Retaining Wall Construction

We can build beautiful, functional, retaining walls.

We Build, Repair, and Replace Retaining Walls
We are your Westfield, Union County CT retaining wall specialists!

Retaining walls are a great addition to any landscape, especially if your property has an existing slope.  Building a retaining wall allows you to reclaim some of that lost space by carving out usable outdoor spaces on sloping ground that would otherwise not be usable.  Retaining walls can hold back earth and soil which helps to create new level areas for the construction of a new garden bed, a new lawn, a patio or an outdoor cooking area, a parking area, and more.  Retaining walls can be built using a variety of materials including rock, brick, block, boulders, or even wood.

Why Do You Need Retaining Walls On Your Property?

  • Do you need to prevent soil erosion on your property?
  • Do you have an existing retaining wall that has failed and needs repair or rebuilt?
  • Do you have a sloped property you’d like to landscape?
  • Do you want to create a new outdoor living space?
  • Do you want some raised garden beds around your home or property?
auth-contractor (1)

Haughey Brothers Landscaping is a hardscaping contractor based out of Westfield, New Jersey and serving Union County, including: Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Cranford, Madison, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Short Hills, Springfield, and Summit.  As an Authorized Belgard Contractor we specialize in designing and building functional segmental retaining walls for property owners looking to landscape their naturally sloped property or to carve out some elevation in their outdoor space.  From a 30′ foot long block retaining wall to hold back earth around the edge of your home to larger, more complicated, retaining walls for your terraced property.  The team at Haughey Brothers Landscaping will be able to provide you with a retaining wall solution that will benefit your specific property.

Construction Of New Retaining Walls

We specialize in the construction of new segmented retaining walls.  The benefits to segmented retaining walls are many.  Segmented retaining walls are aesthetically pleasing, they offer design flexibility, they are economical, easier to install, and durable.

They are also pre-engineered, meaning the wall can be built to your project specifications without having to have an architect or engineer design the wall itself.  We can build the wall to the engineering specifications and have a qualified engineer sign off on the project if the height or size of the wall requires it.

Retaining Walls & Building Permits in Union County, New Jersey

In most of Union County (your municipality could be different) retaining walls that are under 3 feet in height generally do not require permits or design plans.  There are some specifics that may or may not apply to your situation.  If retaining walls are 3 feet in height or over than a permit is generally required.  Any retaining walls over 6 feet in height will require a permit and additionally an engineered design to ensure the structure is sound.  This information does not account for any covenants that might be on your property.

When we view your property we’ll be able to let you know any specific building codes that might apply to your circumstance depending on the height/length of your wall and what it’s specifically being installed for and whatever surcharges (weight) might be applied to the soil above and behind the wall.

Proper Drainage For Retaining Walls

We are often contacted by potential customers who have an existing retaining wall that has failed, it’s either falling down, bulging, or collapsing.  One of the most common reasons for retaining wall failure is that the original wall was built with poor drainage in place.

Retaining walls are designed to hold back earth from erosion.  This also makes them excellent at holding back water too.  The water that builds up behind a retaining wall is referred to in the industry as “hydrostatic pressure” and the external force of the soil or fill held behind your retaining wall coupled with the weight of the water held behind it is often enough to seriously compromise the integrity of your wall which can lead to failures such as bulging and even a total collapse.

Well-built retaining walls must incorporate good drainage if it’s going to last for many years.  Depending on the type of material being used to build your retaining wall there are a variety of ways to integrate sufficient drainage such as lateral drains, french drains, weeping drains, blanket drains and also the use of very granular soil or fill behind the wall can also work to disperse rather than hold the water.

Understanding Retaining Wall Surcharges

A "surcharge" when it comes to a retaining wall is the weight on top of or behind the wall.  For example, if you're building a retaining wall to create a new parking area for a boat or an RV we need to consider the weight of the boat or RV and it's impact on the retaining wall.

If your wall is going to have a surcharge it must be built with this in mind if it's going to last.  This would also include tiered retaining walls or retaining walls with a fence on top or any other weight other than the earth it's holding back.

Geo-grid is often used to provide extra tensile strength to each course of your retaining wall so it's anchored to the ground behind it.  Proper use of geo-grid will ensure that your retaining wall will be built to last and won't collapse or buckle under the excess weight.

Failure to properly stabilize retaining walls is another very common failure.

What Materials Do We Use For Retaining Walls?

There are many different materials to build your retaining wall out of.  Below are some of the more popular materials in our area because of their availability.

  • Block retaining walls
  • Natural stone retaining walls
  • Large boulder retaining walls

How Our Retaining Wall Construction Process Works

When building a retaining wall on your property that is designed to hold back soil and earth from erosion there is very little margin for error so when required we work directly with engineers if your wall is over 6 feet in height.  There are many pre-engineered systems we can use as well that can eliminate the need for detailed building plans.

