Newton Retaining Walls That Hold the Slope and Drain the Water Behind Them
Neto Painting & Masonry, based in Everett, MA.
- 8 years of masonry experience
- Based in Everett, MA
- Real photos of our own work
Or call (857) 335-0897
The short answer
Who does retaining wall work in Newton, MA?
Retaining Wall for Newton homes
Newton is hillier than many people expect. Chestnut Hill, Waban, Oak Hill and the slopes along Commonwealth Avenue have houses set above or below the street, terraced front lawns and backyards that drop away from the house. Outcrops of ledge show up in many yards, and in low spots clay soil holds water. All of that means a lot of retaining walls, and a lot of them are old.
Most failing walls in Newton fail for the same reason: water. A wall built without drainage behind it, or with drainage that clogged decades ago, has water and frost pushing on it every winter. The result is a wall that leans, bulges in the middle, drops its cap stones or cracks at the joints. Tree roots from mature street trees add to the push.
We build new walls in segmental block or natural stone, and we rebuild old ones, always with a compacted footing, clean drainage stone and a perforated pipe behind the wall. Where a wall is sound and only the top is loose, we reset what is there. Where it is too far gone, we take it down and rebuild, reusing the original stone when it suits the house.
What we see in Newton
Old walls with no drainage
Many older Newton walls were stacked or mortared without a drainage layer. Water builds up behind them and frost pushes them out. A rebuild with drainage stone and a pipe relieves that pressure.
Ledge close to the surface
Where ledge is shallow, footings and drainage have to be planned around it. We adjust the base and route water so it does not get trapped against the rock behind the wall.
Terraced front yards above the street
Street-facing walls hold whole front lawns and sit next to sidewalks and driveways. They need a solid footing and, if over about 4 feet, an engineered design and permit.
Neighborhoods we cover in Newton: Chestnut Hill, Waban, Oak Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Highlands, Auburndale, West Newton, Newton Upper Falls.
How we serve Newton
We come out from Everett, roughly 9 miles away, measure the slope and look at how water moves across your yard before recommending block or stone. You get a written scope that shows the footing, drainage and wall height, so you know exactly what is being built behind the face you will see.
What we can do for your Newton home
- Retaining WallsBlock and stone walls with real drainage behind them, plus repair of walls that lean or bulge.
- Walkways & PatiosBrick and paver walkways, patios and borders built on a compacted, drained base.
- Brick & Granite StepsBrick, granite and bluestone steps repaired or rebuilt on a solid base, for Greater Boston homes.
Retaining Wall questions from Newton homeowners
Retaining walls are often priced by the square foot of wall face. Block is generally less expensive than natural stone, and height, length, drainage, ledge and access all change the total. We give a free on-site estimate with an exact price.
In Massachusetts, walls over roughly 4 feet usually need a building permit and an engineered design. Newton's Inspectional Services Department confirms what your wall needs, and we tell you what to expect during the estimate.
Usually because water and frost are pushing on it from behind, often because there is no drainage or the drainage has clogged. Tree roots and a weak footing can add to it. A rebuild with proper drainage stops it from happening again.
Segmental block is engineered for strength and is usually the more economical choice. Natural stone suits older homes and historic villages and costs more. Both work well when built with a good footing and drainage.
Ready to get it fixed in Newton?
Call or text (857) 335-0897 or request an estimate online.
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