How Much Does a 100-Foot Retaining Wall Cost? Plus: Do Landscapers Build Retaining Walls?
Homeowners in Asheville often ask two things right away: what will a 100-foot retaining wall cost, and should I call a landscaper or a specialized installer? The short answer is that cost depends on height, material, site conditions, and engineering. And yes, some landscapers build retaining walls, but not all walls should be built by a landscaping crew. In our mountain soils and sloped neighborhoods from West Asheville to Reynolds Mountain and Kenilworth, the right installer matters as much as the right material.
This article breaks down realistic price ranges for a 100-foot wall in Asheville, NC, how height and materials change the math, when engineering is required, and how to choose between general landscapers, hardscape specialists, and licensed contractors. We will also show where costs hide and how to plan your project to protect your home, yard, and budget.
A quick baseline: typical price ranges for a 100-foot wall in Asheville
For a straight 100-foot retaining wall at 3 to 4 feet tall, most Asheville homeowners see totals between $9,000 and $28,000 depending on material and access. That range widens as you move above 4 feet, add curves, step the wall, or build on a steep slope. Taller walls often require engineering, drainage upgrades, and soil reinforcement, which can double or triple the per-foot cost.
Here are realistic totals we have seen locally for a 100-foot run:
- Timber (pressure-treated): $7,000 to $16,000 at 2 to 4 feet; $18,000 to $40,000 at 5 to 8 feet with deadmen and drainage.
- Segmental concrete block (engineered blocks): $12,000 to $35,000 at 2 to 4 feet; $30,000 to $75,000 at 5 to 8 feet with geogrid and engineering.
- Natural stone (dry-laid): $18,000 to $45,000 at 2 to 4 feet; $40,000 to $95,000 at 5 to 8 feet depending on stone and access.
- Poured concrete with veneer: $20,000 to $50,000 at 2 to 4 feet; $50,000 to $120,000 at 5 to 8 feet with footings and rebar.
- Boulder walls: $12,000 to $40,000 at 2 to 4 feet; $35,000 to $80,000 at 5 to 8 feet, heavily affected by equipment access.
Those ranges assume typical Asheville conditions: clay-heavy soils, slopes, moderate rock, and mixed access. In-fill lots off Merrimon Avenue can sit on fractured rock; excavation there can add thousands in hammer time and disposal. On the other hand, a broad, gently sloped site in Arden with easy equipment access can land on the low side of those ranges.
Why the cost swings so much for the same 100 feet
A retaining wall is a structure holding back soil and water. The wall works with its base, drainage, backfill, geogrid, and the soil it retains. Cost follows forces. Here is how each factor changes price:
Height drives engineering. The taller the wall, the higher the overturning and sliding forces. Many Asheville walls over 4 feet require either stepped terracing or a geogrid-reinforced design. Above 6 feet, expect a stamped engineer’s design and possibly a permit, especially if the wall supports a driveway, structure, or a neighbor’s yard. Each step up in height means more excavation, thicker base, deeper embedment, more reinforcement, and often higher material grade.
Soil and water decide whether the wall lasts. Wet clay exerts more lateral pressure than sandy soil. Springs, gutter outlets, or hillside seep turn a simple wall into a drainage job with perforated pipe, clean stone backfill, weep holes, or a drainage mat. If a wall fails in Asheville, trapped water was usually part of the story.
Access changes everything. A backyard in Montford with a narrow side yard and big trees may add several days of hand work, mini skid operations, or material staging. That drives labor costs more than material costs. Conversely, a wide driveway next to the build line or a lot with street access brings the price down.
Curves, steps, and finishes add time. A straight wall in standard block is efficient. Curved walls need more cuts. Steps tied into the wall, caps, lighting, railings, or a stone veneer add hours and materials.
Footings and frost. Poured concrete and some stone walls require frost-depth footings. In Asheville, assume 12 to 18 inches below grade for frost, but design often goes deeper to reach refuse-free soil. Segmental block walls sit on compacted stone, not poured footings, which can save concrete dollars but still requires careful base prep.
Tree roots and rock. Tree preservation sometimes means hand digging and root bridging. Rock excavation adds major time and often a rock hammer or saw. Disposal of spoils also adds tipping fees.
