Stone, block and boulder retaining walls for Columbus and Central Ohio, built to hold the slope.
Grade, water, and usable space
Peabody Landscape Group designs and builds retaining walls for homes in Columbus and across Central Ohio, in natural stone, segmental block and boulders. A slope can take half a yard out of use, whether it is a lawn too steep to mow, a patio with no room to grow or water running toward the house. A well-built wall turns that grade into level ground for a patio, a garden bed or a place for the kids to play. To talk about your slope, use the request form on this page or call (614) 488-2877. We build walls in Columbus, Dublin, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Powell and the towns around them. See our retaining walls in Dublin for local work. For what a wall costs, read our retaining wall cost guide in Resources.
A retaining wall holds soil back so a slope becomes level ground. The stone or block you see is the least of it. A wall lasts because of the compacted base under it, the drain pipe and gravel behind it that let water out, and on taller walls the reinforcement tied back into the soil. Most walls that lean or bulge failed because the water behind them had nowhere to go.
We size each wall for the grade it holds, the water it has to handle and whatever sits above it. Then we choose the look with you, from natural stone to segmental block or boulders, with caps, steps and planting to suit the house. Peabody has built retaining walls across Central Ohio since 1982.
Not every wall holds a slope. A seat wall is a low wall at sitting height, usually around 18 inches, that edges a patio and gives people somewhere to sit. We build both, and we often build them together with the patio. Our guide to retaining walls and drainage is in Resources.
How We Build It
The people who walk your slope and design the wall work for the same company that builds it and stands behind it. Normally the same crew stays from the first day to the last, and the site is cleaned every day.
The proposal lists the wall height, materials, drainage and any engineering or permit work in writing before we start.
Step 1
On the site visit we look at the height, the soil, where the water comes from, and what the wall needs to hold up or create. Ohio building code does not require building approval for a wall of 4 feet or less, but zoning can still apply. Taller walls get engineered drawings and a permit where the community requires them.
Step 2
Base, drain pipe, gravel backfill and outlets go in before the first course of stone or block, so water drains out instead of pushing on the wall.
Step 3
Caps, steps and planting finish the wall. Before we call the job done, we walk it with you and finish anything that still needs it.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls, garden walls, seat walls, boulder edges and terraced steps from Peabody projects across Central Ohio.
Natural stone has the most character and suits garden walls and older homes. Segmental block is engineered for height and goes up cleanly on taller walls. Boulders give a natural edge on a gentler slope. The height of the wall and the look of the house usually decide it.
It depends on the height, the length, the material, the access and the drainage the wall needs, so we price each wall after a visit. We publish what our recent walls sold for, and why we do not quote a price per foot, in our retaining wall cost guide in Resources.
In Ohio, a wall of 4 feet or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall and holding no added load on the soil above it, does not need building approval under the state building code. Zoning can still apply. Taller walls in many Central Ohio jurisdictions require a building permit and engineered drawings. The rules vary by municipality, so we confirm the permit path before construction.
It can be part of the fix. Regrading, drain pipe and a wall together can move water away from the house and stop a slope from washing out. We find where the water comes from before recommending a wall.
Yes. One tall wall or two shorter tiered walls can turn a slope into level lawn, a planting bed or room for a patio. Two short walls with a bed between them often look better than one tall wall, and each is easier to hold. The height and the soil decide which one makes sense.
Yes. Steps, seat walls and a patio on the level ground above or below are often part of the same project, and they are designed together so the stone matches.
A retaining wall holds soil back at a change in grade. A seat wall is a low wall, usually around 18 inches high, that edges a patio and gives people a place to sit. A seat wall that also holds soil is built like a retaining wall, with a base and drainage. A cap stone on top gives it a comfortable seat.
Segmental retaining wall block is made for walls and looks much like pavers. Ordinary patio pavers are not made to hold soil, so we use wall block for any wall that holds a grade. Low raised beds and seat walls can be built from wall block with a matching cap.
A wall built with the right base, drainage, reinforcement, and material should last for decades. Most failures trace back to water, poor compaction, or a wall that was undersized for the load.
Sometimes. If drainage is the problem, the repair may be limited. If the base, height, or reinforcement is wrong, the wall usually needs to be rebuilt. We assess the cause before quoting the fix.
Built Work
Peabody projects in Central Ohio where this work is part of the whole landscape.
Columbus, OH
A commercial streetscape and courtyard landscape with brick paving, lawn panels, stone walls, trees, railings, and public seating edges.
View Project
Dublin, OH
A formal backyard sequence with a brick fireplace, pergola kitchen, stone paths, hydrangea beds, fountain, and lawn rooms.
View Project
Granville, OH
A Denison University campus courtyard in Granville, Ohio, with brick walks, lawn panels, bench seating, plaza paving, and building-edge planting.
View ProjectTell us about the slope and what you would like to do with the space. We get back to you and can walk it with you.
