Wilmington, DE
A retaining wall is only as strong as the drainage and base behind it.
Wilmington is not flat. From sloped yards in the Highlands to terraced gardens in Westmoreland and drainage issues near Brandywine Creek, many properties need retaining walls to manage grade changes. Tri-County builds Wilmington retaining walls with drainage, frost-protected footings, and engineering when required.
Retaining walls solve real problems: soil washing into a neighbor’s yard, a driveway edge crumbling, a backyard too steep to use, or a rotting railroad-tie wall that is starting to lean. In Wilmington, grade changes show up in older neighborhoods, hillside lots, creek-adjacent yards, and HOA-managed common areas. The wall system needs to match the soil, height, access, and appearance of the property.
We build poured concrete walls, modular block walls, and segmental systems. Block walls are often faster and more economical under 4 feet, especially for terraces and garden beds. Poured concrete is stronger and slimmer for tall walls, tight property lines, or driveway cuts. Boulder or segmental looks can fit landscape settings where a plain poured wall would feel too heavy.
Every wall needs drainage. We install gravel, perforated pipe, and fabric behind the wall so water does not freeze and push it forward. Footings go below frost depth, and tall walls may require geo-grid tiebacks into stable soil. In Delaware, walls over 4 feet require engineered drawings and permits. Built correctly, a retaining wall should last 30–50 years; built without drainage, it can fail much sooner.
