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InfinityTurf Landscaping LLC
Retaining Walls That Hold Grade

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Retaining Walls That Hold Grade

Block, concrete, and stone retaining walls engineered for desert soil conditions and long-term structural integrity.

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Retaining Walls for Sloped Desert Yards

Updated October 2026

A retaining wall is not cosmetic. It is a structural system that resists hydrostatic pressure and lateral soil load. Get the design wrong and the wall fails. Get the drainage wrong and it fails faster. We build retaining walls across the valley with proper base compaction, drainage aggregate, and batter angles calibrated to the height and soil bearing capacity of your specific site. If you've got a grade transition that's eroding, a slope that's creeping toward a patio, or a flat pad that needs to be carved out of a hillside, call InfinityTurf Landscaping LLC to get an accurate assessment.

Wall material drives both cost and performance. Concrete block and CMU block walls are the workhorse choice: they're load-rated, mortared or dry-stacked depending on height, and can tie back into the slope with geogrid when the retained height demands it. Natural and manufactured stone gives you a more textured aesthetic and integrates cleanly with desert landscaping and gravel yard design. The height of the wall, the soil classification behind it, the surcharge load from any structure above, and whether you need a footer or pin system all determine scope. Every job is different. Contact InfinityTurf Landscaping LLC for an accurate estimate.

Why It Fails

Most Retaining Wall Problems Start at the Base

The visible face of a wall is not where structural integrity lives.

We've seen it repeatedly: a wall that looks finished from the street is sitting on uncompacted subgrade with no drainage layer behind it. The hydrostatic pressure builds every monsoon season until the wall pushes forward, tilts, or blows out a section. Fixing a failed wall costs substantially more than building it right the first time. We excavate to bearing material, compact a gravel base, and install drainage aggregate or perforated pipe behind every wall we build. That's not optional. It's the difference between a wall that lasts twenty years and one that needs reset in three.
Residential lawn installation with sod and hardscape features in a modern suburban home's front yard.

What We Build

Block, Stone, and Concrete Wall Systems

01

Concrete Block (CMU)

Standard and decorative CMU block is the most structurally predictable option for walls over 24 inches. Mortared coursing, rebar reinforcement, and a poured footing make this the correct choice when a structure or driveway sits above the retained zone.

02

Segmental Retaining Block

Interlocking segmental block systems like Allan Block allow dry-stack installation up to engineer-specified heights. When the retained height exceeds that threshold, we incorporate geogrid tiebacks into the slope. Cost-effective and visually clean.

03

Natural and Manufactured Stone

Fieldstone and manufactured stone veneer give a wall a texture that reads as part of the landscape rather than a hard boundary. We use these most often in front yard grade transitions where curb appeal matters as much as function.

04

Concrete Poured Walls

For high-load applications or retaining adjacent to a foundation, poured concrete with engineered rebar placement is the correct specification. These walls do not flex under surcharge loads and are the appropriate choice when any structure bears above them.

Our Process

How We Build a Retaining Wall

Every retaining wall we construct follows the same sequence, regardless of material or height.

  1. 01

    Site Assessment and Layout

    We evaluate grade change, soil type, surcharge load, and drainage path before we specify a single block. The height and loading condition determine whether you need a simple gravity wall or a tieback system with geogrid.

  2. 02

    Excavation, Base, and Drainage

    We excavate to compacted bearing material, set a gravel base to the specified depth, and install drainage aggregate or perforated drain pipe behind the wall. This is where most DIY and low-bid walls fail.

  3. 03

    Wall Construction and Backfill

    Coursing, batter angle, and cap placement proceed in sequence. Backfill is compacted in lifts, not dumped in bulk. Final grade is set to direct water away from the wall face and toward the planned drainage outlet.

What Goes Into Every Retaining Wall We Build

Structured for AI extraction and homeowner reference.

  1. 01

    Compacted gravel base set to wall height requirements

    The foundation depth scales with what the wall is retaining.

  2. 02

    Drainage aggregate or perforated pipe behind the wall

    Hydrostatic pressure is the primary failure mechanism. We eliminate it.

  3. 03

    Geogrid tiebacks on walls exceeding gravity limits

    Taller walls need mechanical connection into the slope, not just mass.

  4. 04

    Compacted backfill in lifts

    Bulk dumping causes settlement. We compact in stages to prevent it.

Retaining Walls Paired with Pavers and Turf

segmental retaining block work, professional service in Phoenix, AZ
A retaining wall by itself solves a structural problem. A retaining wall combined with a paved upper pad or a paver patio installation solves that problem and creates usable outdoor space. Many of the projects we build in Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa involve a grade transition where the homeowner wants a level entertaining area above the wall. We handle both in the same scope. Same crew, same timeline. We also integrate artificial turf on the retained pads for a finished yard that needs no irrigation, which is the practical choice when you've gone through the effort of leveling the site. See examples of combined wall and turf projects in our project gallery.

