Rock Walls & Slope Retention

Gravity boulder walls — those relying solely on the weight of the stone — are typically limited to about six feet of exposed height depending on the surcharge and soil conditions. For walls exceeding that height, we use engineered designs with geogrid reinforcement that allow us to build effective retention structures well beyond the gravity-wall limit. Any wall over four feet of exposed height on a residential project in Summit or Wasatch County requires a structural engineer's stamp.

We handle all material sourcing. Our team selects boulders from Wasatch-area quarries based on the color palette, stone type, and size range specified by the design. We have established relationships with local quarry operators and can match stone to the existing geology of the site. On rare occasions, a property owner or landscape architect requests a specific imported stone — we can accommodate that, but local sourcing almost always produces a better visual result.

Every wall we build includes a drainage system behind the face — perforated pipe at the base, wrapped in filter fabric, backed by free-draining gravel — to eliminate hydrostatic pressure from trapped water. Foundations are placed below the frost line on compacted bearing material. These two measures address the primary causes of rock-wall failure in mountain climates: frost heave from beneath and ice-lens pressure from behind.

Yes — integration with landscape architecture is a core part of our rock-wall work. We build terraced wall systems with planting beds, coordinate wall elevations with patio and pool grades, and leave access for irrigation sleeves and low-voltage lighting conduit. We work directly from the landscape architect's plans and coordinate timing with other trades to ensure the finished product matches the design intent.