"Al was able to see what the problem was, and able to fix it right way. His work was excellent and I will definitely be using him for more repairs around the house."
"Mount Valley is the epitomy of an honest, fair, reliable, efficient, professional, and customer service oriented company. Our coordinator, Ryan McAlister, was extremely knowledgeable and informative during inspection of our crawl space water issues, and his subsequent repair recommendations. Ryan was like a professor explaining retrofitting encapsulation of the crawl space and basement water issues with a slab, along with discussing such encapsulation during a new build vs. standard floor insulation in a crawl space in a climate above 60% humidity. Fascinating and educational discussion for me as an homeowner with very limited knowledge of the subject. Ryan was patient and is truly an expert. He also provided additional advice on other ground water issues and recommendations for us as homeowners to try, outside the crawl space, in order to save us money. His crew was extraordinarily hard working and diligent, personable and friendly. They did a great job in every detail relative to trench digging, gravel, wrapping, wall insulation, sump pump, dehumidifier, and drainage. Very well done and much appreciated professionalism and expertise. Very impressed with the coordinated team work demonstrated by the whole crew, Damian (foreman), Mac, and David. Very impressive young men. My wife wanted to adopt them and Ryan upon completion of the project, which was done in grueling heat, humidity, and wet conditions. Job well done. Great company. Joe Morrash - Irmo, SC"
"GREAT. Scott is a true professional and his crew is the hardest workers I have personally witnessed. They were always on time as promised a left the project extremely neat and tidy at the end of each day. I would hire them again for any outdoor project."
"Joe, the installer for Cransten, did a fantastic job laying the tile, installing the new toilet and repiping the new cabinet with facuet ! Felt nice to put a new coat of paint on the walls !!"
"The husband and wife team arrived exactly when they said they would. They scraped the entire 3-car garage and workshop ceiling and portions of walls to remove failing sheetrock tape, sanded, painted and cleaned up all in one day. They were very quiet and worked continously. I was VERY pleased with their work and feel their price was fair. I appreciate that they had to travel quite a distance to my home."
"Baron Harvin is an excellent brick mason. The lower half of the brick veneer between my garage doors was partially torn away when my cement driveway was removed. I kept the top part of the veneer supported by wood until I could find someone willing to make a repair. Mr. Harvin had no problem accepting the job. The work he did was outstanding. Not only did he seamlessly restore the lower half of the brick veneer at this part of the wall, he salvaged some of the original brick that was pull off the wall and mixed it with new brick that was a close match. He also matched the color of the new mortar with the color of the original mortar. I was very impressed with his attention to detail. He also repointed the brick stairs to my front door. Mortar had broken away from some bricks and was being washed away from the remainder. Tile at the top of the stairs was also coming loose, decades after original installation. Mr. Harvin did an outstanding restoration of those steps."
"Tucker was very good. He was polite and respectful. He was on time and when he worked he was careful to do exactly what I had asked. If he was running late arriving he’d call and let me know. He would have me look at what had been done to be sure I was satisfied. If there was something I’d forgotten to ask him to do he’d either do it then if he had the time or make another time to come back and do it! He was very eager to be sure I was satisfied with his work and fix anything I had a problem with. I’ll be calling him when I have more outside work done in the future."
"We called David told him what we were looking for. He came out the next day. We explained our project he understood totally gave us a detailed quote that night. We accepted his price and he started the next Monday and it looks absolutely wonderful"
"Billy provided a fair estimate for replacing a twisted section of a sistered main beam that supported the floor joists. He was able to adjust his schedule to fit our job in and finished it in a reasonable amount of time."
The lifespan of a retaining wall varies based on its material, installation quality, maintenance, and local climate, with an average range of 20 to 100 years. Retaining walls made from durable materials like concrete, stone, and brick generally last a minimum of 50 years. Concrete walls typically last between 50 and 100 years, while brick can last for over a century in ideal conditions. Timber retaining walls can last from 20 to 40 years, depending on the wood quality, and pressure-treated wood walls average around 30 years. It is important to note that a retaining wall can fail prematurely if it was poorly constructed, for example, with inefficient footings or without necessary rebar reinforcements.
Sand and gravel are two suitable options for filling behind a retaining wall. If you’re building your own retaining wall, you’ll complete this part of the process—known as backfilling—after you finish laying the blocks. Make sure not to skip it—otherwise, you could wind up with drainage issues, which can cause your retaining wall to collapse.
Poured concrete is often the cheapest material for a retaining wall, costing around $6 to $8 per square foot. Other budget-friendly options include vinyl and landscaping timbers, which range from $10 to $15 per square foot; landscaping timbers are particularly well-suited for DIY projects. Untreated timber and railroad ties are a step up in price, starting at $15 to $25 per square foot. Natural stones can also be a cost-effective choice if you can source them from your own property, but they can be expensive to purchase. High-end materials like steel are typically the most expensive but offer superior durability and aesthetics.
Small retaining walls still require a foundation of some kind, typically a concrete footing. This helps to ensure the wall is structurally sound and prevents the ground from shifting over time, especially during those winter freeze/thaw cycles. The footing helps spread the weight of the wall and the load it carries over a larger area of the ground, thus assisting with stability. This is true of small retaining walls, larger rock garden walls, and the like.
Even if you think you know how to build a retaining wall theoretically, doing the actual work is a completely different story. There are lots of nuances in building retaining walls, and the slightest oversight can compromise their integrity. Therefore, we recommend you hire a pro to build, repair, or replace retaining walls.
The Gilbert, SC homeowners’ guide to wall repair services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
This guide features information on the costs to repair a brick wall, whether or not you need a brick mason to complete spalling, tuckpointing, or a full restoration.
Retaining wall repair cost can vary widely based on the age and condition of the wall being restored. Learn why finding the right pro is important for getting the job done.
The paper is off, but your walls need some love. Learn how to repair your walls after a wallpaper removal project and prep them for paint or new decor.