Comprehensive Retaining Wall Installation
Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, Richfield, Brooklyn Center, Champlin, Crystal, and Golden Valley, Minnesota
Ready to reclaim a sloped, hard-to-use section of your yard, or tired of watching soil, mulch, and water wash downhill every time it rains?
Our Minneapolis-based team of landscape builders at Refuge Design & Landscape designs and constructs retaining walls throughout the Twin Cities that hold back grade, control drainage, and turn unusable slopes into some of the most livable space on the property.
Call us or fill out the form to book your Free Phone Consultation online now! We guarantee a response within 30 minutes during business hours.
Let’s talk about your slope. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
✓ Free Phone Consultation • We guarantee a response within 30 minutes during business hours.
Free Phone Consultation
Book online or call — we start with a real conversation about your vision, often using video and satellite imagery.
30-Minute Response Guarantee
Call us or fill out the form — we guarantee a response within 30 minutes during business hours.
Licensed, Insured & 5-Star Rated
Licensed general contractors with the insurance coverage to protect you and your property, start to finish.
Our Design-Build Process
What Comprehensive Retaining Wall Installation Entails
Site Consult and Grading Assessment
Retaining wall installation begins with a thorough conversation about the slope, soil conditions, and goals for the space. This can often start remotely using video conferencing and satellite imagery, followed by a simple questionnaire and any inspiration photos to help define the project’s direction.
A dedicated site visit follows, where we evaluate the grade, drainage patterns, soil composition, and any nearby structures or property lines that could affect wall placement, height, or engineering requirements.
Schedule your grading assessment. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Design and Engineering Planning
We approach retaining wall design collaboratively, working with you to determine wall height, material, and layout, while accounting for load requirements, frost depth, and local building code considerations. Walls above a certain height typically require engineered plans and permitting, which we help coordinate.
Through a mood-board and material selection process, we identify the block, stone, or boulder style that best fits your home’s architecture and the surrounding landscape.
Get your wall engineered right the first time. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Excavation and Base Preparation
Our crews excavate to the depth required for the wall’s height and soil conditions, then install a compacted gravel base engineered to support the structure and encourage proper drainage away from the wall face.
Drain tile is installed behind the wall where appropriate, directing water safely away from the structure and reducing the hydrostatic pressure that causes many DIY and poorly built walls to fail over time.
Build on a base made to last. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Wall Construction and Backfill
Each course of block, stone, or boulder is set, leveled, and checked before the next is placed, with setback and reinforcement (such as geogrid) built in for taller walls to resist the pressure of the soil behind them.
Backfill is placed and compacted in stages using free-draining material, keeping the wall stable and giving water a clear path down and out rather than building up pressure behind the structure.
See the construction process done right. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Finishing Touches and Walkthrough
Capstones are set, edges are cleaned up, and any adjoining grading, sod, or planting beds are restored around the new wall. We walk the completed space with you to confirm the wall meets expectations before considering the project done.
Walk through your finished wall with us. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Why It’s Worth It
Comprehensive Results of Professional Retaining Wall Installation Services
Erosion Control and Drainage Benefits
A properly engineered retaining wall stops soil erosion on sloped properties and manages the way water moves through your yard, protecting garden beds, foundations, and lower-lying structures from runoff and pooling.
This matters especially in Minnesota, where heavy spring rains and rapid snowmelt put real pressure on unmanaged slopes.
Stop erosion before it costs you more. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Usable Space You Didn't Have Before
Retaining walls turn steep, unusable grade into level, functional space — a flat play area, a terraced garden, extra patio square footage, or simply a yard that’s easier and safer to walk and mow.
Turn your slope into usable space. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Property Value and Structural Protection
A well-built retaining wall protects the long-term integrity of your property by managing grade and drainage near foundations, driveways, and patios, while also adding visible curb appeal that buyers notice.
Because failed or leaning retaining walls are a common red flag in home inspections, a properly engineered wall is both an aesthetic upgrade and a safeguard against costly future repairs.
Protect your property’s value. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Built for Minnesota's Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Our base preparation, drainage, and backfill methods are specifically built to withstand Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycles, which are one of the most common causes of retaining wall failure when a wall is built without proper drainage behind it.
Build a wall that survives Minnesota winters. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
What We Design & Build
Extensive Types of Retaining Wall Projects We Offer
Segmental Block Retaining Walls
Engineered concrete block systems offer a clean, consistent look and reliable structural performance, making them a popular choice for both small garden walls and taller, engineered retaining structures.
Ask about segmental block wall options. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Natural Stone and Boulder Walls
For a more organic, rustic look that blends into a wooded or naturalistic landscape, natural stone and boulder walls offer texture and character that manufactured block simply can’t replicate, while still delivering the structural performance a sloped site requires.