Material-by-material cost and use cases
Segmental concrete block walls are the workhorse in Asheville. They interlock, tie into geogrid, and handle curves and steps. Cost per linear foot usually runs $120 to $350 depending on height and reinforcement. Good for driveways, terraces, and high-load areas. They go up faster than stone and resist freeze-thaw well if drainage is correct.
Timber walls cost less upfront. Pressure-treated timbers suit low garden walls and short runs out of high-splash or high-water areas. They can look neat near rustic yards. Expect $70 to $200 per foot at 2 to 4 feet. At 5 feet and taller, timbers need deadmen or tie-backs. Longevity is limited in wet soils, and termites are a factor in parts of Buncombe County. Timber can be a smart, short-term solution with a 10 to 20-year horizon.
Dry-laid natural stone looks right in Asheville’s older neighborhoods. Fieldstone or split-face stone blends with mature landscapes. Stone is heavy and slow to set well, which raises labor. Per-foot totals of $180 to $450 are common at 3 to 4 feet. The build quality matters more than the stone itself. Good drainage behind stone is non-negotiable.
Poured concrete with a veneer is a structural approach. It suits tight spaces, tall walls, or walls near structures where deflection must stay low. You get a structural face then add a stone or brick veneer for style. Expect $200 to $1,200 per foot depending on height, rebar density, and finishes. This route often requires permits and engineering.
Boulder walls fit steep sites and a natural style. Large boulders interlock and drain well. They work best where equipment can reach and place rocks safely. Cost runs broad because boulder sourcing and access vary. Figure $120 to $400 per foot. These walls can be forgiving with groundwater because they allow bleed-through.
What height triggers engineering and permits in Asheville
Rules vary by municipality and by what the wall supports. A common local threshold is 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. If the wall holds a driveway, building, or neighbor’s yard or sits near a property line, expect engineering even if the visible height is under 4 feet. The City of Asheville and Buncombe County both look closely at walls on or near slopes. Plan for an engineer if you want a single run over 4 feet or if you need vehicle surcharge design.
We often see better results and lower costs by splitting a tall grade change into two shorter terraces with a planting bed between. Two 3-foot walls with 5 to 6 feet between them can cost less than one engineered 6-foot wall and look better in a residential yard. The decision depends on space, access, and your layout.
Drainage: the line item many quotes gloss over
A retaining wall is only as good as its drainage. Correct work includes an excavated trench, compacted base stone, a perforated drain pipe, clean gravel backfill, and a fabric separation from native soil. Relief weeps or daylighted pipe outlets must be planned. If the hill feeds water, a vertical drain board or chimney drain helps carry water away from the wall face. Many low bids skip gravel depth, pipe size, or fabric. The price looks better for a year. The wall looks worse after a wet winter.
On a 100-foot wall, proper drainage materials and labor can run $1,200 to $5,000 of the total depending on height and soil moisture. That spend saves repairs later.
Do landscapers build retaining walls?
Some do. Many Asheville landscaping companies handle small garden walls and edging. The difference is scale, load, and responsibility. A 20-foot, 2-foot-tall planter wall is a landscaping task. A 100-foot, 6-foot-tall wall holding a driveway or a neighbor’s yard needs a retaining wall specialist or a contractor with the right equipment, credentials, and engineering relationships.
Here is a practical way to decide who to call:
- If the wall is 3 feet or under, supports only soil and mulch, and sits away from structures, a landscaper with hardscape experience may be enough.
- If the wall is 4 feet or higher, near a driveway, deck, or home, call retaining wall installers with engineered-wall experience.
- If you need permits or stamped drawings, bring in a contractor who works with local engineers and understands Asheville code and soils.
We often get calls to fix walls built as a weekend add-on to a landscaping job. The common pattern is no geogrid, thin base, and poor drainage. Repair usually costs more than building it right the first time.
How “retaining wall installers near me” should qualify for your project
You want a local team that can show jobs within 10 miles of your property, knows our clay and rock, and can point to engineered walls standing after heavy rains. Searching for retaining wall installers near me will give you a list, but here is what to look for as you narrow it down:
Ask for a written scope that names the block system or material, base depth and stone type, drain pipe size and placement, backfill gradation, geogrid brand and lengths, and cap details. Any vague line like “includes drainage” is a red flag.
