Retaining Walls That Hold
Colorado Slopes
Engineered retaining walls with real drainage, footings, and geogrid — built to hold Colorado’s expansive clay for decades, not seasons. Family-owned since 1993. That’s Deck Doctor Inc.
- ✓Segmental block retaining walls
- ✓Natural stone & boulder walls
- ✓Drainage systems & geogrid reinforcement
- ✓Tiered & terraced wall systems
- ✓Wall repair & rebuilds
- ✓Engineering & permits for walls 4 ft and taller
Build Now, Pay Over Time
Deck Doctor Inc partners with Hearth to offer flexible monthly payment options for your project — including 0% promotional options for qualified homeowners. See your personalized options in about 60 seconds, with no impact to your credit score.
Colorado Slopes Destroy Ordinary Walls — We Engineer for That
A retaining wall isn’t landscaping — it’s a structure holding back tons of soil that gets heavier every rain and pushes harder every freeze. Most failed walls we replace died the same way: no drainage, no reinforcement, no base. We build the opposite of that.
Drainage — the #1 Failure Cause
Water trapped behind a wall adds enormous pressure. Every wall we build gets free-draining gravel backfill and a perforated drain pipe — the difference between a 5-year wall and a 50-year wall.
Expansive Clay Lateral Pressure
Front Range clay swells when saturated and shoves walls outward. We size the wall system, base, and reinforcement for the soil actually behind it — not the manufacturer’s brochure.
Geogrid & Real Footings
Taller walls need geogrid layers tying the wall back into compacted soil, and every wall needs an excavated, compacted base below the frost-affected zone. Skipping either is how walls lean.
Engineering & Permits at 4 Feet
In most Colorado jurisdictions, walls over 4 feet require engineered designs and permits. We confirm your jurisdiction’s rules, coordinate the engineering, and pull the permit.
A hillside project engineered for the slope it sits on — the same site-first approach we bring to every retaining wall.
Engineered Retaining Wall Installation for Colorado Slopes
A retaining wall holds back soil to stop erosion, protect structures, and turn unusable slope into flat, livable yard. Done right it’s an engineering project: excavation, a compacted base below the frost-affected zone, course-by-course construction, geogrid reinforcement where height demands it, free-draining gravel backfill with a perforated drain pipe, and capped top courses. Deck Doctor Inc builds every wall to that standard — in Colorado’s clay soils, anything less is a countdown to a lean.
The honest material comparison: segmental concrete block is the workhorse — engineered systems with published specs and the best strength-per-dollar. Natural stone and boulder walls are the premium choice, especially in the foothills — higher cost, unmatched character. Timber walls cost the least up front but have the shortest life in Colorado’s wet clay; we’ll tell you honestly when they aren’t worth it. On bigger grades, tiered and terraced systems break one tall wall into stepped planting beds, patios, and usable levels.
Height is the legal line: in most Colorado jurisdictions, a wall over 4 feet requires an engineered design and a permit. We confirm your jurisdiction’s rules, coordinate stamped engineering when required, and pull the permit ourselves. That matters on the slopes we work — from foothills lots in Evergreen to hillside backyards in Golden, where a failed wall can take a driveway or a deck with it.
Who needs one? Homeowners fighting erosion, and anyone whose sloped backyard is wasted space. A new wall is usually the first phase of something bigger — a paver patio on the new flat level, a covered patio or porch above it, or a full custom outdoor build. We design the wall and what goes on top of it as one project, so drainage, grades, and footings all agree.
What Do You Need?
Tell us what the slope is doing — from a garden wall to a fully engineered terrace system. 32 years, one local crew, no upsells.
Garden & Landscape Walls
Walls under 4 feet that frame beds and hold grade changes — built with the same base and drainage standards as the big ones.
✦ Most RequestedEngineered Structural Walls (4 ft+)
Tall walls with stamped engineering, geogrid, and permits — designed for the actual soil pushing on them.
✦ Fully PermittedBoulder & Natural Stone Walls
Premium walls that fit the foothills landscape — placed rock by rock, drained properly behind the face.
✦ Premium TierTiered & Terraced Yards
One steep, unusable slope turned into stepped levels for patios and gardens — shorter walls instead of one giant one.
✦ Reclaim Your YardDriveway & Structure Support
Walls that hold the grade under driveways, decks, and additions — where failure isn’t cosmetic. Engineering-first.
⚠️ High StakesLeaning or Bulging Wall Repair
We assess whether your wall can be reinforced and re-drained or needs a rebuild — and tell you straight which it is.
⚠️ Don’t WaitDrainage Retrofits
Some walls are sound but drowning. We add drainage and regrade the top to relieve water pressure before it finishes the wall off.
⚠️ Act FastPairs Well With These Services
A retaining wall usually creates the flat ground something else gets built on — one contractor, one coordinated build.
