Retaining & Seating Walls

Lehigh Lawns & Landscaping recommends a retaining wall for a Hudson Valley property when a slope is eroding, soil is washing onto patios or walkways, or the yard needs flat, usable space cut into a grade. Hillside lots common across Dutchess and Putnam Counties lose soil during heavy spring rain, and a wall holds that soil in place. Leaning or bulging walls, standing water at the base of a slope, and failing timber walls are signs a replacement is due. Lehigh evaluates the slope, soil, and drainage at the onsite consultation before recommending a wall height and system.

A retaining wall holds back soil to support a change in grade, while a seating wall is a seat-height wall that Lehigh Lawns & Landscaping builds for sitting and for defining outdoor spaces. Retaining walls carry structural load and require an engineered base, drainage, and reinforcement based on wall height. Seating walls typically surround a patio or fire pit and provide permanent seating without extra furniture. Many Lehigh projects combine the two, with a retaining wall forming the back edge of a patio and its cap finished at seat height.

Lehigh Lawns & Landscaping ensures a retaining wall is structurally sound by building it on an excavated, compacted base with drainage aggregate behind the wall, a perforated drain pipe at the footing, and geogrid reinforcement where wall height requires it. Lehigh’s installers hold certified segmental retaining wall installer credentials and follow the manufacturer’s specifications for each wall system. The first course is set below grade to anchor the wall against frost movement. Retaining and seating walls are covered by Lehigh’s hardscape warranty, with a one- or five-year term based on base depth, reviewed at the final walkthrough.