  1. We start with our initial consultation.
  2. We determine how many feet of retaining wall you need.
  3. We determine the height of the wall and if a building permit or engineer will be required.
  4. We take into account any surcharges (weight) the wall might be exposed to.
  5. We consult with you on the materials you’d like your retaining built with.
  6. We’ll provide you with an accurate written estimate for the work.

The amount of work required to build a retaining wall can vary widely from project to project.  The slope of your property, the amount of earth your retaining wall must hold back and the overall accessibility of your property will all contribute to the final cost.  We’ll be able to offer you an accurate estimate only after a site visit.

What Does It Cost To Build Retaining Walls?

Retaining walls can vary in price depending on the size, scope, length, height, and the materials chosen.  Larger walls will need to be engineered which can add to the cost.

Smaller Garden Walls

$3,000 - $10,000

This would be for a small garden wall (under 2 feet high) to surround a small garden or to surround a small landscaping bed.

Medium Sized Walls

$10,000 - $30,000

This would be for a medium sized wall up to 4 feet high.  Installed with drainage and geo-grid so it lasts.

Large Retaining Walls

$30,000 - $100,000+

This would be a ballpark cost for a very large or tiered retaining wall or multiple wall with courses that are 4 feet or higher

Retaining Wall Projects Can Include

A beautiful retaining wall isn't just for looks.  They have an important job to do.  Whether we're building a brand new retaining wall or replacing an existing retaining wall that has failed, there are a number of things we do.

Proper Excavation
Proper Base Materials
Drainage Installation
Integrated Lighting
Built-in Stairs
Geogrid (for stability)
Cap Stones (for looks)
Engineering

These prices do not include stairs.  If you need stairs built within your retaining wall there will be an additional cost.  These price ranges are for a typical wall built using readily available landscape block.  There are a wide variety of styles and patterns available and we'll be able to provide you with a selection during our consultation.  The price can vary significantly depending on the specific material you choose.

These prices are ball park figures to give you a rough idea as to what you should expect.  Your particular project may vary depending on site accessibility, materials chosen, and the overall scope of work.  If you need a firm price please request a consultation so we can view your potential project, listen to your ideas, and determine the actual scope of work required to complete your project.  After our on-site consultation we'll be able to provide you with a firm estimate to complete your project.

Retaining Wall Repair Or Replacement

We specialize in rebuilding retaining walls that have failed and/or collapsed.

Retaining Wall Repairs

It's pretty common for us to get called out to repair an existing retaining wall that has collapsed or failed in some way.  This could be an old wood retaining wall that is rotting away or a block wall that is bulging or on the verge of collapse if it has not collapsed already.

Typically we don't recommend "repairing" retaining walls.  The wall has failed for a reason and that reason is typically poor construction or a poor choice of materials.  When a wall has failed we will usually recommend tearing the wall out and replacing it.  This would include demolition of the old wall, re-excavating the area to allow for proper base materials, installation of proper drainage, and proper backfill.  Building it right is the more cost effective option in most situations.

Rebuilding Failed Retaining Walls

If your existing retaining wall has failed and needs to be replaced it's usually more cost effective to demolish the old wall, remove the materials, re-excavate the site, install a proper base, geo-grid if necessary, install drainage, and build the retaining wall properly.

We specialize in rebuilding retaining walls that have failed and would be happy to provide you with a consultation if you have a wall that you believe needs to be replaced.

Our Clients Love Us!

Here's What They Say

joe muratore
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joe muratore
April 15, 2024

Thank you to Ethan and his team! Our property looks the best its ever been, with new shrubs, trimming, and landscaping details. We appreciate working with you and trust your guidance for our property. Great work!!

Michele Belier
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Michele Belier
February 7, 2024

I highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping. They did an excellent job repairing our front walk, where tree roots had pushed up the paver stones; and our driveway, where a number of stones had sunk below the edge of the garage. They totally evened out both areas, and power-washed them as well. Now they look brand new! Haughey Brothers really did a great job.

Stavros Makris
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Stavros Makris
December 21, 2023

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to work with Haughey brothers landscaping for the installation of my new patio, and the experience exceeded all my expectations. The owner, Devin, personally oversaw the project, bringing an unmatched level of professionalism and expertise to the table. From our first meeting, Devin impressed me with his deep knowledge and passion for landscaping. He was incredibly helpful in guiding us through the design process, ensuring that every detail was tailored to our preferences and needs. His hands-on approach and commitment to excellence were evident throughout the project. The team working under Devin was just as professional and efficient, completing the patio on schedule and to the highest quality. The final result is a breathtaking outdoor space that has become the highlight of our home. Devin’s leadership and personal involvement as the owner truly made a difference. It’s clear that he and his company Haughey brothers landscaping stand for quality, customer satisfaction, and beautiful craftsmanship. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for top-notch landscaping services.