Explore natural stone and boulder walls. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Terraced and Multi-Level Retaining Wall Systems
On steeper properties, we design terraced systems of shorter walls stepped up the slope rather than a single tall structure. This approach is often more code-friendly, more visually interesting, and creates multiple usable levels — planting terraces, seating areas, or connecting stairways — within the same footprint.
See if a terraced system fits your slope. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Seat Walls and Integrated Planter Walls
Shorter retaining walls can double as built-in seating around a patio or fire feature, or as raised planter walls that define garden beds while still managing minor grade changes, adding function well beyond simple erosion control.
Add seating or planters to your wall design. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
How We Customize
Advanced Techniques and Extensive Customization Options
Engineering and Code Compliance
Taller retaining walls require engineered drawings, permitting, and structural reinforcement such as geogrid. We coordinate this process so your wall is built to code and built to last, not just built to look good on installation day.
Build to code with a team that handles permitting. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Material and Color Selection
From budget-conscious modular block to premium natural stone and boulder, our material palette spans a wide range of colors, textures, and price points, so the wall complements your home’s exterior and existing hardscape.
Find the right material for your budget. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Drainage-First Construction
Every retaining wall we build starts with drainage in mind — compacted base, drain tile, and free-draining backfill are non-negotiable parts of our process, because a wall that can’t move water is a wall that eventually fails.
Build a wall that manages water, not just soil. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Beyond the Basics
Additional Creative Possibilities and Enhancements
Integrated Steps and Staircases
Terraced retaining walls are a natural place to integrate stone or paver steps and staircases, creating safe, defined circulation between different levels of a sloped yard.
Add safe, defined circulation to your slope. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Lighting and Landscape Integration
Landscape lighting built into or along a retaining wall highlights texture and improves nighttime safety on stepped or terraced properties, while surrounding garden beds and sod tie the new structure into the rest of the yard.
Light up your new retaining wall. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Pairing with Drainage and Irrigation Solutions
Retaining wall projects are frequently paired with broader drainage solutions, drain tile installation, or irrigation adjustments, so the whole property manages water well, not just the section immediately behind the new wall.
Solve drainage across your whole property. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Why Homeowners Choose Us
Why Choose Refuge Design & Landscape for Expert Retaining Wall Installation
Creative, Practical Problem-Solving
Drainage issues and difficult grades are exactly the kind of problem we like solving. We take a personalized approach, acting as creative collaborators who provide suitable suggestions that ultimately articulate your vision for the space.
Bring us your toughest grading problem. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Education Through Knowledge and Experience
We pride ourselves on a no-nonsense, no-pressure approach, walking you through wall height, material, and engineering considerations so you understand exactly what you’re investing in and why.
Get straight answers about your wall project. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
5-Star Service, Licensed & Insured
Our business has grown almost entirely through word of mouth and referrals, because we do whatever it takes to leave clients with a positive experience. As licensed general contractors, we carry the licensing and insurance coverage to protect you and your property throughout the project.
Work with a licensed, insured, 5-star team. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Where We Work
Service Areas Throughout the Twin Cities
Our commitment to expert retaining wall installation extends throughout the Twin Cities metro, covering the communities where Minnesota homeowners are dealing with sloped yards, drainage problems, and erosion control needs. From urban lots in Minneapolis and St. Paul to sprawling properties throughout the surrounding suburbs, we bring the same engineering-first approach and attention to detail to every wall we build.
Minneapolis
From bluff-adjacent lots near the Mississippi River to sloped city yards throughout Minneapolis, we build retaining walls that hold back grade on some of the most challenging urban lots in the Twin Cities. Compact city lots often call for smart, space-efficient wall designs that reclaim every inch of usable yard.
Bloomington
Bloomington’s proximity to the Minnesota River Valley bluffs means many properties deal with real elevation change, and we regularly design and build retaining walls that stabilize slopes while creating usable, level space above the river valley. Erosion control is a common concern we address here.
Brooklyn Park
Brooklyn Park’s larger lots often include sloped areas that go unused year after year, and we build retaining walls that turn that wasted grade into flat, functional space for patios, play areas, or gardens.
Plymouth
With rolling terrain and numerous ponds and wetlands, Plymouth properties frequently need retaining walls that manage both grade and drainage at the same time. We design wall systems that account for Plymouth’s natural water flow so runoff doesn’t undermine the structure over time.
Maple Grove
Many Maple Grove properties are graded during initial construction in ways that leave awkward slopes between lots, and we build retaining walls that correct that grading, creating clean, usable transitions between yard levels.
Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie’s hilly terrain near the Minnesota River Valley makes retaining walls one of the most common, and most valuable, hardscape projects we build here, from terraced multi-level systems to single structural walls that protect a home’s foundation from a steep slope.
Edina
Edina homeowners expect retaining wall work that matches the community’s upscale character, and we bring premium materials and precise engineering to every wall we build here, whether it’s a structural wall protecting a foundation or a decorative seat wall finishing off a patio.
Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka’s shoreline and surrounding wooded, sloped lots mean retaining walls here often do double duty: managing grade while protecting root systems and natural shoreline character. We build walls engineered for both structural performance and the site’s natural landscape.
St. Louis Park
St. Louis Park’s close-in, established lots sometimes carry drainage or grading problems from decades of settling, and we build retaining walls that correct those issues while reclaiming usable space on a compact urban footprint.
Richfield
Richfield’s post-war neighborhoods occasionally show their age through failing timber walls or eroding slopes, and we specialize in replacing outdated retaining structures with properly engineered block or stone walls built to last.
Brooklyn Center
Brooklyn Center’s location along the Mississippi River means some properties deal with real grade change down toward the water, and we build retaining walls engineered to manage that slope safely and durably.
Champlin
Champlin’s riverside lots along the Mississippi often need retaining walls that manage erosion from both slope and seasonal water flow, and we design systems that protect the property while taking advantage of the site’s natural river-adjacent character.
Crystal
Crystal’s established residential lots occasionally include older, failing retaining structures, and we regularly replace aging timber or block walls with properly drained, engineered systems built to handle Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycles.
Golden Valley
Golden Valley’s rolling terrain and creek corridors, including Bassett Creek, create real elevation change on many properties, and we build retaining walls engineered specifically for the drainage patterns and slope conditions found throughout the city.
Have a property outside our typical service area? We’re always interested in unique projects and exceptional opportunities. Give us a call to discuss your vision — if it’s the right fit, we’ll make it work.
Find out if we serve your neighborhood. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Investment in Retaining Wall Excellence
A properly engineered retaining wall protects your property, controls erosion, and unlocks usable space that a sloped yard couldn’t offer before. From a single terraced garden bed to a full multi-level hardscape system, our design-build process is rooted in collaboration, sound engineering, and a genuine commitment to getting the details right.
Start planning the retaining wall your property needs. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
Contact Refuge Design & Landscape
If you want an outdoor space you’ll love, we can help! Call, email, or fill out the form — we guarantee a response within 30 minutes during business hours.
- Call: (952) 236-4843
- Email: info@refugedesignandlandscape.com
- Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Serving: Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington Counties, Minnesota
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Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Cost depends on wall height, material, length, and whether engineering and permitting are required. During your free phone consultation, we’ll talk through your slope and goals to give you an early sense of budget.
Walls above a certain height typically require engineered plans and permitting, which varies by city. We help coordinate the engineering and permitting process so your wall is built to code from the start.
Height thresholds vary by municipality, but many shorter walls can be built without a full engineering stamp, while taller walls require engineered drawings and structural reinforcement such as geogrid. We’ll confirm what applies to your specific project and city.
Most failures come down to poor drainage — without a compacted base, drain tile, and free-draining backfill, water builds up hydrostatic pressure behind the wall until it pushes the structure out of place. Our process is built around drainage-first construction to prevent exactly this.
Yes. We regularly remove and replace aging timber, block, or poorly built walls with properly engineered, drainage-first systems designed to last through Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycles.
We work with segmental block, natural stone, and boulder systems, spanning a range of colors, textures, and price points so the wall complements your home’s exterior and existing hardscape.
Often, yes. Retaining wall projects are frequently paired with broader drainage solutions like drain tile installation or irrigation adjustments, so the whole property manages water well, not just the section directly behind the new wall.
Timelines depend on wall height, length, and whether engineering and permitting are required. We’ll give you a realistic timeline specific to your project after the site consult and grading assessment.
Yes — shorter retaining walls are often designed as built-in seat walls around a patio or fire feature, or as raised planter walls that manage minor grade changes while defining garden beds.
We serve homeowners throughout Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington Counties, including Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, Richfield, Brooklyn Center, Champlin, Crystal, and Golden Valley. If your property is outside this area, give us a call — we’re happy to discuss unique projects.
Yes. Refuge Design & Landscape is a licensed general contractor, and we carry the licensing and insurance coverage needed to build retaining walls safely and to code.
Still have questions? Let’s start designing your outdoor space. Call (952) 236-4843 or schedule your free phone consultation by clicking the button below.