Stone, Tile & Pavers
Natural stone, porcelain tile, and paver patios, walkways, and steps that handle freeze-thaw without heaving or cracking.
Explore stone & pavers →Porches & Patios
Covered porches and custom patios that extend your living space — designed for Colorado’s four seasons and built on proper frost-protected foundations.
Explore porches & patios →Custom Deck Design & Build
Multi-level mountain masterpieces to simple elevated decks — designed around your terrain, views, and HOA requirements, then built to last decades.
Explore custom decks →Outdoor LED Lighting
Energy-efficient, low-voltage LED lighting for decks, stairs, pergolas, and landscapes — safety, ambiance, and curb appeal after dark.
Explore outdoor lighting →Outdoor Kitchens & Fire Features
Built-in grills, counters, fire pits, and full outdoor kitchens that turn the backyard into a second living room with mountain views.
Explore outdoor kitchens →Pergolas, Gazebos & Pavilions
Custom shade structures designed for Colorado weather — shade in summer, engineered snow-load tolerance for winter, year-round outdoor living.
Explore pergolas & gazebos →Simple Process, Zero Runaround
We don't subcontract to strangers. Brandon and the crew show up, do the work, and you only pay for labor when the job is 100% done. That's been our policy since day one.
Call or Schedule
Give us a call or fill out our quick form. Same-week response for emergencies.
Free On-Site Walkthrough
We come to you, look at your space top to bottom, and talk through your options and a straight, honest plan.
We Get to Work
Excavation, compacted base, drainage, geogrid, and course-by-course construction — on time, clean site, with engineering and permits handled for you.
You Approve, Then Pay
You don't pay for labor until the job is done and you're satisfied. That's how we've operated since 1993.
What Colorado Homeowners Are Saying
Deck Doctor is a wonderful company that I will use again! Brandon is a general contractor with experience in many types of outdoor construction. His crew were ideal — respectful, hard-working, very knowledgeable, cleaned up behind themselves. The project was well priced and done in a timely manner.
Had the pergola built last December, could not be happier. Took me quite a while to write a review but 10 stars all around. The team they have is amazing! Would definitely recommend!
Brandon and his team are amazing! They do what they say, when they say, and the quality of work is top-notch. My deck needed a complete overhaul due to rotting wood. His crew showed up early and cleaned up thoroughly every single day. Highly recommend!
One of the best experiences I have had with a contractor. Brandon walked me through the options and was honest and straightforward. Everything he said would happen, happened and on time. The final product is perfect!
What Does a Retaining Wall Actually Cost?
Every wall is different — height, length, soil, access, and material all affect price. Written estimate after your free walkthrough, always.
Garden Walls (Under 4 ft)
Landscape walls with full base prep, gravel backfill, and drainage — small walls built to the same standard as tall ones.
Engineered Walls (4 ft+, Permitted)
Tall structural walls with stamped engineering, geogrid, drainage, and permits handled start to finish.
Tiered / Terraced Systems
Multiple stepped walls that convert a steep slope into flat, usable levels for patios and gardens.
Wall Repair / Rebuild
Reinforcing, re-draining, or rebuilding a leaning wall — after an honest assessment of which it actually needs.
A Leaning Retaining Wall Is on a Countdown
- !Wall leaning, bulging, or bowing outward — the soil is winning
- !Cracks or separated joints that widen season after season
- !Soil or muddy water washing through the face of the wall
- !No visible drainage — water has nowhere to go
- !Ground above the wall settling, or steps and patios pulling away
Same-Week Emergency Inspections Available
Your family’s safety is worth one phone call. We’ll get out to you fast and tell you exactly what needs to happen — no pressure, no BS.
Call 303-781-DECK NowKnow Someone Who Needs Anything for Their Backyard?
Send friends, family, or neighbors our way for anything they need in their backyard — a deck, a pergola, a patio, repairs, you name it. When the person you refer completes a project of $20,000 or more, we'll put $250 in your pocket. It's our way of saying thank you for spreading the word about Deck Doctor Inc in your community.
OUTDOOR LIVING · EST. 1993
Proudly Serving Colorado’s Front Range & Mountain Communities
From Golden to Vail, Deck Doctor Inc designs, builds, repairs, and restores premium outdoor living spaces across Colorado.
Denver Metro & Plains
Foothills & Mountains
Questions About Retaining Walls
Straight answers about what to expect when working with us — no marketing fluff.
Let Us Bring Your Outdoor Vision To Life
Contact Deck Doctor Inc today for a free, no-obligation retaining wall assessment. We’ll evaluate the slope, the soil, and any existing wall, and give you a straight answer on what your project needs and what it’ll cost. No pressure — just 32 years of honest craftsmanship.