What it costs: Retaining wall installation typically runs $3,500–$11,000, with prices driven by height, length, materials, and site conditions. Material matters: Timber is cheapest but less durable, ...

Dear James: I’m planning a veggie garden on my sloping lot so I need a retaining wall. I have used timbers before, but blocks might hold up better. Which method do you prefer? -- Steve W. Dear Steve: ...

Retaining walls built of stone or brick are the traditional style and usually blend nicely into their surrounding landscape. The question is, though: are these really the best materials for the job ...

The desire to have a bit of land to call your own is not an uncommon one. However, in the Bay Area, finding our own personal outdoor space can be a challenge. Some of us live in newer housing ...

Retaining walls shape outdoor spaces while preventing erosion and managing slopes. Options like concrete blocks, natural stone, and timber each balance durability, appearance, and cost differently.

Q: I have two deteriorating (but still standing) retaining walls made of timber and two even worse — i.e., leaning — cinder block retaining walls. I was planning to replace them all eventually, but to ...