Concrete Retaining Wall FAQs
Concrete Retaining Wall FAQs — Cast-in-Place, Block, and Hybrid Designs
Concrete retaining walls — cast-in-place, concrete block (CMU), or hybrid designs combining concrete with stone or block veneer — are the strongest and longest-lived retaining wall type, with engineered service lives of 75–100+ years. They're commonly specified for tall walls, basement walls used as retaining walls, commercial projects, and any site where the wall is carrying significant structural or surcharge load. Concrete walls require engineered footings, rebar layout, drainage, and proper backfill — all areas where DIY or inexperienced contractor work tends to fail. Engineered Retaining Walls® designs and builds concrete retaining walls across Western North Carolina, North Georgia, and East Tennessee, often as engineered alternatives to failing block or railroad tie walls. Below are the most common questions homeowners and builders ask us about concrete walls.