Steve Aronson
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Steve Aronson
November 6, 2023

The Haughey Brothers were recommended to us for some backyard landscaping work. They were highly responsive in providing us with proposals and patient as we changed our plans several times. They were prompt and professional throughout the 1-day installation. The crew was highly industrious in properly preparing the area for the plants, rock landscaping and sod. Ethan and his team went above and beyond to ensure the job was successful. We will use them again next year for other yard improvements.

Trevor Deal
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Trevor Deal
October 30, 2023

Ethan and Devin (the Haughey Brothers) are awesome! They are responsive, professional, reliable and do great work for a reasonable price. They are hard workers and always go above and beyond, while getting things done on time (and as promised). I recommend them for all of your landscaping needs.

Chris Palumbo
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Chris Palumbo
October 9, 2023

We were looking for a complete overhaul of our front landscaping and walkway. I reached out to The Haughey Brothers and received a very timely response - which is rare these days as I reached out to a few different companies and received zero response from the majority of them. I submitted a request for a quote through the Haughey Brothers Landscaping website (which was very easy to use) and Ethan gave me a call that same day. We discussed what I was looking for and he actually stopped by to see the space - again, the same day - in order to provide the most accurate quote. He arrived with an idea for the space already in mind and described his plan in great detail. I could immediately tell he was someone with solid experience in this field. He measured the space and then said he would get back to me with a quote as soon as possible. I was pleasantly surprised to find that "as soon as possible" meant that very night! We worked together on revising the quote so that it met my exact needs and budget and then we were ready to get started. The Haughey Brothers team got to work very quickly. They dropped off the plants and began the job within a day or two of signing the contract. Ethan was extremely communicative throughout the entire process and I really could not be happier with how it ended up looking. I would highly recommend their services. They were a pleasure to work with and I look forward to using them again for any of my future landscaping or hardscaping needs. Thanks again to the entire team for a job very well done.

Valentina Rozanova
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Valentina Rozanova
September 22, 2023

Ethan had a lot of great ideas on how to improve our landscaping. He was very thorough and patient. Work was done within needed timeline and price was good.

Marybeth Simpson-Steeber
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Marybeth Simpson-Steeber
September 20, 2023

Shout out to Haughey Brothers Landscaping!! Not only did they do beautiful work, but they are courteous , professional, and most importantly, actually return phone calls! In fact, their communication is excellent. So glad we used them, and recommend them highly!

Laurie Scaturo
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Laurie Scaturo
August 17, 2023

We were so pleased with the work done by Haughey Brothers. They planted a row of bushes that look fabulous. Ethan and Devin were responsive and professional. I highly recommend them for your landscaping needs.

Denise Ridente
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Denise Ridente
July 31, 2023

Since my husband was unable to cut grass because of an injury the past two weeks, Haughey brothers landscaping responded to my message the same day and helped us out! They cut our lawn and trimmed a bush and we were saved from getting a fine from the town. Great job and so appreciated!

Henry Burk
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Henry Burk
July 25, 2023

We have been using the landscaping services of the Haughey Brothers since they started their business. We have been very pleased with their service and would like to recommend them highly. Aside from their work, the brothers are pleasant and pleasant to deal with.

chris brindle
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chris brindle
July 13, 2023

Setting up a job was simple through their online booking system. I was able to get an estimate for the work the same day. The crew that serviced my property was timely, efficient, and did a great job! Highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping.

Christine Palma
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Christine Palma
June 11, 2023

We used Haughey Landscaping and we are very pleased with the outcome. The pricing was fair and the workers were thorough. They cleaned up after themselves, which I consider a very important part of the job. The only negative is that Ethan said he would place a stepping stone in front of the shed and he did not. I reminded him twice and both times he said he forgot but would do it and he didn't. To be fair it wasn't part of the original estimate, I asked on the day the work was done. Other than that we are pleased with what was done. I changed my rating to a five star because they followed up on their promise. 👍

Christine Spassione
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Christine Spassione
June 3, 2023

I couldn't maintain my front and side yard while undergoing breast cancer treatment, and Haughey Brothers Landscaping has given me such a beautiful gift back by fixing up my gardens again! Thank you! I can now sit and enjoy my gardens again! I hope next year Haughey Brothers Landscaping can help me tackle my back yard too!

ericka fong
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ericka fong
April 20, 2023

I highly recommend the Haughey brothers for landscaping services. They arrived on time and completed the work as promised. They were professional and had a great work ethic. They also provided great guidance with design and overall landscaping needs. I would definitely use them again in the future.