Ask for contacts for two recent clients with similar height and site conditions. Call them. Ask how the crew handled rain delays, staging, and cleanup.
Confirm licensing and insurance appropriate for structural work. For walls near structures, confirm they can pull permits when needed and can coordinate an engineer.
Walk through the access plan. Where will equipment travel? What about lawn protection, tree roots, irrigation, and utilities?
Expect a clear schedule and a plan for weather. Asheville weather shifts quickly. You want a builder who pauses base work during heavy rain rather than pushing ahead.
Cost breakdown for a 100-foot segmental block wall at 4 feet
Numbers vary, but a simple breakdown helps you judge quotes:
- Excavation and disposal: 15 to 25 percent of total. Includes trenching, hauling soil, and grading.
- Base and drainage materials: 15 to 25 percent. Stone base, perforated pipe, fittings, fabric, backfill gravel.
- Block and caps: 25 to 40 percent depending on brand and face style.
- Labor: 25 to 35 percent. Setting base, blocks, leveling, cutting curves, caps.
- Mobilization, equipment, and overhead: 10 to 20 percent. Mini excavator, skid steer, compactor, saws, deliveries.
On a $22,000 wall, that could read as $4,400 excavation, $4,400 drainage and base, $7,000 block and caps, $5,500 labor, $700 equipment and overhead. Taller walls shift more into labor, geogrid, and engineering.
The real life Asheville factors we see on site
A steep backyard off Town Mountain Road with thin soils and bedrock has limited dig depth. We had to pin a block wall into the slope with longer geogrid in the upper courses and switch to a chimney drain to manage a hillside seep found during excavation. That job carried a moderate rock-hammer allowance. The homeowners originally priced timber, but the soil moisture and load from a parking pad pushed the decision toward a reinforced block system.
In West Asheville, a narrow access path between houses forced hand staging. The owner wanted a natural look, so we placed a boulder wall. With boulders, the key was to start with base stones half-buried, batter the face backward, and interlock. We daylighted the pipe to the alley. Despite heavy spring rains, the wall stood firm because the water had an easy path to exit.
On a Biltmore Forest property, an older railroad tie wall was bowing at 5 feet tall. The ties had rotted. We replaced it with a two-tiered block system, each under 3.5 feet, set 6 feet apart with plantings. The two-tier approach avoided a full engineered single wall and improved looks. The owner gained a usable terrace for a play area.
Planning tips to keep your 100-foot wall on budget
If you want to manage cost without giving up strength, a few choices help. Keep height under 4 feet when possible by terracing. Choose segmental block lines that do not require cutting for simple curves. Give equipment access by removing a section of fence temporarily; the savings on labor often covers fence repair. Plan downspouts so they do not discharge into the wall backfill. Confirm where the drain pipe will daylight before the dig starts. Small planning steps prevent expensive rework.
If you are considering timber for budget reasons, check the water path. If the wall sits in a wet spot or backs up to a hill with springs, timber will age faster and may grow fungus or attract insects. In those cases, a basic block system with good drainage will last longer and often cost less over time.
If you want natural stone but the budget is tight, use a block structure and add a stone cap or a limited veneer on visible sections. You get the look where it counts and the performance behind the scenes.
How long does a properly built retaining wall last?
Segmental block with correct drainage and geogrid can run 40 to 60 years or more. Timber varies from 10 to 25 years depending on moisture, wood treatment, and insect pressure. Boulder walls can last decades because they drain freely, but they still need correct base and batter. Poured concrete with a veneer can last as long as the footing stays dry and stable, often many decades. Maintenance is mostly about keeping drains clear and managing surface runoff.
Timing your project in Asheville
Spring and fall are pleasant for work and plants. Schedules fill fast once warm weather hits. Summer builds are common, but heavy thunderstorms require crews to protect base layers. Winter can work for block or concrete if freezing is managed, but wet freeze-thaw cycles slow progress. If your wall supports a driveway or structure, schedule early to allow for engineering and permit lead times. If you want landscape plantings between tiers, plan them with the wall so irrigation and bed prep do not cut into new work later.
