Fully Insured, in Madison and surrounding areas. Retaining Wall Installation · Retaining Wall Repair · Retaining Wall Replacement.
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All your work handled by qualified professionals in Madison
New engineered retaining walls built to hold back soil, level your slope, and last for decades.
Included in your service
Fast diagnosis and repair of leaning, bowing, or cracked walls before they fail.
Included in your service
Full tear-out of failed railroad tie and timber walls, rebuilt in modern engineered block.
Included in your service
Poured concrete and reinforced CMU walls for maximum strength on tall or high-load sites.
Included in your service
Segmental block walls in Allan Block, Versa-Lok, Keystone, and Redi-Rock systems.
Included in your service
Natural boulder and stacked-stone walls that blend structure with the landscape.
Included in your service
Pressure-treated timber walls, an economical, natural-look option for lower grades.
Included in your service
Hillside and erosion control that stops soil movement and protects your property.
Included in your service
Proper drainage is the single biggest factor in whether a retaining wall survives.
Included in your service
Removal of aging creosote railroad tie walls, rebuilt in modern engineered materials.
Included in your service
Priority response for leaning, bulging, and collapsed walls before they take out the slope.
Included in your service
Reach us by phone at (608) 910-8974 or fill out the estimate form. We get back to you within 24 hours, no commitment required.
Our Retaining Wall Contractor visits your property, evaluates the project, and provides a written quote before any work begins.
Our crew completes the retaining wall and leaves your property clean and tidy. Full cleanup is included.
Continuous training, professional equipment, meticulous and code-compliant work
Full coverage on all our job sites, no exceptions
Emergencies, weekends, holidays: available when you need us
Response within 24h, no commitment, by phone or form
Available Mon-Sun 7am-7pm
We serve in Madison and surrounding areas · On-site visits included · Free estimate within 24h
Madison Retaining Wall is a team of local, fully insured professionals based in Madison. We respond quickly in Madison and surrounding areas with professional equipment suited to every job.
Free estimate, transparent pricing, no subcontracting. Tell us about your slope or wall. We'll handle the rest.
📞 Call (608) 910-8974⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9/5 · 152 verified Google reviews
“We had a natural stone wall put in along our backyard slope and it turned out even better than the pictures we showed them. The crew of three knocked it out in about four days and left the yard cleaner than they found it. Genuinely relieved we went with them.”
Boulder & Natural Stone Walls
“Had a segmental block wall built to hold back the hill behind our garage. Solid work, fair price, and they hauled away every last bit of leftover block and gravel when they finished.”
Block & Segmental Retaining Walls
“Our old timber wall was rotting out and we wanted real stone instead. They installed a new stone retaining wall about 40 feet long across the front of the house and it completely changed the look. The crew was friendly and answered all my questions without making me feel dumb.”
Retaining Wall Installation
“Our garden wall had started leaning after all the spring rain and I was worried it was going to topple. They came out, fixed the drainage behind it, and straightened it back up. Only gripe is it took a couple weeks to get on the schedule, but the repair itself looks great.”
Retaining Wall Repair
“The hill in our backyard was washing out every time it rained and we were losing soil fast. They built a proper retaining wall with drainage and stabilized the whole slope. Two months in and not a single washout, should have called them years ago.”
Slope Stabilization & Erosion Control
“Replaced our crumbling railroad tie wall with a new stone retaining wall along the driveway. Nice crew, good cleanup. I just wish they'd given a bit more notice before the delivery truck showed up, but the finished wall is exactly what we wanted.”
