How the Retaining Wall and Drainage System Worked Together
The problem started at the low side of the backyard, where runoff repeatedly moved toward the same area near the property line. As water traveled through that part of the yard, it carried soil with it and gradually made the area harder to maintain. Simply adding more soil or grass would not change where the water was going, so the project needed to address both the eroded ground and the runoff contributing to it.
That led to a combined retaining wall and drainage solution. The retaining wall was built along the low side of the property so the affected area could be brought back to a more consistent grade and held in place. Segmental retaining wall block and caps created a defined edge while supporting the restored ground.
Water still needed somewhere to go once the grade was rebuilt. Because runoff naturally traveled toward the low point of the yard, a drain box was installed there to collect it before it could continue moving across the surface. The collected water then enters underground PVC drainage pipe and is routed toward the front yard rather than continuing through the erosion-prone area.
The completed project included:
- Segmental retaining wall and caps along the low side of the backyard
- Rebuilding the grade where soil had been washing away
- A drain box installed at the low point of the yard
- Underground PVC drainage pipe routing collected water toward the front yard
- Drainage stone incorporated into the drainage work
- Restoration of the disturbed lawn after construction
- Completion in approximately three working days
The retaining wall and drainage system each solve a different part of the same problem. The wall gives the rebuilt grade the support it needs, while the drainage system manages the runoff that had been moving through the area. Addressing both together meant the project could respond to what was causing the erosion instead of repeatedly repairing the soil after it washed away.
Once the retaining wall, grade, and drainage system were in place, the disturbed portions of the yard could be restored. The homeowners now have a more manageable backyard where the rebuilt ground is supported and runoff has a planned path through the property. Instead of continually repairing an eroding section of the yard, the property now has a solution designed around how the water was actually moving.