Red flags in bids for a 100-foot wall
A price that seems too good often leaves out drainage, base depth, or geogrid length. Watch for vague material names like “standard block” without a brand or series. Beware of a plan that ignores property lines or fails to account for a neighbor’s grade. If a contractor avoids talking about water or tells you clay will drain on its own, move on. Finally, a refusal to discuss engineering for taller walls is a sign to stop the process and find a qualified retaining wall installer.
What your site visit should include
A proper bid starts with a site walk. We measure grades with a laser, probe soil, look for water, check access paths, and mark utilities. We ask how you plan to use the space above and below the wall. We take photos and measurements for an engineer if needed. Expect a sketch or rendering that shows wall length, height changes along the run, steps, and tie-ins with patios or driveways. Expect a written scope that calls out all layers of the build.
Retaining wall costs by Asheville neighborhood context
Site differences across our area really do change budgets. In older neighborhoods like Montford or Grove Park, access is often tight and mature trees stand close to the build line; protecting roots adds time. In newer subdivisions in South Asheville or Fletcher, access is easier, but the developer fill can be loose and may require deeper excavation to reach stable soil. In Fairview and Candler hillsides, groundwater movement after heavy rain needs careful drainage design. If you are pricing your wall, use neighbors’ experiences as context, but let your own site drive the final plan.
Why Functional Foundations is a fit for Asheville retaining walls
We build structural retaining walls in Asheville every week. Our crews are trained on engineered block systems, drainage best practices, and safe excavation on slopes. We work with local engineers who know Buncombe County soils. We show up with the right equipment for tight mountain lots. We treat water management as part of the structure, not a line item to shave.
You want a wall that looks clean and stays put through freeze-thaw and summer storms. We build for that standard. If you found us by searching retaining wall installers near me and you live in or around Asheville, we can visit your property, confirm heights, soil conditions, and access, then give you a clear, line-by-line proposal.
What to do next
If you are early in planning, take a tape and pace the wall path. Note the height change every 10 feet. Watch the area after a rain and mark where water flows. Then request a consultation. We will confirm measurements, discuss materials that fit your budget and style, and advise whether terracing or a single https://www.functionalfoundationga.com/retaining-wall-contractors-asheville-nc wall makes more sense. If engineering is needed, we coordinate it.
If your existing wall is bulging, cracking, or leaning, take photos today and call. Walls rarely fail all at once. Early repair can save your fence, driveway, or patio and reduce the scope of rebuild.
If you already have bids and want a sanity check, share them. We will compare scopes, call out missing drainage, and offer options to reduce cost without cutting structural corners.
A homeowner’s short checklist for a 100-foot wall
- Confirm target height and whether a terrace could split the load.
- Choose a material that matches soil moisture and use, not just looks.
- Ask for a full drainage plan with pipe size, stone depth, and fabric.
- Clarify geogrid courses and lengths for any wall near or over 4 feet.
- Verify licensing, insurance, and local references for similar walls.
Bottom line on cost and who should build your wall
A 100-foot retaining wall in Asheville at 3 to 4 feet tall usually runs $9,000 to $28,000 depending on material and access. Taller or load-bearing walls can range from $30,000 to six figures with engineering. Landscapers can build small garden walls. For structural walls, slopes, or anything near a driveway or house, bring in specialized retaining wall installers who work with engineers and build drainage-first.
If you are in Asheville, NC, and looking for retaining wall installers near me, Functional Foundations is local, responsive, and ready to help. Tell us about your site and goals. We will give you a clear plan, a solid price, and a wall that earns its keep through every storm.
Functional Foundations provides foundation repair and structural restoration in Hendersonville, NC and nearby communities. Our team handles foundation wall rebuilds, crawl space repair, subfloor replacement, floor leveling, and steel-framed deck repair. We focus on strong construction methods that extend the life of your home and improve safety. Homeowners in Hendersonville rely on us for clear communication, dependable work, and long-lasting repair results. If your home needs foundation service, we are ready to help. Functional Foundations
Hendersonville,
NC,
USA
Website: https://www.functionalfoundationga.com Phone: (252) 648-6476