Retaining Wall ReplacementReal photos of our work in Madison · Each image shows the final result achieved for our clients
Indicative estimates: your free personalized quote is always exact
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Segmental block wall, standard height | Starting at $30/sq ft | Includes frost-depth base, gravel backfill and drain pipe on accessible sites. |
| Poured concrete wall | Starting at $45/sq ft | Formed and reinforced wall with drain tile, priced higher for tall or surcharge walls. |
| Boulder and natural stone wall | Starting at $55/sq ft | Fieldstone or limestone face with stone drainage core, priced by stone size and access. |
| Timber garden wall | Starting at $25/sq ft | Pressure-treated timbers on compacted base for low terraces, priced by length and height. |
| Complex or large-scale job | On estimate | Tiered, engineered or tight-access walls need an on-site look before any number is given. |
| Travel | Included | In Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Drainage correction and section reset | Starting at $1,500 | Includes diagnosis, excavation, new footing drain and filter fabric, and resetting a short failed section. |
| Tieback anchor installation | Starting at $3,200 | Includes helical or grouted anchors, waler or plate connection, and tensioning; price rises with wall height and access. |
| Partial rebuild with new footing | Starting at $4,800 | Includes removal of failed courses, new concrete footing, drainage and backfill; slope access is the main cost driver. |
| Timber wall repair or conversion | On estimate | Rotted ties and posts vary too much in extent to price blind; we inspect before quoting a repair or conversion. |
| Travel | Included | In Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book. |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Timber or railroad tie wall replacement | Starting at $35/sq ft | Includes tear-out, haul-away, new drainage and a durable replacement wall built below frost depth. |
| Segmental block wall replacement | Starting at $45/sq ft | Includes engineered block, geogrid, drain tile and compaction, with height and access moving the price. |
| Poured concrete wall replacement | Starting at $55/sq ft | Includes reinforced footing, formwork, waterproofing and drainage, with surcharge loads raising the number. |
| Boulder and natural stone replacement | Starting at $50/sq ft | Includes stone reset or new boulder wall with drainage, with stone size and haul distance affecting cost. |
| Complex or large-scale job | On estimate | Tall, tiered or lakeside walls need an on-site look, soil review and possibly engineered drawings before pricing. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24 hours at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book the work. |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Poured concrete wall, standard height | Starting at $35/sq ft | Includes frost-depth footing, rebar, forms, weep holes and gravel backfill; height and access move the price. |
| Reinforced CMU block wall | Starting at $38/sq ft | Includes filled and rebar-tied block, footing and drainage; finish and curve radius affect the final rate. |
| Tiered or engineered wall | On estimate | Tall or surcharge-loaded walls need an on-site look and possibly engineered drawings before pricing. |
| Failed wall removal and replacement | On estimate | Old timber or concrete removal, disposal and base rebuild are scoped after we see the existing wall. |
| Travel | Included | In Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book. |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Garden and terrace block wall | Starting at $25/sq ft | Includes block, compacted base, cap and drainage gravel for walls under 3 feet. |
| Geogrid-reinforced wall | Starting at $32/sq ft | Adds geogrid in lifts and engineered design for walls over 4 feet or surcharge loads. |
| Tiered terrace wall | Starting at $38/sq ft | Two or more stepped walls with benches, more excavation and tighter grade control. |
| Timber wall replacement | On estimate | Requires on-site look at demolition, haul-away and how the old wall failed. |
| Travel | Included | in Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder wall, machine-placed | Starting at $25/sq ft | Includes compacted base, machine setting, drainage stone and perforated drain behind the face. |
| Fieldstone or limestone wall | Starting at $35/sq ft | Includes locally sourced stone, coursed layout, capstone and hidden drainage; hand work raises the rate. |
| Tiered or engineered wall | On estimate | Needs an on-site look for soil, slope, footing depth and whether engineered drawings are required. |
| Wall tear-out and rebuild | On estimate | Old timber or concrete removal, hauling and disposal are priced after we see the access and debris. |
| Travel | Included | in Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book. |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Low timber garden wall (1 to 2 courses) | Starting at $20/sq ft | Pressure-treated timbers, gravel footing, and drainage fabric included for low beds. |
| Deadman-anchored terrace wall | Starting at $28/sq ft | Includes deadmen, gravel drainage zone, and compaction for walls 2 to 4 feet high. |
| Geogrid-reinforced timber wall | Starting at $35/sq ft | Adds geogrid reinforcement for taller or surcharged walls on steep Madison slopes. |
| Removal of old timber or railroad tie wall | On estimate | Disposal, hauling, and footing prep priced after an on-site look at access and rot. |
| Travel | Included | In Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book. |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Slope assessment and free estimate | Free estimate | On-site walk of the slope, drainage check, and written scope before any work is priced. |
| Drainage and erosion control only | Starting at $1,800 | Perforated pipe, gravel, filter fabric, grading, and seeding on a manageable slope. |
| Terraced segmental block stabilization | Starting at $6,500 | One to two terraces with geogrid, drainage, and block wall on a typical residential slope. |
| Boulder or poured concrete slope wall | On estimate | Heavier materials and surcharge loads need an on-site look before a number is given. |
| Emergency slope or wall repair | On estimate | Active movement, undermined footings, or collapsed sections are scoped after inspection. |
| Travel | Included | In Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Drain tile and gravel backfill | Starting at $2,500 | Covers drain tile, washed gravel, filter fabric and outlet for a typical residential wall |
| Weep holes and face drainage | Starting at $2,500 | Adds weep holes and face drains on fieldstone, limestone or older masonry walls |
| Full drainage retrofit with regrading | Starting at $4,500 | Includes backfill removal, waterproofing and regrading on longer or deeper walls |
| Complex or large-scale job | On estimate | Tiered walls, high water table or structural repair need an on-site look first |
| Travel | Included | In Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Partial tie replacement with drainage retrofit | Starting at $35/sq ft | Includes rot removal, new gravel and drain pipe behind remaining sound ties, and disposal. |
| Full tie wall replacement in segmental block | Starting at $45/sq ft | Covers tie demolition, creosote haul-away, new drainage bed, and a pinned block wall. |
| Full replacement in poured concrete or limestone | Starting at $60/sq ft | Includes formed concrete or Wisconsin limestone, footing, rebar, and full drainage behind the wall. |
| Tall or engineered wall (over 4 ft) | On estimate | Height, surcharge, and permit drawings change the scope, so we need an on-site look first. |
| Travel | Included | In Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book. |
| Service / Criteria | Indicative Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Drainage correction and re-setting | Starting at $2,500 | Includes clearing weep holes, new drain tile, and gravel backfill on a short wall. |
| Tieback anchor stabilization | Starting at $3,800 | Anchors a leaning block or concrete wall back to plumb; price rises with wall length. |
| Partial rebuild | Starting at $4,500 | Removes and resets the failed section; access and stone reuse affect the final number. |
| Full rebuild of a collapsed wall | On estimate | Needs an on-site look to price footing, drainage, and haul-off of failed material. |
| Travel | Included | In Madison and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (608) 910-8974, no obligation to book. |
Indicative rates, actual cost varies with project size, materials, and site access. Free personalized estimate within 24h.
