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AE Outdoor Living
Arizona licensed, bonded & insuredServing Arizona homeowners since 2005Peoria design showroomWritten, itemized project scopesProject-specific payment & warranty terms
A note on the numbers

This isn't a cost. It's an investment.

The figures on this page are real and we don't hide them — that's how AE operates. But we want to be honest about how to read them. Your Phoenix retaining wall isn't a line-item expense; it's an investment in your home's value, your family's daily experience, and a space you'll use for the next twenty to thirty years.

When you compare bids, compare what you're investing in — the spec, the crews, the warranty, the company that will still be standing in year ten — not just the price tag. The lowest bid is almost always the most expensive build over time.

Arizona licensed, bonded & insuredPeoria design showroomWritten, itemized scopesProject-specific termsHow we earn trust →
Phoenix

Retaining walls in Phoenix, drained right, engineered where required.

AE Outdoor Living designs and builds retaining walls across the Phoenix metro. Segmental block from Belgard, Pavestone, and Acker-Stone. CMU with stone veneer. Poured concrete with engineered drawings. Every wall drained correctly so it doesn't blow out in the first monsoon.

The honest version: Retaining walls fail almost every time for the same reason: no drainage behind the wall. A pretty face of block over saturated soil is a lawsuit waiting for the next storm. Every AE wall gets gravel backfill, geotextile fabric, and perforated drain pipe daylighting to grade. That's not optional — it's the whole reason the wall stays vertical.
01

What we build

  • Segmental block walls (Belgard, Pavestone, Acker-Stone).
  • CMU walls with stone or stucco veneer.
  • Poured concrete engineered walls.
  • Terraced multi-tier walls with planted risers.
  • Integrated seat walls, planters, and pool surrounds.
02

Phoenix retaining wall pricing

  • Segmental block: $35–$65 per face foot installed.
  • CMU with stone veneer: $75–$150 per face foot.
  • Engineering (walls over 4 ft): $1,500–$5,000 per wall.
  • Permit fees: varies by city, line-itemed on proposal.
03

How AE drains every wall

  • 12-inch minimum gravel backfill.
  • Geotextile fabric between gravel and soil.
  • 4-inch perforated drain pipe at the base.
  • Daylight the pipe to grade — never a dead-end.
  • Weep holes on CMU/concrete walls.
04

Engineering and permits

Any wall over 4 feet in exposed height, retaining a surcharge, or in a flood/slope zone requires engineered drawings and a city permit. AE handles the engineer, the drawings, and the permit submittal end-to-end.

05

Why Phoenix homeowners choose AE

  • President David Bell is current President of the Southwest Hardscapes Association.
  • In-house masonry crews on every wall.
  • Drainage spec published on every proposal.
  • 2-year written workmanship warranty.
FAQ

Common questions.

Segmental block wall (Belgard, Pavestone): $35–$65 per face foot installed. Poured concrete or CMU with stone veneer: $75–$150 per face foot. Engineered walls over 4 feet require stamped drawings and add engineering cost. Written line-item proposal on every job.

Any wall over 4 feet in exposed height, any wall retaining a surcharge (driveway, pool, structure), and any wall in a designated flood or slope zone. AE handles the engineered drawings and city submittal.

Segmental block (Belgard, Pavestone, Acker-Stone) for most residential walls under 4 feet — fast, flexible, wide catalog. CMU with veneer for taller walls and structural applications. Poured concrete for engineered walls with heavy surcharges.

Gravel backfill (minimum 12") behind the wall, geotextile fabric on the soil face, perforated pipe at the base daylighting to grade. Wrong drainage is the #1 reason walls fail — hydrostatic pressure will push over any wall in a monsoon.

Walls under 3 feet in exposed height generally don't require a permit in most Valley cities. Walls 3–4 feet may need one. Anything over 4 feet or retaining a surcharge always requires permit and engineering. AE handles it.

3–7 days for a standard 30–60 face-foot wall. 2–3 weeks for engineered structural walls. Written timeline in every proposal.

Get your Phoenix retaining wall quoted.

Free in-person consultation, drainage plan, written proposal in 5 business days.

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Your home investment — protected

Why this is an investment, not a cost.

An AE backyard is engineered to add daily livability and long-term home value. We publish honest ranges and build to code with a licensed and bonded Arizona crew. AE provides project-specific workmanship and manufacturer-warranty information in the signed agreement. Website summaries are for planning only.

  • Licensed, bonded & insured in Arizona. ROC 340966 (R-62) · ROC 341002 (R-3) · ROC 347738 (KA-5) · ROC 211530 (CR-21). Most Arizona contracting work valued at $1,000 or more — or requiring a permit — must be performed by a properly licensed contractor, subject to statutory exemptions. Verify the legal entity, license status, and classification with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
  • Real ranges, itemized scope. You see materials, finishes, equipment models, and a line-item budget before you sign — not a one-line "pool — $90,000."

Related hardscape reading

Homeowner FAQ

More retaining wall questions?

Drainage spec, engineering triggers, permit thresholds — all in the Pavers & Hardscapes section of the Homeowner FAQ.

Related guides

Keep learning before you build.