Franklin, TN · Retaining wallsRetaining Wall Construction in Franklin, TN
Segmental block and natural stone retaining walls for Franklin properties, with the base, drainage and backfill built correctly so a sloped yard becomes level, usable ground that stays put.
Every retaining wall is really a drainage project
Retaining walls rarely fail because of the block. They fail because water builds up behind them. Saturated soil pushes far harder than dry soil, and a wall with no way to relieve that pressure eventually leans, bulges or cracks. A correctly built wall has a compacted base set below grade, a first course laid dead level, clean drainage stone behind the block, a perforated pipe at the bottom to carry water out, and backfill compacted in layers.
On Franklin properties, retaining walls tend to come up in a few situations: leveling a sloped back yard for a patio or play area, holding back a bank beside a driveway, or terracing a front yard so it is easier to plant and maintain. Some newer homes sit on lots where grading left a steep transition to the neighboring property, and some established homes have an old timber or dry-stacked wall that is starting to give way. Each calls for a different design.
Taller walls, or walls holding back a driveway or structure, may need engineering and geogrid reinforcement that ties the wall into the soil behind it. JACCO plans retaining wall construction with those requirements in view, prices it from a written scope after a site visit, and walks the finished wall with you, including where its drain pipe daylights. Caps, corners and steps are planned with the wall rather than improvised at the end.
Retaining wall types for Franklin yards
- Segmental block walls with matching caps
- Natural stone walls suited to older homes
- Terraced walls for steeper slopes
- Seat walls around patios and fire pits
- Failing timber walls removed and replaced
- Drainage stone and pipe behind every wall
Wall height, property lines and permits
Retaining walls above a certain height, or walls supporting a driveway, structure or slope near a property line, may require a permit and engineered design; the City of Franklin sets those thresholds, and JACCO confirms them during the bid. Walls near a lot line also raise questions about easements and where water will go once it leaves the wall, so we review the survey and the grade before design. In Franklin’s historic districts, a new wall visible from the street may need design review as well.
- Stage 1Bid
Site visit, measurements and a written bid tied to a clear scope of work.
- Stages 2 and 3Schedule · Build
Selections settled, materials lined up, a detailed schedule, and a protected, clean home while we build.
- Stages 4 and 5Punch list · Close
We walk the finished work with you and close the project when every item on the list is done.
How tall can a retaining wall be before it needs an engineer?
It depends on the wall system, the soil, what sits above the wall and the City of Franklin’s requirements, so we would not give a single number without seeing the site. Block manufacturers publish height limits for unreinforced walls, and taller or loaded walls typically need geogrid and an engineered design. We assess the slope and the load during the site visit and include any engineering in the written scope.
Can you replace an old landscape-timber wall?
Yes. Timber walls eventually rot from the inside, and once they lean, the soil behind them has already started to move. We remove the old wall, excavate for a proper base and rebuild in block or stone with drainage behind it. Where roots, buried utilities or a neighbor’s fence are close, we plan the excavation carefully and talk through options before work starts.
More services in Franklin
- Decks & Porches
- Patio Construction
- Outdoor Kitchens
- Hardscaping
- Paver Installation
- Concrete Work
- Bathroom Remodeling
- Kitchen Remodeling
Retaining Walls in other areas
Planning a project in Franklin?
Jonathon will follow up personally to schedule a visit. The first consultation is complimentary.