Renee Vogler
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Renee Vogler
July 30, 2022

We could not be more happy with the work the Haughey Brothers & crew did with our landscaping. We do not have a green thumb and our landscaping needed a lot of work. They gave us an estimate and started work right away. They brought a team of hard working & respectful guys who transformed our landscaping into the nicest on the block! I can't wait to use them again and again for other items we need done outside. You won't regret hiring them for your next project.

Lori Raab
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Lori Raab
June 18, 2022

Great work landscaping and painting!

Janina Alzate
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Janina Alzate
June 17, 2022

Great work and great attention to detail. Crew worked well and fast. Would recommend for all your landscaping needs.

Maxx Kleiner
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Maxx Kleiner
June 15, 2022

We have had the Haughey Brothers come out and help us with landscaping work for the past 2 years and they have done a great job. We have tons of weeds, overgrown bushes and trees, etc. and they cleaned everything up and made our front and backyards look great! Highly recommend.

Nicole Greten
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Nicole Greten
April 5, 2022

Very happy with all the landscaping work they did. Spring clean up, mulch, removed some old trees, planted some new ones and made the yard look really nice. Very professional and easy to work with too!

Barbara Haggerty
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Barbara Haggerty
July 22, 2021

Thank you Haughey Brothers Landscaping for the great work in the front and back of our home. The new garden with the Dwarf Japanese Maple & perennials/Boxwood shrubs looks fantastic, and the rocks behind the garage was a much needed big project that we are so happy with the outcome. We definitely recommend the Haughey brothers and will use them for future landscaping projects!

Diana Garcia
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Diana Garcia
June 16, 2021

The Haughey Brothers have been taking care of our landscaping needs for several years and frankly our lawn has never looked better. I highly recommend them.

Christina Z
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Christina Z
May 10, 2021

Haughey Brothers Landscaping did a wonderful job landscaping our front yard. Everything turned out beautifully. The bushes and flowers they picked are absolutely stunning and exactly what we wanted to make the space pop. They were a pleasure to work with and were very collaborative throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend them for all your landscaping needs.

Brian Lopez
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Brian Lopez
February 17, 2021

Haughey Brothers provides terrific service. I am a lifelong Cranford resident. The brothers were born and raised in Cranford. One is a student in college, the other in high school. I state this as a coming-of-age curmudgeon. They are respectful, hard working and provide their services at a fair price. They also attempt to employ other Cranford students to assist them. I highly recommend them for you snow removal and landscaping needs.

Sara Gardner Dunn
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Sara Gardner Dunn
October 22, 2020

Over the past year, we have hired Haughey Brothers Landscaping for multiple jobs, including spring cleanup and weekly lawn mowing. Our front landscaping needed a complete overhaul, and Ethan and Devin were quick to give us a quote & come out once we were ready to start the project. They completed it in one day - pulling out all of the ground plants, trimming bushes, mulching and filling in a giant hole from where our oil tank was removed! They are very communicative & checked in to ensure that we were happy with the progress. Would highly recommend for all jobs big & small!

Patricia Di Russa
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Patricia Di Russa
September 25, 2020

I initially spoke with Devin on a Thursday evening and Ethan came by on Friday to review what I wanted done. The Haughey brothers provided me with an estimate and reviewed what shrubs I would like planted in a timely manner and the job was complete by Tuesday! They use quality products (top soil/mulch/plants), are polite and respectful AND they get back to you. I highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping for your landscape projects!

Kimberly Zarrello
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Kimberly Zarrello
August 11, 2020

Haughey Brothers were amazing! I just moved into my first home and the landscaping was very overgrown and neglected. I needed a fresh start but was too intimidated to take on the work by myself. After reading other reviews I contacted the Haughey brothers and Ethan came over right away to talk through what I was looking to do and his recommendations. Within one week of the original conversation they were over and within two days of work, tore everything out, planted new gorgeous flowers, trees and bushes, mulched, and added a small retaining wall. They could not have been nicer and kept me involved the whole time, making sure I liked what was chosen and was okay with the prices. Highly recommend!!!!!!

John Finnerty
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John Finnerty
April 30, 2020

The Haughey brothers recently did a bunch of landscaping in the front of our house. This included planting bushes, clearing out brush, putting down new mulch and building a decorative block border around our holly tree. The Haughey brothers did an excellent job!! They were professional, reasonably priced and kept us in the loop as they were deciding on bushes to plant and blocks to pick for the border. We definitely recommend the Haughey brothers! I have also posted some pics of their great work!

D&S Lawn & Landscaping Services
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D&S Lawn & Landscaping Services
November 18, 2018

Haven’t used their services as I’m located in Michigan, but these 2 young guys are out here making a difference in the world. Age is just a number. I’ve helped them out in times when they needed and vice versa. They are polite and hardworking, if I was an adult in Cranford, I would definitely use and recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping.

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More Retaining Wall Information

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