Retaining Walls and Garden Walls in Novato, CA
Small concrete and block walls that hold soil and shape your yard.
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Short retaining walls and garden walls control soil, frame planting beds, and clean up grade changes.
If they lack drainage or footing, they lean, crack, and push out over time.
Nexus Concrete Novato builds small concrete and block retaining walls and simple garden walls for homes in and around Novato.
We focus on footing, drainage, and how each wall ties into nearby slabs, walks, and slopes.
Why homeowners add retaining and garden walls
Yards in Novato don’t stay perfectly flat for long. Hillsides, cut slopes, and old fill often leave you with drops, soft spots, and uneven ground that’s hard to use.
A low retaining wall can clean that up. It can create a level spot for a patio, lawn, or play area. It can also support soil along a driveway or walkway so the edge doesn’t crumble or wash out. In some yards, the main job is holding back a bank that erodes during heavy rain.
Garden walls solve a different problem. They lift planting beds above heavy soil and help keep mulch and dirt off nearby walks and patios. They also make clean edges around a pool deck or patio and help define paths from one part of the yard to another. Some homeowners like seat-height walls too, since they double as simple seating during gatherings.
We match each wall to the grade and the way you use the yard, instead of forcing the same layout on every property.
How we build small retaining walls in Novato
Layout and wall height
We start with layout and height. We walk the slope with you and mark the wall line with paint or stakes. We set a top height that fits the yard and a bottom line that meets grade without odd drops or steps.
Digging and base prep
Next we dig for the footing or base trench. Loose soil and roots come out. We shape a level base so the wall can sit straight. Then we add drain stone or base rock and compact it.
Building the wall (concrete or block)
For concrete retaining walls, we set forms, place rebar, and pour the wall in place. For block walls, we set the first course on the leveled base, then stack and fill courses as needed. Behind the wall we install drain stone and, when the layout calls for it, drain pipe so water can move to daylight or a safe outlet.
Tie-ins to driveways, walks, and patios
Where a wall meets a driveway, walk, steps, or patio, we plan for both strength and movement. We place joints and steel where needed so the wall and slab work together without trapping water at the base.
Backfill and compaction
Once the structure is in, we backfill behind the wall in thin layers and compact as we go. This helps prevent hollow spots and later settling along the top edge.
Typical retaining and garden wall projects
Most of the retaining wall and garden wall jobs we do fall into a few common setups.
Some walls run right along a driveway edge where soil has started to slide or slump. You might see the asphalt or concrete losing support at the side, or an old timber wall starting to lean. In those cases, we rebuild the edge with concrete or block so the driveway has solid support and a clean border again.
Other projects sit out in the yard as short terraces. Two or three low walls can turn a slope into flatter steps of lawn, planting beds, or small patio areas. It spreads the usable space out and makes a steep yard feel easier to walk and maintain.
We also build a lot of low garden walls around patios, walkways, and pool decks. These hold soil in beds, set clear lines around the hardscape, and keep dirt and mulch off the concrete. If the height is right, they can also work as simple seating along the edge without adding more furniture.
We stay focused on small residential walls. If a wall height or load calls for full engineering, or the job is beyond what we handle, we’ll tell you that during the visit so you can plan the right next step.
Finishes and how walls meet other concrete
Retaining and garden walls don’t need to be the main feature, but they should fit in with the rest of the hardscape. A wall that clashes with the driveway or patio can make the whole yard feel chopped up.
We can keep the look simple with smooth formed concrete for a clean, modern finish. We can also build with block and leave it exposed, or prep the face for a finish later if you plan to dress it up. For the top, caps can be poured concrete, precast units, or a shaped edge that feels comfortable if people sit along the wall.
The meeting points matter just as much as the wall itself. Where the wall ties into a driveway, patio, walkway, or pool deck, we plan the joint on purpose. We line up heights, choose where direction changes, and make sure water can move past the base instead of getting trapped. The goal is a clean tie-in that looks natural and stays dry where it should.
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Plan a retaining or garden wall project in Novato
If you have a slope that slides, soil that drops onto your driveway, or planting beds that wash out in storms, a small retaining wall or garden wall can help.
We can walk the yard, mark a wall line, talk through height, finish, and drainage, then set a simple plan.
You speak with the contractor who will set the forms, steel, and block on site.
Call Nexus Concrete Novato at (415) 798-9715 to schedule a yard visit and get a retaining wall or garden wall plan for your property in Novato.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS(FAQ)
"How tall of a wall do you build?"
We focus on small residential retaining walls and garden walls.
Low walls along drives, paths, and beds fit our work best.
If a wall height or load calls for full engineering beyond that range, we explain that on site and let you know what the next step should be.
"Do all retaining walls need drain pipe behind them?"
Short retaining walls still need a way for water to move.
We use drain stone behind the wall and add pipe where the layout and soil call for it.
This helps keep water from building pressure and pushing on the wall.
"Can you replace a failing railroad tie or timber wall with concrete or block?"
Yes.
We remove the old wood wall, clean out decayed material, and rebuild the footing and base.
Then we install a concrete or block wall with proper drainage so you get a longer lasting structure in that spot.
Our Service Area
Novato, CA is our main service area.
Most of our concrete work sits inside the city and nearby neighborhoods.
Central Novato and downtown streets
San Marin
Ignacio and South Novato
Hamilton area
Bel Marin Keys and nearby pockets
LOCATION
Novato, CA
HOURS
Mon-Sat: 8am - 6pm
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