Homeowners searching for a retaining wall contractor near me in Madison need a team that understands why walls fail here, not just how to stack block. Madison Retaining Wall is a network of insured local contractors who install, repair, and replace retaining walls on the sloped and hillside residential lots that define this city. From the glacial drumlins between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona to the walkout lots spreading through Middleton, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, and Verona, we work with the conditions that actually cause problems: expansive clay, saturated backfill, and drainage that was never sized for a Wisconsin freeze-thaw cycle. Saturated backfill is the number one wall killer we see, and it is almost always a drainage problem before it becomes a structural one.
Whether you need a new wall on a hilly front yard, a repair on a bowing lakeside wall, or a full replacement of a failed timber wall, our contractors match the solution to the site. We serve Madison and the surrounding communities, including Middleton, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, and Verona. If you are ready to talk through your project, request a free estimate and we will assess the wall, the slope, and the drainage together.
Most retaining wall failures in Madison start with water. When backfill stays saturated, hydrostatic pressure builds behind the wall and pushes it outward, which is why you see leaning and bowing walls on so many properties with clay-heavy soil. Expansive clay makes it worse: it swells when wet and shifts when it dries, so a wall that looked plumb in spring can be out of line by fall. Cracking and bulging in block walls usually mean the same pressure has found a weak point, and clogged or missing weep holes and French drains are often the root cause. Sinking and settling point to an undersized footing or poor compaction during the original build, and a wall that collapses after heavy rain is the end stage of a problem that was visible months earlier.
A small lean is not cosmetic. Once a wall moves, the soil behind it keeps working on the failure, and the wall loses the batter and geogrid reinforcement that were holding it back. What starts as a hairline crack or a slight tilt can become a bulging wall, then a collapsed one, and the repair cost climbs at every stage. Addressing it early usually means targeted fixes like drainage correction, tieback anchors, or rebuilding a section; waiting often means full replacement.
If your wall is leaning, cracked, or has already failed, call (608) 910-8974 to schedule an assessment. Our retaining wall repair team diagnoses the cause before recommending a fix, and for walls that have moved significantly, we also handle leaning and collapsed wall repair. The sooner you act, the more likely a repair can save the wall.
The right material depends on height, load, soil, and how the wall needs to look. Block and segmental retaining walls (SRW systems like Allan Block, Versa-Lok, and Keystone) are versatile and engineered for geogrid reinforcement on taller walls. Concrete retaining walls, including poured concrete and reinforced CMU, suit structural and surcharge situations. Boulder and natural stone walls fit the buff limestone and fieldstone character of older Madison neighborhoods, and timber retaining walls remain an option for lower walls, though pressure-treated timber has a shorter lifespan in our freeze-thaw climate and is best used where replacement is planned for.
Every wall we build includes drainage, gravel backfill, filter fabric, and compaction as standard, not add-ons. Taller or tiered walls get geogrid reinforcement designed for the load, and we finish with a proper wall cap to shed water.
Retaining wall projects in Madison are typically quoted per square foot of wall face, and the range depends on material, wall height, drainage and excavation, site access, and whether engineering is required. A low timber or block wall on an accessible lot sits at the lower end of typical ranges, while tall, tiered, or surcharge-loaded walls with engineered drawings land higher. Final pricing depends on site conditions, so we assess the slope, soil, and drainage before quoting.
For a general sense of typical ranges, see our pricing page, then request a free estimate for numbers specific to your property.
In most jurisdictions, retaining walls above a certain height require a permit, and commonly walls over about four feet measured from the footing fall into that category, but thresholds vary by city. A permit and engineered drawings are also commonly needed for taller or tiered walls, or when a wall supports a surcharge load such as a driveway or structure. Setback and property-line rules may apply as well.
Requirements vary, so always verify with the Madison building or planning department before starting your project. If you have questions about how permitting affects your project, contact us and we can walk you through what our contractors typically handle.
Ready to get started? Madison Retaining Wall serves in Madison and surrounding areas. Get your free, no-obligation estimate today.
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