Retaining Wall Construction & Repair in Garland, TX

Yes. Many retaining walls built in that era near Downtown Garland and the DART rail corridors were not engineered for the region's black clay soil movement, and decades of expansion and contraction cycles often leave them bowing, cracking, or separating from adjacent grading. Drainage was also frequently undersized by today's standards, which accelerates deterioration once water pools behind the wall.

We inspect these older structures for soil-related displacement and outdated drainage design, then recommend whether repair or full replacement better protects the property, factoring in current engineering standards and the building's age.

Garland sits on notorious black clay soil that expands significantly when saturated and contracts during dry stretches, and with average annual rainfall around 37 inches plus periodic heavy storms, that cycle puts real pressure on wall structures over time. Properties near Duck Creek and Rowlett Creek see additional moisture variation that can accelerate soil movement if drainage is not designed correctly.

We test soil composition on site and engineer drainage and backfill specifically for these conditions, rather than applying a generic design that ignores Garland's clay behavior.

The City of Garland requires permits for retaining walls over four feet, and the design must meet Dallas County soil engineering requirements given the area's expansive clay conditions. Communities such as those near Firewheel and Lake Ray Hubbard also enforce their own architectural guidelines, so board approval often needs to happen alongside city permitting rather than after it.

We handle the engineering documentation and coordinate with Garland's development services department, and we can present materials and design details in a format your board can review before construction begins.