck. Even a low wall has to deal with soft soil and a lot of water, and those two things decide how we build it.
We give each wall a footing wide enough for the soft ground and reinforce the wall to that footing. Drainage goes behind it: gravel backfill and weep holes or a drain pipe so water does not build up and push the wall over. In heavy rain, saturated soil gets much heavier, and a wall with no drainage is the one that leans. Poured concrete and reinforced block are both good choices in this climate.
Trees and property lines need checking early. In the Metairie Ridge tree preservation area, Jefferson Parish requires a Tree Preservation permit from the Parkways Department for retaining walls, since footings can cut roots. A wall near a lot line or a drainage servitude may also have limits. We confirm those with the parish before designing the wall, and taller or load-bearing walls go to an engineer.
Retaining walls in Metairie: common questions
Why would a flat lot in Metairie need a retaining wall?
Small grade changes matter here. Lots get filled to different heights, patios and pools are raised, and planting beds are built up for drainage. A low wall holds that soil in place and keeps it from washing onto a driveway, a neighbor's yard or the street.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in Metairie?
It depends on location and size. Jefferson Parish requires a Tree Preservation permit from the Parkways Department for retaining walls in the Metairie Ridge tree preservation area. Other walls may need review by Building Permits. We check the rule for your address first.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We visit and measure.
- Written quote: Clear pricing with finish options.
- Prep & forms: We excavate, grade, compact the base and set forms and reinforcement.
- Pour, finish & cure: We pour, finish, cut control joints and tell you when you can use it.