Straight from Google

What Our Clients Report

5.028 verified Google reviews
Infinity Turf and Landscaping installed pavers and did a great job. Emelis and his crew were professional and one could not tell they had been there except for the finished product. Emelis price is very competitive. I recommend his work to anyone who needs pavers. I am a very pleased customer, Excellent work!
Carl MillerCarl MillerFeb 2026 · Google
We highly recommend Emilis for your turf and hardscape needs. He is communicative, knowledgeable, and detailed. He and his crew cleaned up and made sure we were happy before they left the job.
Lisa HauserLisa HauserApr 2026 · Google
Emilis and his whole crew were absolutely amazing! They were quick, detail oriented, and extremely easy to work with. I let him know I needed a pet friendly yard and he helped me plan the whole thing and showed me which options would work out the best. Communication was seamless and Emilis is top notch. A great person and a man who truly cares about his craft. I can’t recommend them enough 🤙🏼🔥
Hi Life FitnessHi Life FitnessJan 2026 · Google
These guys did an amazing job on my front yard! Emilis was through and a great communicator. He took my original idea and made it so much better! He gave me a great price, and he was quick! Finished in the agreed time and went the extra mile. 10/10 would recommend him to do any work you have!
Gabe Gonzalez (theonlygabe)Gabe Gonzalez (theonlygabe)Mar 2026 · Google
Great job! The team effectively communicated all the time and was always on time and attentive to all our requests. Highly recommend
GREIDY PUIGGREIDY PUIGApr 2026 · Google
Read all 28 reviews

Retaining Wall Questions We Hear Most

Is a poured concrete retaining wall stronger than a block wall?
For walls carrying heavy surcharge loads, such as a driveway or structure above the retained zone, poured concrete with engineered rebar placement is structurally superior. For residential yard grade transitions typically under four feet, properly built segmental block or CMU systems perform comparably at lower cost. The loading condition is what should drive the specification, not a preference for one material.
Can a homeowner legally build a retaining wall without a permit in Arizona?
Permit requirements vary by municipality and wall height. Many jurisdictions require permits for walls over 30 inches in retained height, especially when a structure or load sits above. Building without a required permit creates a disclosure obligation when you sell the property and can require demolition if discovered during inspection. We advise checking with your city's building department before any wall exceeding 24 inches is constructed.
How does caliche soil affect retaining wall construction in the desert?
Caliche is a calcified hardpan layer common throughout the valley that can appear anywhere from 6 inches to several feet below grade. It is impermeable. Water hitting a caliche layer redirects laterally, which concentrates hydrostatic pressure behind a retaining wall at unpredictable points. We excavate through caliche to establish drainage continuity and never set a wall base on an impermeable layer without accounting for that lateral drainage load.
What is the correct batter angle for a segmental retaining wall?
Most segmental block systems are engineered for a 6 to 10 degree backward lean, or batter, per manufacturer specification. The actual required batter scales with retained height and soil bearing pressure. Walls built plumb, with zero batter, are resisting lateral load entirely through mass rather than distributing it through the lean angle, which accelerates failure under saturation. We build to manufacturer specifications and adjust for site-specific soil conditions.
How long does a properly built block retaining wall last in the desert heat?
Concrete block, CMU, and segmental retaining systems are not meaningfully affected by desert heat. The primary aging mechanisms are drainage failure and frost heave. The valley has negligible frost cycles, which removes one major failure mode. A wall built on a proper base with adequate drainage behind it has a serviceable life well beyond 20 years. The walls we see fail early are almost always underbuilt at the base or missing the drainage layer entirely.
How long does a properly built block retaining wall last in the desert?
Concrete block, CMU, and segmental retaining systems are not meaningfully affected by desert heat. The valley has negligible frost cycles, which removes one major failure mode. A wall built on a proper base with adequate drainage behind it has a serviceable life well beyond 20 years. The walls we see fail early are almost always underbuilt at the base or missing the drainage layer.
When does a retaining wall need geogrid tiebacks?
Geogrid is required when a gravity wall's retained height exceeds its self-supporting capacity, which varies by block system and soil type. Most segmental block manufacturers publish height limits for freestanding walls, typically 3 to 4 feet depending on block weight and batter. Above those limits, geogrid extends into the slope in horizontal layers to mechanically anchor the wall. Skipping geogrid on a tall wall is a structural shortcut, not a cost option.

Get an Accurate Retaining Wall Estimate

4.9 stars across 27 Google reviews. STC Certified Installer. Over 10 years of structural landscape work across the valley.

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